Food Market Rescue Driver and Operations Associate

Neighborhood House•Saint Paul, MN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Neighborhood House is seeking a part-time Food Rescue and Distribution Associate to retrieve donated food from community food rescue partners and transport it safely to Neighborhood House food markets. This role operates a cargo van, collects donations from partner departments and backstock areas, monitors food temperatures, loads and secures products, and helps unload and receive donations at the market. The Associate represents Neighborhood House with reliability, care, and radical hospitality while supporting safe, efficient food market operations.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent work experience
Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and ability to meet agency insurance requirements for operating Neighborhood House vehicles.
Ability to obtain and maintain Neighborhood House van certification.
Ability to safely operate a large cargo van on city streets, in parking and loading areas, and during varying traffic and weather conditions.
Ability to work independently, follow an established route and schedule, and consistently arrive on time.
Ability to repeatedly lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds and to push, pull, load, and unload carts, boxes, and food products.
Ability to learn and follow food safety, temperature-control, donation acceptance, and documentation procedures.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with people of diverse ethnic, economic, social, racial, and cultural backgrounds.
Strong attention to safety, organization, reliability, and detail.
Must be able to pass a criminal background check and driving-record review.

Nice To Haves

Experience in delivery driving, grocery, warehouse, food shelf, food rescue, inventory, receiving, or a related role.
Experience driving a cargo van or similar vehicle.
Food handler certification or prior food safety training.
Bilingual or multilingual skills relevant to the communities served.

Responsibilities

Check out the agency cargo van at the beginning of each shift and complete basic pre-trip checks, including reviewing the vehicle for visible damage, safety concerns, cleanliness, and needed equipment.
Drive established routes between the Wellstone Center, food rescue partner locations, and Neighborhood House food markets while following traffic laws, agency vehicle policies, and safe-driving practices.
Build respectful, reliable working relationships with food rescue partner staff and follow each partner’s procedures for donation pickup.
Retrieve donated products from designated departments, storage areas, and backstock areas, using carts or other equipment as available.
Measure and document the temperature of refrigerated and frozen products at the food rescue partner site and follow food safety procedures for accepting and transporting donations.
Load, organize, and secure products in the cargo van promptly to prevent damage, contamination, shifting, or unsafe temperature changes.
Transport donations directly to the designated Neighborhood House food market to maintain food quality and the cold chain.
Return the van to the Wellstone Center at the end of the route, complete vehicle check-in procedures, and promptly report damage, maintenance needs, accidents, or other concerns.
Help unload donated products upon arrival and move items to designated receiving, storage, refrigeration, or freezer areas.
Assist food market staff and volunteers with receiving, sorting, stocking, and rotating donated food as directed.
Maintain a clean and orderly cargo van and remove boxes, spills, debris, and other materials after each route.
Support other food market receiving, stocking, donation, or distribution tasks when the scheduled route is complete and time allows.
Provide culturally responsive service aligned with Neighborhood House standards for accessibility, inclusion, respect, and radical hospitality.
Follow safe food handling, lifting, loading, unloading, and vehicle operation practices at all times.
Complete required route, mileage, temperature, donation, vehicle, and incident documentation accurately and on time.
Communicate promptly with the supervisor about route delays, partner concerns, rejected or unsafe products, vehicle issues, injuries, or changes in donation volume.
Participate in required training and obtain and maintain Neighborhood House van certification.
Work collaboratively with Food Support staff, volunteers, partner staff, and other Neighborhood House employees to support efficient daily operations.