Job Description

Job Location: Academy (West Harlem) - New York, NY 10031
Position Type: Full Time
Salary Range: $22.00 - $22.00 Hourly

Title:                           Food Pantry Assistant
Unit:                            Food &n Nutrition
Reports to:                  Food Access & Nutrition Services Manager
Salary Range:             $22.00 per hour [Approximately $40,040 annually]
Status:                         Full-Time; Regular; Non-Exempt
Location:                     The Bronx, Long Island City
Days/Hours:                 Monday – Friday 9:90 am-5:00pm
Organization Overview:
The Fortune Society, Inc. (Fortune) has been working for over 57 years in service to our mission: to support successful reentry from incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities. The organization has evolved into one of the nation’s preeminent reentry and justice-informed service organizations, providing formerly incarcerated people with the skills and wrap-around services needed to break the cycle of crime and incarceration and to build productive lives in their communities.
Fortune has grown steadily over the years to an agency with close to $90 million in annual budget with just under 600 staff. We anticipate that we will keep growing, both in size and depth of service. Fortune has a dual mission: both advocacy and service. The advocacy portion of our mission focuses on building a more just criminal legal system and reducing the barriers to reentry into society. The service side of Fortune has evolved to encompass a broad range of programs that started with employment and education and now includes a robust array of services, among them: alternatives to incarceration, supervised release, court advocacy, discharge planning within correctional facilities, licensed substance use and mental health treatment, a housing continuum ranging from emergency and transitional through permanent congregate and scattered site housing, assistance in obtaining benefits, a care management unit, HIV services, a food and nutrition program, and an arts program. Each service we provide is informed by the needs of the population we serve. Fortune currently serves approximately 14,000 people a year. Our program models are recognized, both nationally and internationally, for their quality and innovation. We have locations in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan and Queens.

Position Summary:
This individual will be responsible for assisting with Food Pantry food distribution at The Fortune Society’s Supervised Release Program (SRP) site in the Bronx, as well as at our Long Island City service center. Their duties will include adhering to NYCDOMH food handing standards, maintaining cleanliness of front of house and food storage areas, assisting clients with placing orders, packing and distributing food bags, organizing inventory, and other duties as needed. The Pantry Assistant will also assist with special events and any other food service needs as directed.  Travel to Harlem, LIC, or any future Fortune Society location may be required, depending on the needs of the business.
Core Competencies:
Mission and Fit: Embodies Fortune’s mission and values and will be an effective member of the team in furthering both. The candidate should exhibit compassion and understanding for our participants (wherever they are in their re-entry process) and embrace Fortune’s core value that none of us should be measured against the worst things we have done.
Communication/Social Skills:  Candidate will address and be responsive to the concerns of others; manage their verbal, nonverbal, written and visual language; be an effective listener, observer, and empathetic; intervene in crisis when necessary through conflict resolution; transfer and translate information in our database system and maintain level of communication between peers and supervisor when appropriate.
Cross Cultural Skills:  Candidate will demonstrates an understanding of and respect for the importance of cultural competence with our clients and staff; be receptive to different groups and cultures and engage them effectively; possess an awareness of the impact on marginalize groups.
Professionalism/Work Ethics:  Candidate will demonstrate personal accountability, effective work habits, i.e. punctuality, working productively with others, time and workload management.  Candidate will also demonstrate integrity and ethical behavior, acts responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind and is able to learn from their mistakes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Registering clients for the pantry and assisting them with placing orders as needed.
- Fulfilling orders/packing food bags.
- Assisting with pantry distributions.
- Receiving, checking in, and unpacking food deliveries.
- Maintaining cleanliness of food storage spaces and maintaining the accuracy of our online inventory system.
- Perform crowd control during pantry distributions.

Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED
- NYC Food Handlers Certification required
- Food Protection Certification for Pantry Worker, must be completed within 2 months of hire
- Food Service experience a plus, but not necessary
- Strong oral communication skills required;
- Ability to work as part of a team;
- Ability to follow and carry out directions
- Knowledge of, and sensitivity to, social issues faced by formerly incarcerated men and women; and
- We seek talented, dedicated individuals from all walks of life who possess a strong commitment to this mission.  Relevant personal experience is a plus.
Physical Demands:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily, be able to lift at least 50lbs and stand for long periods of time as needed. The responsibilities and requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensing, experience and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
The Fortune Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of conviction history, race, religion/creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, victim of domestic violence status or marital status.