FoodShare Outreach Specialist - St. Croix Valley Food Bank

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is the leading local hunger-relief organization in the state with locations in Milwaukee and Appleton. Founded in 1982 by the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is a local and independent member of the Feeding America network. Driven by our mission to solve hunger, we are bringing more people together around the table to collaboratively address the root causes of hunger. Together with our network partners, we serve nearly half a million food-insecure people across 35 counties in eastern Wisconsin each year.

JOB PURPOSE:

Conduct outreach to educate the public about FoodShare benefits at a variety of community locations. Collaborate with local community organizations and community-based partners to coordinate referrals and to increase the quantity of FoodShare applications submitted through Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. Screen clients electronically and assist them in completing the FoodShare application process, including online application support through the Wisconsin ACCESS portal. Provide guidance to clients to understand rights and benefits and serve as liaison for future client follow up and communication. 

This role is based out of St. Croix Valley Food Bank but is supervised and funded through Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and carry out outreach plans for organization partners — including schools, low-income and transitional housing sites, key nonprofit collaborators, and statewide food bank network.
• Build relationships with community businesses and organizations to facilitate client referrals for FoodShare application assistance.
• Maintain ongoing partner relationships through regular communication, primarily via virtual meetings, with in-person travel as needed.
• Support the Director of Government Programs in volunteer outreach, onboarding, training, mentoring, scheduling, and coordination of FoodShare community volunteers. 
• Provide statewide FoodShare Helpline telephonic assistance – connecting people to FoodShare resources, application assistance, and resources in their area. 
• Create and update FoodShare application training materials, including guides, videos, and outreach materials, as needed. Share expertise for development of promotional strategies and collaterals.
• Provide detailed explanation of FoodShare benefits to applicants.
• Screen potentially-eligible clients using the State of Wisconsin’s ACCESS online application tool and share results with clients.
• Provide personalized FoodShare application assistance utilizing the online application process and paper applications where online connectivity is not available.
• Submit clients’ verification documentation to the local FoodShare office in a timely manner.
• Act as liaison for future client follow up and communication.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding all aspects of clients’ personal information.
• Collect and report required data in a timely manner.
• Participate in mandatory food bank and statewide FoodShare Outreach team activities and meetings. 
• Work effectively as a member of food bank staff and as a member of FoodShare Outreach team to share knowledge and build program capacity. 
• Coordinate local FoodShare outreach to achieve and exceed local goals and while also maintaining strong connection and information sharing with statewide program and outreach goals.
• Identify and act on problems, making solution-focused decisions in consultation with supervisor.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Commitment to understand and support FAEW’s mission, vision, and effective actions to end food insecurity and its causes.
• Respect for the people FAEW serves and commitment to learn the causes of their food insecurity and need.
• Bachelor’s degree from accredited college/university and minimum of 1 year of related outreach experience.
• Strong ability to set own priorities and work independently while also being a part of a larger team
• Professional written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• Intermediate-to-advanced Microsoft Office Suite software and computer skills along with the ability to learn ACCESS online software.
• Ability to travel throughout indicated territory on a weekly basis for outreach, application appointments and meetings.
• Ability to develop extensive knowledge of FoodShare within 3 months of employment.
• Experience working successfully with community-based, nonprofit organizations preferred.
• Demonstrate the ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be open-minded of differing opinions and views.
• A positive, team-oriented mindset with a "can-do" approach to supporting the organization, demonstrating cross-functional collaboration and a focus on developing solutions.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, automobile insurance that meets Wisconsin state minimum liability requirements and transportation to travel to work sites.
• Ability to work safely following FAEW safety procedures.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and/or hear, and/or use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand, and/or walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds while moving files or small-medium sized packages. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Protective Clothing Required: None

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in an office environment and off-site locations. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual may encounter while performing the essential functions of this position.

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. FAEW prohibits discrimination against any applicant or employee on the basis of age, race, color, creed, religion, disability, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, arrest or conviction record, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. 

Employment with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and other pre-employment requirements applicable to the position.