Second Harvest Heartland Jobs

Temporary Summer Volunteer Experience Ambassador

Are you looking for an interesting and fast-paced summer job? Are you passionate about helping others? Do you want to learn more about working with volunteers? Come work at Second Harvest Heartland as a Volunteer Experience Ambassador this summer!

At Second Harvest Heartland, we believe our differences make us stronger. We draw strength from the unique experiences of each and every employee and our community. We aspire to foster an inclusive culture – in the way we interact with each other and in every area of our work. We commit to advancing equity to make Second Harvest Heartland a better place to work, to be a better partner and to inspire a community where equity is a driver to ultimately end hunger.

Join our Volunteer Engagement team as a Volunteer Experience Ambassador (VEA)! Over 20,000 volunteers support our mission to end hunger together, which necessitates a team member with experience working in a fast-paced setting, a high degree of customer service, and excellent communication skills. This position is an integral part of the Volunteer Engagement team, executing a best-in-class experience for Second Harvest Heartland’s voluntary workforce. In addition, this VEA will support the known and trusted brand of Second Harvest Heartland. This will be a temporary part time position lasting from May through August 2023.

Work Schedule:

• Employment dates: May through August 2023
• Part-Time; 20 hours per week with potential for optional additional hours to cover team members on PTO.
• Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 3:15pm to 8:30pm / every other Saturday 8am -2:30pm

Duties and Responsibilities:

Volunteer and Guest Experience

• Facilitate a best-in-class volunteer experience by upholding a high standard of customer service
• Greet individual and group volunteers, helping create a great first impression as they prepare for their volunteer shift
• Address an ever-changing environment in a positive, highly flexible, solutions-oriented manner
• Improvise in response to the unpredictable nature of a volunteer workforce
• Speak in front of large groups of volunteers daily
• Communicate the Second Harvest Heartland story, mission, and impact to volunteer groups during each shift.
• Adjust talking points and key messages accordingly as directed by other internal teams such as operations, communications, or development
• Utilize digital content to enhance the volunteer experience during each shift
• Solicit financial donations and repeat visits from volunteers at the end of their shift.
• Orient and train volunteers on packing food product, including food & physical safety and quality procedures.
• Participate in daily team meetings, team training, and all-staff events.
• Monitor and effectively utilize the volunteer management database system as a core business tool
• Collaborate daily with the food sourcing and operations teams

Warehouse and Production

• Train and oversee volunteers to repack/rework in ways that promote food safety, personnel safety, and productivity.
• Ensure that the workstations are set up, tested and ready for constant flowing of product without unnecessary stoppage.
• Lead the clean-up of packing areas, preparation of food product containers, and packing materials for the next volunteer group.
• Set up, manage and clean-up projects by completing production logs, replenishing supplies, removing empty, or completed pallets, compacting garbage/cardboard, etc.
• Follow food safety and safety regulations relating to OSHA, AIB, USDA and other company-related regulations.
• Utilize designated computerized inventory programs and equipment to efficiently support the distribution center systems.
• Weigh, record and document product for inventory adjustments and traceability purposes.
• Handle food safely
• Perform other duties as assigned to ensure smooth operation.

Leadership

• Lead by example, serving as the public face of Second Harvest Heartland
• Proactively and positively manage issues with volunteers as they arise.
• Set an example of professionalism in behavior and in outstanding reliability.
• Interact with volunteers maintaining a respectful and safe work area at all times.
• Set an example for others by promoting safety practices in all volunteer areas and throughout the warehouse.
• Train, motivate, and monitor up to 100-person volunteer groups per shift in proper box packing and other tasks needed to transform bulk food to retailed packaged goods for distribution.
• Promote team culture in all working relationships with co-workers.

Must Have:

• A combination of education and experience generally attained through a High School diploma or equivalent GED, with preference towards some post-High School education and a minimum of 1-year experience in customer service, hospitality, or retail environment.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate.
• Demonstrated exceptional customer service skills to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone is welcomed and valued.
• Demonstrated familiarity with Microsoft Office, Office 365, and the ability to learn other computer software programs.
• Ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, and enthusiasm, both individually and as part of a team in a fast-paced, high-demand environment.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, manage and follow through on multiple daily tasks and projects.
• Strong public speaking abilities and outgoing personality important
• High degree of cultural awareness and respect
• Flexibility, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities

Nice to Have:

• Bilingual in other languages highly desired, (Spanish, Somali, Hmong).

Our Values:

• We deliver.
• We lead with our hearts.
• We innovate.
• We are all in this together.
• We believe our differences make us stronger.

Starting Pay Rate: $20 per hour / Dependent on Qualifications and Experience.

Second Harvest Heartland is an EEO/AA Employer.

Second Harvest Heartland believes no one should ever go hungry, as our region produces more than enough food for everyone. Helping hungry neighbors find their next meal—so they can thrive at work, in the classroom and in their communities—is what drives Second Harvest Heartland, its partners and supporters. Beyond feeding hungry neighbors, Second Harvest Heartland believes in the importance of our work to help sustain our environment.