Food Rescue Coordinator

Objective of Job: The Food Rescue Coordinator is responsible for the oversight and coordination of food rescue operations. This includes managing donor relationships, organizing food pickup and distribution logistics, supervising staff and volunteers, and ensuring adherence to food safety protocols. This role plays a key part in reducing food waste and addressing food insecurity in partnership with local agencies, grocery stores, and food service providers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Coordinate and manage all aspects of food rescue operations, including scheduling daily pickups and deliveries, overseeing routing logistics, and ensuring accuracy in inventory and reporting.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with food donors (e.g., grocery stores, restaurants, caterers) and community partner agencies to ensure consistent food donations and efficient redistribution.
• Ensure food safety and compliance with all health department regulations and internal protocols during food collection, handling, storage, and distribution.
• Lead Driver: Performs the timely and professional pickup and delivery of food pantry food donations
  • Updates logbook with pounds picked up and delivered
  • Deals tactfully and respectfully with partner organizations, donors, and volunteers to maintain effective and positive relations
  • Loads and unloads van as part of the process
• Supervise and train food rescue volunteer drivers, to carry out food rescue operations efficiently and safely.
• Maintain accurate documentation and reporting, including donor receipts, distribution records, impact metrics, and compliance logs.
• Collaborate with program staff and community partners to align rescued food distribution with community needs and avoid over/under-supply at partner sites.
• Manage food rescue equipment and vehicle fleet, ensuring proper maintenance, cleanliness, and safe operation.
• Monitor and evaluate food rescue program performance, providing regular updates and recommendations for improvements to leadership.
• Support organizational events or emergency food distributions as needed, which may occasionally occur on evenings or weekends.
• Operates and maintains vehicle and equipment responsibly, ensuring the safe and proper transport of products
  • Understands safe food transport guidelines
  • Observes applicable laws and safety practices while operating delivery vehicles
  • Regularly inspects delivery vehicle, reporting any issues, and ensures adherence to regular maintenance schedule
• Support Distribution/Operational Team Coverage: Cross-train on pantry operations to assist with distribution as needed.
• Additional duties as required

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS:

• Attend all necessary trainings according to Friendship Center policies
• Attend team meetings as requested

Educational Requirements:

Minimum Requirements/Experience:

High School diploma or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree in logistics, public health, nonprofit management, or related field; or equivalent work experience. (Plus)

Qualifications:

• 2+ years of experience in food distribution, food recovery, supply chain logistics, or nonprofit program management.
• Knowledge of food safety standards and handling procedures (ServSafe certification preferred or required within 90 days).
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities.
• Experience supervising staff or volunteers in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfort driving box trucks or vans (valid driver's license and clean driving record required).
• Possess and maintain a valid Illinois driver's license with clean driving record and a minimum of three years’ driving experience
• Must receive approval from TFC insurance carrier prior to beginning work
• Ability to lift 75 pounds regularly and repetitively, bend, stand, push, and pull carts
• Ability to read and write legibly and perform basic math functions
• Some level of comfort with using the internet
• High degree of professionalism, flexibility, and initiative
• Committed to organizational mission of ending hunger