Food Bank Coordinator

Agency Overview:

The West Seattle Food Bank (WSFB) is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to strengthen the community through the power of neighbors helping neighbors, working to ensure all in our community have access to the essential necessities of living. The agency was established in 1983 and in March of 2020 merged with the West Seattle Helpline (WSH) to expand services.

Primary services include distribution of food, financial assistance, clothes, and referrals for additional services and resources. The agency serves 1,500- 2,000 households every week in the West Seattle community.

Position Overview and Job Description:

The Food Bank Coordinator plays a key role in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the West Seattle Food Bank’s in-house food distribution program. This position ensures that services are delivered efficiently, safely, and with dignity, while maintaining a welcoming and inclusive environment for all community members.

In addition to managing daily operations, the Coordinator builds and maintains strong relationships with clients, volunteers, donors, and community partners. This role requires a balance of operational leadership, people management, and community engagement, with a focus on continuous improvement and responsive service delivery. The Coordinator reports to the WSFB Program Manager for Food Bank Services. This role operates within a highly collaborative team environment where responsibilities may shift daily, requiring flexibility, adaptability, and a team-first approach to meeting participant needs.

Primary Responsibilities:

Client & Community Engagement

• • Engage with participants, volunteers, and visitors to address questions, gather feedback, and respond to concerns in a solution-oriented manner.
  • Address and de-escalate challenging situations with professionalism and care.
  • Help foster a welcoming, inclusive, and dignified environment for all participants.

Daily Operations & Facility Management

• • Oversee daily facility operations, including opening and closing procedures.
  • Maintain a clean, safe, and organized environment in compliance with health and safety standards.
  • Ensure proper handling, storage, and inventory flow of food and supplies, including receiving deliveries and organizing product.
  • Assist with grocery rescue and other local pick-ups as needed.
  • Monitor and support the upkeep and functionality of the facility, equipment, and resources.

Program Operations & Distribution

• • Work collaboratively with the Warehouse Coordinator and operations staff to support the day-to-day functioning of the food bank.
  • Oversee and support the distribution of food and essential items, ensuring an efficient, organized, and client-centered experience.
  • Support Mobile Food Bank and Home Delivery programs as needed to ensure continuity of service across distribution channels.
  • Coordinate with staff and direct volunteers to meet daily operational needs, adapting to changing priorities.

Volunteer Oversight & Support

• • Assign, train, and support volunteers in food bank operations.
  • Fill in for vacant volunteer shifts as needed.
  • Provide guidance, mediate disagreements, and support volunteers in problem-solving.
  • Ensure volunteers provide services in a confidential, culturally competent, and respectful manner.

Administrative & Reporting Duties

• • Manage data entry, invoices, and required program reporting.
  • Review intake data regularly for accuracy and completeness.
  • Handle communications with key partners and ensure timely follow-up.
  • Ensure compliance with all food safety, documentation, and reporting requirements.

Organizational Collaboration & Development

• • Work collaboratively as part of a team-oriented environment where responsibilities may shift daily; demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to both support others and receive support across roles to meet program needs.
  • Maintain a team-first mindset, recognizing that meeting participant needs may require stepping into different roles as needed.
  • Respond to unexpected situations during daily operations with sound judgment and professionalism.
  • Collaborate with WSFB staff and leadership to maintain and improve program quality.
  • Participate in staff meetings, trainings, and professional development opportunities.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• • Demonstrated experience in volunteer coordination, community engagement, or related people-centered work.
  • Experience working in a social service, nonprofit, or community-based environment serving diverse, low-income populations.
  • Ability to build trust and maintain positive relationships across a wide range of backgrounds and lived experiences.
  • Demonstrated ability to navigate sensitive or emotionally charged situations with professionalism, empathy, and sound judgment.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Fluency in English required; multilingual skills strongly preferred, especially Vietnamese, Spanish or other languages that reflect the communities we serve.
  • Valid Washington State driver’s license, access to a reliable vehicle, and proof of insurance.

Physical Requirements:

• • Ability to perform repeated lifting of up to 50 pounds.
  • Ability to stand and move for extended periods throughout the workday.
  • Willingness and ability to safely use equipment such as pallet jacks.

Paid personal (sick) leave, vacation leave after six months, 11 paid holidays/year, health insurance, 401K after 6 months of employment.

Fluency in English required; multilingual skills strongly preferred, especially Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish or other languages that reflect the communities we serve.