Distribution Manager

The Newton Food Pantry seeks a full-time Distribution Manager to help lead and support the continued growth of our client services operation. This a new position.

The Distribution Manager will be responsible for managing our home-delivery program, managing a new online grocery ordering/fulfillment operation, and supporting once-a-month Saturday client service at our pantry. The Program Manager will report to the Director of Operations and will work collaboratively with other operations team members to help more Newton households access supplemental food assistance.

About the Newton Food Pantry

The Newton Food Pantry, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, works to alleviate food insecurity by providing free supplemental food assistance and personal-care products to community members in need, serving them with dignity, compassion, and respect. The Newton Food Pantry is the largest nonprofit hunger relief organization dedicated to Newton residents, and we support nearly 3,000 people through in-pantry shopping, home deliveries, and off-site distribution.

Founded in 1983, the Newton Food Pantry operates primarily as a “choice pantry” through which people can select for themselves the fresh, nutritious, and culturally relevant foods they need and want. We recently built a brand-new, 5,000-square-foot food pantry on the Newton-Waltham line, and clients can utilize our pantry twice per month. Each household receives up to a week’s supply of food and personal-care products per visit.

The Newton Food Pantry is led by a staff of 5 and is powered each week by more than 130 volunteers who help support pantry operations, food distribution, and client services.

Key Responsibilities

The Distribution Manager is responsible for overseeing key aspects of client services, including home delivery, a brand-new online ordering and pickup program, and supporting in-person pantry shopping. This role ensures that food assistance is distributed efficiently, equitably, and with dignity to all clients. More specifically:

• Manage and oversee the Newton Food Pantry’s home delivery program, including scheduling approximately 50 weekly deliveries to clients (medically homebound individuals and through social worker referrals), organizing grocery packing, the scheduling of volunteer delivery drivers, and ensuring timely distribution. Home deliveries are currently done only one day per week.
• Support the launch of and manage the Newton Food Pantry’s new online grocery ordering and pickup system (to start in late 2026), including order management, fulfillment workflows, and client communications.
• With the support of other staff and volunteers, help manage once-a-month Saturday pantry shopping (starting in fall 2026).
• Help develop and refine systems to improve efficiency, service accuracy, and client experience across all distribution channels.
• Coordinate closely with operations staff to fulfill orders, organize volunteer support, and client distribution needs. The Newton Food Pantry is working toward providing food assistance to more than 400 households per week.
• Monitor program performance, track key metrics, and identify opportunities for improvement and growth.
• Ensure all programs operate in a manner consistent with the Newton Food Pantry’s commitment to dignity, compassion and respect.

This is a hands-on, operational role requiring strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate effectively and professionally with a diverse set of stakeholders.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field preferred. Equivalent combination of education and professional experience will be considered in place of a 4-year degree (e.g., at least 5 years of relevant work experience in operations management, social services, and/or nonprofit operations).
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills, attention to detail, and organizational abilities. Proficiency in a language in addition to English (specifically Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, or Russian) is highly desirable.
• Proficient in Google Workspace, with the ability to quickly adapt to new software platforms, databases, and digital workflow tools.
• Experience working with diverse populations. Approximately 60% of our clients speak a language other than English at home. More than 30% of clients are older adults (ages 65+), and 25% are children (ages 0-17).
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with Pantry staff and volunteers.
• The ability to safety lift, carry and transport boxes/bags of food as part of regular duties. There are physical aspects to this role, including standing for long stretches of time.

• Employer-sponsored health insurance and dental plan.
• 401k plan with automatic employer contribution.
• Generous paid time off, including 3 weeks paid vacation, a paid company shutdown between Christmas and New Year’s, plus paid federal holidays.
• Professional development stipend.
• A hybrid work environment, with 3-4 days at the pantry.

Proficiency in a language in addition to English (specifically Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, or Russian) is highly desirable.