Food Programs Volunteer Specialist

Lighthouse•Pontiac, MI

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Lighthouse MI is a growing non-profit, established in 2019 when Lighthouse of Oakland County and South Oakland Shelter joined forces to offer a stronger collective response to poverty in our Metro Detroit community. With over 80 years of combined experience, Lighthouse serves as a beacon of hope to our neighbors who need it most by offering assistance with emergency basic needs alongside housing programs and supportive services designed to support long-term economic stability. Lighthouse owns and operates Spero Housing Group, a subsidiary non-profit dedicated specifically to developing and operating high quality affordable and supportive housing for persons of low and moderate income, as well as HandUp, a community and crowdfunding platform serving 100+ homeless service agencies and their clients across the United States. Position Summary The Food Programs Volunteer Specialist oversees and supports volunteers across Lighthouse’s emergency food programs, including pantry services, food drives, and home delivery. This role provides daily direction to volunteers, ensures safe and efficient operations, and fosters a welcoming, well-supported volunteer environment. The Specialist plays a hands-on role in daily operations by checking in volunteers, assigning tasks, and serving as a key point of contact, while also supporting donation coordination, food drives, and volunteer engagement initiatives. Responsibilities may vary week to week in alignment with program needs.

Requirements

Associates degree OR three total years of equivalent work experience
2-3 years of experience coordinating volunteers, including scheduling, training, and oversight
Passion for alleviating food insecurity and poverty in the community
Demonstrated ability to maintain strong professional and personal boundaries
Demonstrated ability to uphold and enforce program policies and procedures
Ability to work with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Apps, Link2Feed, and CRM software
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Strong conflict resolution skills
Strong organization and time management skills
Ability to motivate and manage diverse personalities
Ability to work occasional evenings or weekends
Reliable transportation and maintenance of automobile insurance
Valid driver’s license, Lighthouse reserves the right to require a driving record check with respect to any employee where driving is an essential function of the position
Current ServSafe Certification or willingness to obtain it within 3 months of hire

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, social services, human services, communications, or related field, OR four years of experience in any of those areas
3-4 years of experience coordinating and supervising volunteers, preferably in a nonprofit, food pantry, or community-based setting
Lived or some professional experience working with people experiencing homelessness or extreme levels of poverty in the US
Experience using Link2Feed
Knowledge of the food landscape in Oakland County and surrounding areas
Proven ability to work effectively with racially and ethnically diverse clients and teams
Exhibits willingness to have difficult conversations
Ability to listen and accept feedback constructively
Possess high emotional intelligence skills
Ability to work in a fast paced, demanding, constantly changing environment

Responsibilities

Collaborate closely with the Community Partnership Specialist
Serve as the primary point of contact for incoming in-kind food donations, including coordinating intake, documentation, and receipts
Identify and build relationships with potential partner grocers to increase in-kind food donations and serve as the primary contact
Develop, implement, and host regular volunteer orientations, including creating volunteer training and marketing materials
Coordinate volunteer schedules and maintain clear, consistent communication with volunteers
Support volunteers, ensuring they are prepared for pantry operations and daily responsibilities
Foster strong working relationships with stakeholders and partners who contribute through in-kind donations and volunteerism
Collaborate with the Fund Development team to recruit volunteers and coordinate food drives and community donation events
Maintain ongoing communication with the Fund Development team to share key volunteers, companies, and organizational partnerships
Lead food drive events, such as Stamp Out Hunger, including weekend responsibilities as needed
Work with court-appointed volunteers, host orientations, and verify hours accordingly
Partner with off-site Lighthouse satellite pantries monthly to ensure needs are being met and volunteers feel supported
Coordinate pantry services for clients, including answering phones, completing client intake in Link2Feed, and responding to resource navigation calls
Maintain organization and cleanliness of pantry spaces
Facilitate, weigh, and track incoming food donations
Sort incoming food donations to ensure quality standards are met
Ensure all food is handled in compliance with food safety regulations
Monitor inventory of food products and assist the supervisor with food procurement tasks at off-site Lighthouse satellite pantries
Collaborate and support other Lighthouse emergency food services as necessary
Participate in appropriate staff and team meetings
Attend trainings and workshops to enhance professional development and represent Lighthouse at community events as needed
Oversee volunteer onboarding and maintain data in the volunteer management platform, including posting and managing volunteer events
Enforce program rules, policies, and procedures and uphold agency values to maintain a safe, client-centered, and inclusive environment for clients, staff, interns, and volunteers
Carry out any additional tasks assigned by their supervisor