Community Connections Specialist (Somerset County; Franklin County; Greater Waterville Area)

Good Shepherd Food Bank•Auburn, ME

7h•$52,000 - $63,336•Hybrid

About The Position

The Community Connections Specialist (CCS) plays a vital role in advancing Good Shepherd Food Bank’s Strategic Priorities by supporting a statewide network of community partners, school partners, and healthcare partners. Serving as the primary liaison for partners and retail donors within a designated region that is fluid and subject to change, this role helps ensure effective and mission-aligned collaboration across the network. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Community Partnerships, the CCS fosters strong relationships with community liaisons, and GSFB partners. This position provides direct support and compliance guidance to partners with the goal of strengthening partner capacity and ensuring program success. Key responsibilities include site visits, monitoring and synthesizing data, and identifying service gaps. The CCS works closely with partners to implement strategies that promote a safe, compliant, and accessible charitable food network that meets the diverse needs of food-insecure individuals.

Requirements

Proven experience in relationship management, community engagement, or a customer service-oriented role, ideally within a nonprofit or community-based setting with strong interpersonal skills.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively convey complex information, policies, and guidelines with the ability to adapt communication style for diverse audiences.
Comfort and competency with public speaking and facilitation of meetings.
Strong diplomatic skills with a solutions-oriented mindset in relation to problem solving, both internally and externally, with an eye for innovation.
Cultural competency and sensitivity, with the ability to work with diverse communities and understand unique barriers to food access.
A proven ability to self-manage and function equally as a team member and autonomously as a sole contributor.
Exceptional time management skills with strong accountability, timely follow-ups, and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines under pressure.
Ability to perform detailed documentation and record-keeping related to relationship sustainability and strategic planning.
Experience with data analysis to track trends, assess partner performance, and provide insights for program improvements.
Demonstrated proficiency in data entry, Microsoft Office Suite, virtual applications, and the ability to learn new software programs and systems.
A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to travel within the assigned service area.

Nice To Haves

Candidates who live within the service area are strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Gain knowledge and a deep understanding of communities within a designated service area by building and maintaining strong, trust-based relationships with partner agencies, retail donors, and community-based organizations to cultivate connections and increase collaborations.
Collaborate with partners and community organizations to understand and reduce barriers to food access, promoting a safe, compliant, and accessible charitable food network that meets the diverse needs of food-insecure individuals.
Conduct outreach to address service gaps, expand partnerships, and enhance hunger-relief efforts across communities.
Represent GSFB at events, conferences, food distributions, and community gatherings to build visibility and strengthen collaborations.
Serve as a connector and liaison between partners and Good Shepherd Food Bank departments, including logistics, operations, research & evaluation, and advancement.
Facilitate onboarding, account management, and ongoing support for new and existing partners.
Identify and share resources and opportunities with partners, support capacity-building efforts, and foster connections among network partners and community organizations.
Provide support with administrative processes, data entry, and system navigation related to partner operations.
Support the Retail Donation Outreach Manager in maximizing food rescue and coordinating retail pickup logistics.
Assess partner resource needs and collaborate with sourcing teams to ensure alignment with community-specific priorities.
Conduct regular site visits and compliance monitoring visits to ensure adherence to Feeding America, IRS, and Good Shepherd Food Bank network standards.
Complete monitoring visit reports, document compliance activity, and collaborate on corrective action plans, initiating follow-ups as needed.
Develop optimized maps and schedules for partner site visits, ensuring both time and cost efficiency.
Maintain accurate and compliant partner files within designated service area(s).
Document all partner and retail donor interactions, including communications and compliance activities.
Collect and analyze partner statistics, identify trends, recommending best practices to strengthen network capacity and impact.
Gather and report qualitative and quantitative data to support analysis of partner operations, driving enhancements in neighbor experience and service accessibility.
Provide support for grant-related activities, including tracking, coordination, and general assistance.
Support funding requirements and organizational goals by collecting partner data, testimonials, and survey responses.
Provide feedback cross-departmentally as it relates to partner and neighbor experience, needs and services.