Program Assistant - Hunger Relief

Metropolitan Family Service•Portland, OR

13d•Onsite

About The Position

Metropolitan Family Service is seeking a part-time Program Assistant to support its Hunger Relief efforts at multiple Community School sites. This role involves assisting with food distribution, tracking data, ensuring food safety, training volunteers, and supporting client referrals. The position is open to both internal and external candidates and offers the possibility of increased hours based on funding. It is an in-person role requiring presence at specific school sites on Thursdays and Fridays.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Must obtain a valid Food Handlers’ Card for Multnomah at time of employment.
Further food safety trainings may be required by partner organizations.
MFS requires all employees and volunteers to complete a criminal background check.
Ability to lift up to 30 pounds on a regular basis.
Ability to move high volumes of food in an average workday.
Must be able to regularly perform the following activities: bend, stretch, squat and twist while lifting or carrying items and moving in a safe manner.
Must practice safe lifting techniques at all times.
On occasion, repetitive heavy lifting may be required.

Nice To Haves

Bi-lingual written and verbal communication in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian, Vietnamese, Karen, Tagalog, Nepali, or Burmese.
Experience working with families in an enriching, positive manner.
Experience working in public school settings.
Experience in food distribution, customer service, or similar field.
Willingness to ask questions and seek clarification when needed.
Ability to work effectively both independently and within a team environment.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
Possess excellent time management and organizational skills.
Possess strong verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to maintain appropriate and professional relationships with clients and volunteers.
Ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of individuals and groups.

Responsibilities

Support multiple SUN Community School sites with hunger relief services delivery, setup, and distribution.
Assist in food pantry deliveries, setup, and distributions while assuring food safety protocols are being met.
Oversee volunteer protocols and processes for all food distribution sites, including volunteer paperwork and data, recruitment, and training.
Support in both internal and external resource referrals for clients when possible.
Work with the Hunger Relief Coordinators at each site to assure all school staff and clients are notified of closures and changes in the schedule.
Keep temperature logs, monitor food shelf dates, and keep all areas food safe and in compliance with OFB and MFS policies.
Maintain MFS confidentiality policies and respect the privacy of participating families.
Complete site OFB reports, and assist with any additional data collection, tracking, and reporting as needed, including proper data entry in shared food banking database- SIMC.
Keep pantries in compliance during recalls.
Maintain food pantry files in collaboration with the SUN Site Manager.
Communicate ideas and concerns to the SUN Site Manager, Hunger Relief Program Coordinators, and Program Manager in a timely manner.
Comply with policies and procedures as outlined in Metropolitan Family Service Employee Handbook.
Assemble weekend food backpacks for students.
Support resource referrals and opportunities for partner engagement.