Position Purpose\n\nResponsible for creating, implementing and managing food acquisition strategies and the allocation\n\nand timely movement of produce and other perishable products to increase the capacity of the charity to meet the nutritional needs of people experiencing hunger. This position is directly responsible for building\n\nand fostering relationships with food manufacturers, growers and large and small scale grocery stores; and overseeing acquisition and purchasing programs in western North Dakota.\n\n\n\nCore Accountabilities and Essential Duties:\n\n \n\nFood Resource Management – Western ND\n\nOversees western ND incoming food streams specific to growers, manufacturers, large and small scale grocery\n\nstores.\n\n\n\nDevelops, implements and manages food resourcing strategies and goals to align with the organization’s strategic goals and initiatives.\n\n\n\nMonitors, in collaboration with team members, the overall inventory levels of donated, government and purchased product to assure the optimal quantity, nutritional quality and variety of food and non-food products to meet food distribution objectives. \n\n\n\nTracks, analyzes and reports progress on metrics included in the strategic plan, annual work plans or as otherwise designated.\n\n\n\nResearches, tracks, analyzes, and reports on local and national product donor trends and data.\n\n\n\nEnsures adequate donor files are maintained and receipts and documentation provided in accordance with federal/state guidelines and standards. \n\n \n\nMonitors perishable product acquisition expenses to ensure they remain within budget parameters.\n\n \n\nDetermines the volume and types of produce and other perishable products needed on a weekly/monthly/quarterly basis to meet plans and objectives for direct service programs in western ND.\n\n \n\nDetermines the amount of produce and other perishable products needed on a weekly/monthly/quarterly basis to meet demand from western ND partner feeding programs.\n\n \n\nEstablish and Build Food Donor Relationships\n\nFosters relationships with current and potential food donors.\n\nActively identifies, contacts and solicits prospective food donors with an emphasis on high-demand, nutritious products.\n\n\n\nDevelops and maintains a system for periodic, predictable, meaningful contact with current and lapsed product donors to\n\nensure long-term donor retention, strengthen relationships and increase donation levels.\n\n\n\nDevelops and executes a robust donor recognition program.\n\n\n\nRepresents the charity in associations, organizations and trade shows directly related to enhancing relations with food donors and increasing food donations.\n \n\nRetail Food Rescue Program – Western ND\n\nOversees the Retail Food Rescue Program, soliciting donations, fostering donor\n\nrelationships and ensuring safe and timely pick-up of donations. \n\n\n\nDevelops, coordinates and provides training, technical assistance, food safety guidelines and operating processes for participating stores and staff or partner agency pick-up drivers.\n\n \n\nConducts donor visits with staff drivers and partner agency representatives to establish relationships with new stores.\n\n \n\nCreates consistency of outreach, store visits and training with retail partners.\n\n \n\nWorks with operations and agency services departments to develop pick-up plans for staff or partner agencies and to resolve scheduling, pick-up or other issues. \n\n \n\nWorks with donors to resolve product quality issues.\n\n \n\nMonitors retail food rescue reporting and communicates with partner agency representatives on timely receipting. \n\n \n\nWorks closely with operations team to ensure professional and timely pick up of product donations that meet donor requirements\n\n \n\nResponds promptly to donor questions, requests or concerns. Works with other departments to resolve donor service or quality problems.\n\n \n\nProduce Program\n\nSources fresh produce from farmers, the Feeding America network, and other food streams\n\nas needed.\n\n\n\nWorks with growers, packers, farmers markets and others in the agriculture industry to secure and maintain donations of fresh produce.\n\n \n\nWorks with volunteer services and community partners to coordinate gleaning efforts to pick large plots of produce.\n\n \n\nWorks with Feeding America and the Minnesota cluster of food banks to share produce with food banks across the network.\n\n\n\nEducation, Experience and Requirements\n\nSuccessful candidates for this position must hold a Bachelor’s degree in related field and have two years of experience in sales, food industry or customer service; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Valid driver’s license, ability to travel statewide and flexibility to attend occasional activities in evenings and/or on weekends required.\n\n \n\nSkills and Competencies \n\nStrong communicator that possesses excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills\nAbility to develop strategic relationships with stakeholders\nStrong customer service skills and willingness to assist others\nStrong organizational skills and detail oriented, yet flexible with an adaptable personal style\nAbility to work in a fast-paced environment with multi-faceted demands and deadlines\nCritical thinking and analytical skills to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or\napproaches to problems\nHigh proficiency with Microsoft Office applications\nAbility to build collaboration across teams and departments