Program Manager

Position Overview: The role of a program manager at Centre Street is to ensure that the organization is delivering programs that meet the needs of a diverse and growing population experiencing food insecurity in six communities, in alignment with its mission and strategic goals.

The program manager is Centre Street’s primary liaison and sourcing representative with the Greater Boston Food Bank, and assumes this critical role to ensure that these orders are completed in accordance with agency established deadlines.

A key area of focus will be to research, evaluate, design, and recommend options for food and related service programs that will allow Centre Street to expand to address unmet need. New program implementation will be directly supported and managed by the program manager in partnership with staff and board members. Several aspects of the position require regular collaboration with the Operations Manager to align programs with operational capacity and food acquisition sources.

The job consists of the following areas of responsibility and tasks:

1) Program Fulfillment

• Assume primary responsibility for ordering food and essential items from the Greater Boston Food Bank in accordance with program requirements, budget, schedules and deadlines. Orders must be coordinated with the Operations Manager and completed in consideration of upcoming service days, current inventory, capacity available and retail ordering plans. Responsible for maintaining a positive relationship with GBFB key personnel, attending monthly virtual meetings and sustaining an awareness of conditions at GBFB that will impact Centre Street such that program delivery is not significantly compromised or interrupted. Responsible for timely completion of agency compliance reports required monthly by the Greater Boston Food Bank.
• Safeguard program integrity such that all who visit receive a consistent and equitable distribution of groceries and essential items. Program contents must correlate to the diverse needs of 1,000+ households per month that include nearly 4,000 people, with capacity to grow and register 60-75 new households every month. Programs should be able to scale to accommodate 10-15% annual increase in people served.
• Oversight of volunteers to provide guidance in all areas of program delivery such as packing of grocery or Kids Club bags, produce, cold and frozen items, personal care products and/or seasonal or special items. Consult and/or collaborate with other staff regularly.
• Collaborate with the Operations Manager to support inventory management and assist as needed in clarifying program delivery for volunteers during service days. Act as a backup for Operations Manager when needed.

2) New Program Definition

• Increase the number of people and households that we serve through the expansion of existing programs or the definition of new programs which improve access to food for marginalized populations and/or those challenged to regularly have enough food.
• Research, evaluate, design and recommend options that include but are not limited to: satellite locations, partner distribution locations, mobile or pop up markets, deliveries and/or additional service days and hours.
• Explore food choice and pre-ordering programs to provide the items and quantity of food that clients want to improve the client experience.
• Provide project management for new program implementation and direct support for program delivery.
• Collaborate with all stakeholders to achieve program success that align with strategic goals and develop and track metrics to assess new programs.

3) Client Needs Assessments

• Pro-actively and regularly communicate with current clients and people who represent our client base to obtain information regarding their reliance on free and/or low cost food and related services.
• Outreach may include 1-1 conversations, surveys and focus groups as well as gaining feedback from people who work in related organizations (healthcare, education, food relief, housing or general social services).
• This work requires being onsite the majority of service distribution days, scheduling and attending meetings at other locations, observations of other food relief distributions, and visits to organizations who serve our client population.

The program manager must:

• Be available to work flexible hours, outside of standard office hours and days, but within the overall hours scoped out for this position.
• Demonstrate proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office applications, specifically Microsoft Excel and Google workspace, with the ability to learn and utilize a client database system (Oasis Insight by Simon Solutions).
• Have regular access to a functional remote work environment that includes high speed Internet. (If needed, a computer system set up with a video camera will be provided for remote use as property of Centre Street.)

Candidates for this position shall possess the following experience and attributes:

Program delivery or a similar role in a nonprofit organization, preferably one with a mission to provide food or improve food access to a diverse population. In lieu of this, project management experience in a social services or mission driven organization.

Awareness of the systemic conditions and current circumstances that affect the populations we serve, such as changes in government benefits, housing availability, and services for new residents from other countries.

Experience interacting with a diverse population experiencing any or all of the conditions that contribute to economic and food insecurity. Trauma informed training or inclusivity and diversity training is strongly preferred.

Ease and clarity in verbal and written communication to a wide range of audiences (e.g. volunteers, clients, board members), including those who do not speak English as a first language. Able to fluently speak and write in English.

Able to speak and write in Spanish is strongly desired. Fluency in Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Mandarin or Russian desired, but not required.

Ability to collaborate with various constituents and independently manage multiple tasks involving different stakeholders. Strong prioritization skills with the ability to anticipate and meet deadlines.

Able to work effectively in a setting that is fast moving and changing while retaining patience and kindness in interactions.

Able to stand and/or walk for several hours outdoors in varying weather conditions, without difficulty. Able to comfortably and repeatedly lift 25 pounds.

Mission-driven and motivated to end food insecurity.

The Centre Street Food Pantry serves clients in Newton and five neighboring Greater Boston cities. As part of our mission, we want to foster a dignified and inclusive environment for all. We seek staff who reflect and can relate the diversity of our clients and are comfortable working with people from all backgrounds.

Centre Street Food Pantry does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, provision of services, hiring and firing of staff, selection of board members, and recruitment of volunteers and vendors. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all clients, members of our staff, volunteers, and vendors.