Met Council: Program Coordinator
Program Coordinator; Manhattan Fulfillment Center
Department: KOSHER FOOD PROGRAM Location: New York, NY
FLSA: Non-Exempt/Overtime Eligible
Benefits: Eligible
Hours Per Week: 40/Full-time
Position Summary:
Met Council is America’s largest Jewish charity dedicated to serving the needy. Met Council’s ten different departments are staffed by experts who helped over 305,000 clients in 2020 and continuously advocate on behalf of all needy New Yorkers. Our holistic programs range from 100% affordable housing at 20 locations to our award-winning family violence program to comprehensive Holocaust survivor assistance to senior programming to crisis intervention to the largest free kosher food distribution program in the world. Our network of 101 food pantries, 20 affordable housing sites, and 15 JCCs provide services directly in neighborhoods across New York.
The Met Council Manhattan Fulfillment Center (MFC), one of Food Program’s incubator pantries in Manhattan, serves to fill pockets of kosher need by prioritizing dignity and accessibility in its programs through the Digital Pantry system. With the Digital Pantry, MFC onboards satellite sites, expanding the scope of MFC’s food footprint in Manhattan. With 13 satellite sites, MFC is steadily growing to meet food needs from a client-focused model. Pantry clients pick up the food packed at the MFC from their nearby community-based organizations, which includes schools, synagogues, and other nonprofits. As a volunteer engagement hub, MFC also incorporates volunteer shifts and events in all its programming to educate neighboring communities about Met Council services while carrying out its daily operations.
The Manhattan Fulfillment Center Program Coordinator will support MFC’s existing pantry operations while facilitating the expansion work of Met Council’s food assistance programming on CUNY commuter campuses, part of MFC’s satellite sites. The food assistance program will be executed on commuter campus Hillels in NYC, a component of the holistic, comprehensive, integrated Jewish education and social services currently provided on campus. To plan and implement these programs, the coordinator will be expected to engage with external partners to maintain MFC’s distribution spokes at community organizations. Support for the programming will also entail administering MFC pantry operations, which includes Digital Pantry software management, inventory maintenance and control, and monthly food distributions with the MFC sprinter van. The coordinator will also assist with food-related volunteer shifts and events to carry out MFC’s monthly food distributions. The coordinator reports to the MFC Program Manager, who oversees all volunteer engagement, food distribution, and expansion work.
Principal Responsibilities:
Assist Program Manager with the expansion of the Met Council and Hillel Food Assistance Program on CUNY commuter campuses.
Assist with food distribution to MFC’s satellite sites, including driving to college campuses, synagogues, and schools
Maintain inventory control for monthly distributions: Digital Pantry software, food and essential product deliveries and distributions to support satellite sites with external partners
Work with volunteers, donors and community groups shifts and events to support MFC’s needs
Ensure the space remains a welcoming, exciting, and functional place to sustain and grow Met Council’s program goals and activities.
Other duties as assigned
Competencies:
Excellent customer service skills
Some experience with donors and community stakeholders
Some familiarity with local community groups or willingness to learn
Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
Ability to work on a team with constant collaboration and open communication
Good communication skills—both written and verbal
Working knowledge of Windows 10 and all Microsoft Office programs
Ability to work independently and manage multiple complex tasks simultaneously
Significant organization skills, with an ability to stay focused on assigned tasks
Skills and Education:
Associates degree (required); Bachelor’s degree (preferred)
Fluent In English (required); additional languages helpful
Knowledge of Kashrut laws helpful
Comfort with technology (required)
Driver’s license (required); ability to drive a van or willingness to learn (required)
Physical Demands:
Required Constantly: Walking, sitting, grasping, bending, stooping, squatting, computer input, finger dexterity and coordination of hand, eye and foot.
Required Frequently: Standing and climbing stairs; carrying laptop & files (approx. 8-10 lbs), lifting up to 50 pounds, pushing and pulling.
Required Occasionally: Reaching above the shoulder.
Special Requirements:
Occasional Sunday and after-hours programming
Increased involvement based on agency seasonal needs
Compensation: Starting at $47,840 per year, commensurate with skills, experience and education
Benefits: Major medical, dental, vision and life insurance. Pre-tax commuter benefits, FSA, 403(b) with employer match, plus generous vacation, sick leave and holidays