Coordinator, Food Recovery Program

Spoonfuls keeps good food from going to waste. Through food recovery and distribution, education, and advocacy, we work to address the health, environmental, and economic impact that wasted food has on people and the planet. To learn more about our work, visit spoonfuls.org. 

The Food Recovery Coordinator is responsible for managing a defined route of vendor partners and beneficiary partners in the Greater Boston, MetroWest, Worcester, or Hampden County regions. This includes but is not limited to managing relationships with vendors and beneficiary partners, conducting site visits and quality audits of vendors and beneficiaries, maintaining and improving data and inventory related to Spoonfuls’ work, and collecting, inspecting, loading and delivering perishable and nonperishable products from vendors to Spoonfuls’ beneficiaries on the same day the food is acquired.

The Food Recovery Coordinator is the face of our organization, and as such must be passionate about and committed to our mission.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Food Recovery

• Arrive at work on time each day in uniform

• Drives a medium-duty 10 or 12 foot NPR box truck (non-CDL), following all Spoonfuls’ safety protocol, including all US Department of Transportation (DOT) and Massachusetts Department of Transportation regulations, and Spoonfuls’ regulations related to company vehicles and general safety

• Serves as the lead of food recovery and “the face” of the organization on a defined route; serves as primary driver of a 10-12 foot box truck driving a defined route each day

• Takes lead on the culling, lifting, loading, organizing, tracking, and overall collection of prepared, perishable, or other nutritious/ recovered foods from retail stores, farms, or wholesale distributors

• Builds partner relationships constantly; informs supervisors of any problems or issues in a timely manner

• Ensures food safety guidelines are being followed by all Spoonfuls’ staff and partners

• Inspects the product to be donated following food safety guidelines and refuses donations if the product doesn’t meet stated criteria (called “culling”) 

• Delivers food to non-profit beneficiary partners the same day the food is acquired

Data and Reporting

• Actively participates in regular Route Reviews with members of the Program Administrative team to ensure that routes are running efficiently and excellently

• Accurately records all collections and distributions in the inventory system; participates in regular audits of inventory data and route data to ensure accuracy and integrity

• Maintains records of beneficiary partners, vendors, and all information pertinent to food recovery operations in Salesforce

• Meets monthly with their direct supervisor to provide updates and review any issues

• Participates in all staff meetings, both with the Program team and the entire organization

Relationship Management

• Develops and maintains positive relationships with vendors and beneficiaries; maintains positive relationships with all Spoonfuls staff

• Conducts Vendor Visits in conjunction with the Manager of Food Acquisition

• Conduct beneficiary partner site visits in conjunction with the Manager of Beneficiary Partnerships

• Maintains contact with key staff at vendor and beneficiary locations to ensure smooth pick-up and delivery of donations or to communicate any delays or issues that may arise

• Communicates clearly and effectively in all oral and written communication

• Responds to any and all outreach from Program Administrative or office staff in a timely and respectful manner

• Demonstrates a working knowledge of customer service

• Demonstrates a clear understanding of our vendors and beneficiaries by responding to their needs in a timely manner or informing the Program Administrative team if they are unable to do so

• Participates in asks from other Spoonfuls’ departments like taking photos while on the road, sourcing partner quotes, participating in a photo or video shoot or more

Vehicle Maintenance

• Follows all DOT and company regulations as they relate to company vehicles and general safety including DVIR reports 2X a day when applicable

• Maintains a clean and orderly vehicle cab and cargo area

• Uses company vehicles only for the transport of recovered food or for purposes determined by the Program Administrative team 

• Practices safe and lawful driving at all times.  Follows all legal parking procedures as outlined by the organization

• Participates in regular maintenance and upkeep of the company vehicles, reporting issues to and following directions from the Program Administrative team 

Experience, Skills and Qualifications 

Formal education or special training: 

• Acceptable motor vehicle report (MVR) with no serious motor vehicle issues in the past 3 years (accidents or otherwise; to be determined by the Program Director and Senior Manager); and then annually after hire

• Valid Driver’s License with at least 3 years licensed driving experience; 1 years commercial box truck driving experience preferred

• Possess or ability to obtain current DOT physical card per state and federal regulations 

• Ability to obtain a safe food handling license (ServSafe)

• Previous customer service and/or grocery retail experience preferred

Knowledge and special skills:

• Food Handling experience strongly preferred 

• Effective customer service skills 

• Willingness and ability to learn computerized data input technology 

• Ability and desire to relate to and work with various age, economic, racial and ethnic groups of individuals. 

Special abilities: 

• Ability to adapt to varied work requirements 

• Ability to adapt and still ensure food recovery efforts in different types of New England weather conditions

• Extreme flexibility 

• Ability to work cooperatively with other all Spoonfuls staff 

• Inclusion, tact and diplomacy in dealing with diversity 

• Ability to both speak and write English 

Hours

Full-Time: Must be available 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, though schedules vary day to day; evening shifts possible periodically from June through November if applicable, weekend hours rarely or on volunteer basis only. Minimum 36 hours worked per week. 

Benefits

Spoonfuls provides health, vision, and dental insurance through our PEO partner, as well as generous PTO and holiday closures.

Physical Demands 

• Ability to drive for long periods of time 

• Ability to stand, walk, sit, use hands and arms, reach, climb up/down stairs, stoop down, kneel, climb in and out of a dock-high vehicle repeatedly over a 5-day workweek

• Ability to perform moderate to heavy physical labor (lift or maneuver up to 50 lbs repeatedly of boxes of food); lift between 2,000 and 5,000 pounds of food per day, 5 days a week

• Ability to speak and hear clearly 

• Ability to work in refrigerated areas (cooler and freezer) for periods of time 

• Ability to navigate a city or metro area and use a GPS 

• Willingness to learn and ability to use apps (inventory or otherwise)

Work Environment

This job requires the ability to:

• Start the route on time as determined by the Program Administrative team

• Wear Spoonfuls uniform each day of the week  

• Drive safely and be in DOT compliance at all times

• Keep all company assets (vans and trucks) clean and organized 

• Operate in an enclosed, refrigerated box truck or commercial van on a daily basis, both alone or with another driver 

• Be exposed contaminants such as fuel or exhaust 

• Work outdoors while loading and unloading products. Work indoors while driving or filling out paperwork

• Sometimes being exposed to hot or very cold temperatures while working inside (including refrigerated areas, coolers, or freezers) 

• Occasionally get into cramped positions to reach workspaces, such as the back of a truck

• Occasionally being exposed to whole body vibration when driving a truck

• Sometimes dealing with sounds or noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable

• Working closely with others/teammates, especially when unloading trucks. Includes driving with a teammate in an enclosed truck cab or commercial van when applicable (solo days to be expected regularly)

• Handle and sort through potential food to be recovered that is close to, at, or past date of expiration, or may already be opened 

• Use of hand-trucks or two-wheel dollies, use of U-Boats for moving, loading, and unloading product

• Use standard office equipment such as computers and phones

This job also may require you to be present in a professional office environment, which routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. Some tasks outside the office may be required (attending meetings, attending events, shipping materials, etc.).