Program Specialist - Food Pantry Support (Part Time)

JOB GOAL:

To advance the college’s mission, vision, principles, values and strategic initiatives through continuous improvement decisions.

GENERAL JOB SUMMARY:

Access to food and personal care is essential for our campus students, with the Student Food Pantry providing vital resources. As a Food Pantry Support/Program Specialist, cultivating an environment of compassion and respect is crucial, ensuring everyone feels valued and supported, reflecting the pantry's mission. Meeting each patron with kindness while supporting their mental, physical, and emotional health for academic success is central to this role.

This position involves managing pantry operations, including pick-up, delivery, unloading, food orders, and inventory oversight. With limited supervision, you will greet visitors, handle calls, compose correspondence, use advanced office software, and assist with pantry processes, including monthly reports, and community partnership meetings. Discretion in obtaining confidential information and knowledge of Kirkwood’s policies is necessary for training work-study students, volunteers, and front desk staff. The successful candidate will exercise independent judgment while collaborating with college personnel and the public, viewing each day as a chance to impact students positively.

This position will work part time with 28 hours per week on average, and must be able to work on Tuesday and Thursday morning.

UNIVERSAL CORE COMPETENCIES:

Advocate for Continual Improvement- empowering each other to identify opportunities for excellence.

Collaborate with Mutual Accountability- working together with a willingness to take ownership and account for our actions.

Champion Service- anticipating needs and create a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive environment.

Perseverance- commitment to excellence even in the face of adversity or delay in achieving success.

Lead- regardless of title, through positive influence.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Operate the Cedar Rapids food pantry, managing internal pantry operations to distribute food products to eligible individuals, including assisting clients with check-in and check-out, and orienting new users to the process and system.

Assist with training work-study students to assist with operations.

Responsible for properly storing food products safely and securely consistent with health regulations and HACAP requirements.

Collaborate with campus staff, departments, and community partners to promote the pantry and enhance student support services.

Maintain an organized, clean, and accessible pantry environment that reflects care and attention to student dignity

Support student food pantry volunteer program, with training, email communication, and staffing updates.

Maintain accurate data on pantry usage and inventory levels; compile reports to inform ongoing improvements and demonstrate impact.

Perform other related work duties as assigned.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS:

Ability to access, input, retrieve, and output computer information for word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications. Must be able to apply general computer skills to specialized departmental software.

Use data and student feedback to evaluate pantry services and enhance the program's impact and reach. Providing supervisor with feedback on strategic opportunities to enhance food pantry operations.

Keep precise records, guarantee prompt ordering and inventory management, and uphold food safety and hygiene standards.

Take the initiative to recognize and meet needs, make processes smoother, and ensure tasks are completed with trustworthiness and care detail.

Maintain flexibility and adapt to changing needs, participate in special events or initiatives, and support basic needs work across campuses as needed.

Lead with empathy and clarity by providing supportive supervision and guidance to our student workers and volunteers, demonstrating clear communication and encouraging professionalism in collaboration.

Always maintain client confidentiality.

Promote access and equity, ensuring pantry services are accessible and responsive to diverse student needs, including providing resources in a culturally respectful and student-centered manner.

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the essential job duties/responsibilities and performance expectations of the job, which should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES WITH/WITHOUT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:

Position involves working in an office setting. Occasional (10-33%) standing, pushing, pulling and grasping, lifting up to 50 pounds. Frequent (34-66%) reaching and viewing a computer and other types of close visual work, lifting up to 20 pounds. Constant (67-100%) sitting, walking, repetitive motion, talking and hearing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Associate’s degree or equivalency required

Must have working experience with standard office software, including word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Exceptional interpersonal and communication abilities, combined with a caring and empathetic approach to student assistance

Excellent organizational and time management skills, capable of handling multiple responsibilities.

Valid driver's license and ability to travel for pick-ups in the Cedar Rapids area.

This position requires a valid driver's license and participation in continuous Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) monitoring. Your driving record will be verified initially and monitored on an ongoing basis as a condition of employment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS, LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, OR REGISTRATIONS:

Previous experience in education, mental health or social services setting is preferred.

EEO/AA STATEMENT:

It is the policy of Kirkwood Community College not to discriminate in its programs, activities, or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, religion, and actual or potential family, parental or marital status. If you have questions or complaints related to compliance with this policy, please contact the Vice President, Human Resources and Institutional Effectiveness (employees) or the Vice President of Student Services (students), 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404,319-398-5572,equity@kirkwood.edu, or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204-3582, Telephone:(303) 844-5695 FAX: (303) 844-4303, TDD 800-877-8339 Email:OCR.Denver@ed.gov.

WHY KIRKWOOD:
Kirkwood Community College prides itself on fostering a diverse workforce and values unique perspectives throughout its campus community. The college is a convenient, innovative, visionary educational leader striving to remain affordable and accessible. With more than 140 majors and programs, Kirkwood boasts 16,000 annual college-credit students while maintaining one of the lowest tuitions in the state. All degree-seeking students are eligible for federal financial aid and the college offers more than $3 million in scholarships each year to students from all walks of life.
Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.