Position Title: Food Shift Social Enterprise Operations Associate/Manager

Date Posted: 02-22-24 (edited 03-08-24)

Status: Non-exempt, Regular, Salaried 

Pay Rate: $47,840–$67,600 for full-time (commensurate with experience) 

Hours: 40 hours/week (full-time)

Benefits: Regular Earth Island Institute Employee*, vacation/sick hours accrual

Location:  Alameda, CA, with remote work opportunities

Reports to: Food Shift Executive Director

*We are fiscally sponsored by Earth Island Institute (EII), and therefore, EII is the employer for all Food Shift staff. 

 

About Food Shift

Food Shift is a non-profit social enterprise based in Alameda, CA, serving the broader Bay Area. We develop and implement collaborative and flexible models to reduce food waste and nourish our neighbors to build capacity in our community. Our food recovery and distribution program, Operation Together, supplies food to frontline food assistance organizations, ensuring access to delicious, nourishing food. We achieve impact and influence by sharing out globally, the insights gained by our first-hand hyperlocal experience, through our consulting, advocacy, and community outreach programs. 

We strongly encourage applications from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) candidates and folks with lived experience of the issues our constituents navigate, including but not limited to food insecurity, houselessness, incarceration, and poverty. [The Food Shift Kitchen program where apprentices who are overcoming employment discrimination assist with Food Shift operations, recovering surplus and cosmetically imperfect produce that would otherwise be wasted, is currently in hiatus due to our relocation project.] We are fiscally sponsored by Earth Island Institute (EII), and therefore, EII is the employer for all Food Shift staff. 

 

Who we are

We are a small staff, but a big team, including interns, volunteers, executives-in-residence, advisors, and apprentices together at our table. Food Shifters connect to food through a range of experiences as chefs, servers, food writers, artists, farmers, home cooks, and eaters. Our flat organizational structure knits together our experiences and skills to strengthen the organization, and our cross-trained staff continually adjust to support one another. While our team members come from many backgrounds, we unite around our shared JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion) values, which inform everything we do.

That’s why we seek a “cultural knit,” rather than a “cultural fit,” in our hiring process. While “fit” suggests a predefined candidate who fits into the organizational jigsaw puzzle, we emphasize a cultural knit, inviting new team members to weave their unique experiences and skills into our fabric. A cultural knit allows us to build capacity in the team itself and each other, creating the resilience to build a better food system in our community, and tackle the root causes of food insecurity and climate change. We believe solutions must be for the people, by the people, and with the people.

 

Who we are looking for

The Social Enterprise Operations Associate/Manager (title dependent on experience) is the primary person coordinating Food Shift’s food recovery and redistribution program, Operation Together. You will work closely with staff, partners, and volunteers to implement structures and coordinate key activities for Operation Together and programs that support the organization’s sustainability and connections in the community.

We are seeking qualified candidates who identify with the descriptions below, with experiences and skills that will nourish an innovative start-up organization and contribute to our growing impact. We use 3 pillars to review the candidates: 1) qualification to perform the job; 2) alignment of candidates’ career aspirations with Food Shift’s values and programs; and 3) diversity. Characteristics we look for include:

• Committed: Identifies with Food Shift’s mission and vision, and goals (and has a personal connection to food)
• Inclusive: Demonstrates understanding of applying a justice equity diversity and inclusion lens to relationship building, communication, and decision-making
• Detailed and Organized: Applies attention to detail and organizes the work in a way that builds capacity in our team; strong follow-through and timely task completion
• Self-Starter: Takes initiative to make improvements to systems and processes wherever possible; completes work with minimal supervision and meets deadlines; navigates ambiguity
• Adaptable: Thinks critically and adapts in a flexible and changing environment; anticipates needs of others and the organization; prioritizes tasks based on our values and circumstances
• Collaborative: Excels at working as a team, relationships, and giving and receiving honest feedback via nonviolent communication; minimizes time between being stuck on their own and reaching out for clarification or assistance from others
• Words to Action: Practices clear oral and written communication; translates our mission and impact to donors and the community
• Technologically Skilled: Is proficient in Google Workspace, Microsoft Suite, basic social media platforms and posting software; customer relations management software and design skills a plus (currently used: Google Workspace, Later, MailChimp, Canva, Slack, Salesforce)
• Cross-trainable: staff are expected to be trained for responsibilities beyond your primary area
• Accredited: Holds a valid CA driver’s license (our auto insurance carrier requires we follow their guidelines, including but not limited to 0 Major Moving Violations in the past 4 years); current food handler certificate (or able to take the certification upon joining Food Shift)

Other relevant experiences/skills include:

• Experience with food redistribution and/or recovery, or other social enterprises
• Spanish language proficiency is a plus

Areas of Responsibilities

• The distribution of tasks assigned depends on the strengths of the candidate, and may also vary due to availability of appropriate work

• Operation Together: food recovery and food distribution (~90%)

  • Coordinate with other team members (including apprentices, volunteers, and interns) to perform and complete Operation Together tasks

  • Work with the Food Recovery Manager and other team members to unload, weigh, sort/organize and redistribute recovered food donations

  • Pick up from produce markets and other food donors when needed; ensure quality and food safety standards are met

  • Assist with managing internship structure for assigned interns and volunteers

  • Recruit and train volunteers and interns for Operation Together

  • Track metrics for reports

  • Set up and implement practices consistent with SB 1383, food safety, and the physical safety of the Food Shift Team

  • Forge and maintain meaningful relationships within our food ecosystem

  • Share knowledge gained from Operation Together with other team members as insights for our outreach education, consulting work, and other programs

  • Represent Food Shift at food recovery and related community meetings

• Special Projects, Other Operational Needs (~10%)

  • Assist with special projects and tasks
    Support with event planning, outreach, logistics, and follow-up

  • Represent Food Shift at events where appropriate

  • Serve as backup support for immediate organizational needs (as necessary)

Requirements

• COVID requirements: All Food Shift team members with on-site obligations must comply with our COVID protocols, including but not limited to full vaccination status before any on-site work, as we serve a vulnerable population
• Physical requirements: Ability to perform desk work (e.g., use a computer, keyboard, and calculator); ability to perform physical work (e.g., stand, bend, stoop, carry (~50 lbs), sit, walk, twist and turn (reasonable accommodations will be made for staff with disability)

We recognize that excellence and potential are expressed differently for different people. If our vision and mission excite you, we hope you will share with us your experiences and skill set that you feel would qualify you to make a contribution as the Food Shift Social Enterprise Operations Associate/Manager.

Food Shift is a project of Earth Island Institute (EII) and this position is an employee of EII. Earth Island Institute provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

To apply

Your application should include:

• A resume, with up to 3 professional references (Optional: link to an updated LinkedIn profile)
• A cover letter that includes a short description of why you and Food Shift are a cultural knit and how you meet the qualifications for the role

Email materials to careers@foodshift.net with the subject line “Social Enterprise Operations Associate/Manager.” The review process will begin March 1, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled.