Organization Overview
Nourishing Hope, formerly known as Lakeview Pantry, is a dynamic Chicago nonprofit providing food and social services for anyone in need. Founded in 1970, we’re one of the largest and longest operating hunger relief organizations in Chicago. We also provide free, trauma-informed mental health counseling and other social services, such as job and housing assistance. We strive to serve the needs of the whole person — with respect and dignity, always.
Nourishing Hope offers our neighbors nutritious food using a choice-based distribution model and access to life-changing social services including:
- Monthly food distribution and additional produce pickup through five different food access programs;
- Home delivery services for older adults, homebound neighbors and neighbors living with disabilities;
- Social services including case management, mental health counseling, job search support, domestic violence intervention, referrals and public benefits assistance (SNAP, healthcare, government forms) for anyone in need.
Nourishing Hope serves tens of thousands of people each year, providing more than 4 million meals through our programs, in addition to partnerships with other community organizations. This year, Nourishing Hope will provide about 200,000 food and social services to our Chicago neighbors.
Position Summary
The Program Expansion Coordinator provides support to the Program Expansion Manager in various program areas, including client and partner services, administrative tasks, and assistance with program partner and pantry coordination. Oversees and ensures a fair and organized system for food distribution. This role serves as liaison for all pantry clients and program partners.
Locations and Schedule
This position is based primarily at Nourishing Hope’s headquarters, located at 1716 W. Hubbard Street in Chicago. However, the role will be cross-trained to support operations at other offsite food program locations as needed. The standard schedule is Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with one remote workday per week. Some flexibility is required, as hours may vary based on program needs.
Essential Job Functions
- Within a culture of great respect for our clients, distribute food according to Nourishing Hope, state, and federal guidelines.
- Interaction with external partnerships involves traveling to locations, training, registration, and any other partnership needs.
- Complete partnership registrations, maintain partnership spreadsheets, and recording partnership distributions and client activity.
- Acts as the liaison between the Online Market tech platform and Nourishing Hope.
- Collect and store food according to Nourishing Hope, state, and federal guidelines.
- Communicate with clients virtually to provide strong customer service and provide satisfactory and prompt orders for Online Market Customers.
- Maintain Nourishing Hope and warehouse site sanitation that meets or exceeds government and monitoring agencies’ standards.
- Track monthly expenses to ensure budgetary compliance.
- Train and supervise volunteers to assist with packing and distributing Online Market orders.
- Produce necessary reports required by supervisor, donors, and government agencies.
- Create and track benchmarks of the program’s success, and make recommendations for improvement.
- Act as an ambassador for the mission of Nourishing Hope to the larger community.
Qualifications
Required
- High school diploma/GED or equivalent work experience.
- 2-5 years of work experience in social services, customer service, grocery, retail or warehouse setting.
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds regularly and push/pull up to 100 pounds using manual carts & dollies.
- Valid driver’s license, clean driving record and access to a vehicle.
- Strong technology skills including:
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite
- Ability to use and maintain our Salesforce client database.
- Familiarity with issues that are common among the population served including, but not limited to, homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse, mental and physical disability, and the elderly.
- Ability to obtain and maintain food service sanitation certification in accordance with municipal and state laws.
- Ability to handle an occasional volatile situation calmly, professionally and respectfully.
- Excellent phone skills, including clear communication, excellent customer service and interpersonal skills.
- Proven ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
- An understanding of, and belief in, the importance of food security for everyone.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights and Saturdays.
Highly Preferred
- Bilingual (Spanish).
- Experience in Non-violent Crisis Intervention techniques.
Pay and Benefits
Hourly rate: $20.20-$21.00 per hour
Full-time benefits include:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
- Employer-paid life and disability insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan with employer contribution
- Generous paid time off
- Paid birthday holiday
- Parental leave
- Language pay (Spanish, Russian, Polish)
- $250 employee referral bonus
- Free subscription to mental wellness app
Background Check
Because we are a Medicaid provider all applicants who are offered employment with Nourishing Hope will be subject to a background screening. Offers of employment are contingent on the successful completion of a background screening conducted in accordance with Nourishing Hope policy and federal, state and local law.
