Food Scientist Jobs in Washington

Job Description

The Division of Student Life has an exciting opportunity for a Director, UW Food Pantry. This is a part-time, 65 percent FTE permanent position.

About this Opportunity

Reporting to the Assistant to the Vice President for Student Life, the Director, UW Pantry provides leadership, supervision, and daily oversight to the UW Food Pantry, located in Poplar Hall. The UW Food Pantry serves students, staff, and faculty who may be facing short term food insecurity. The pantry currently serves more than 700 visitors per week, offering shelf-stable foods, produce, and ready-to-eat items recovered from UW Dining. The UW community will continue to see food insecurity numbers increase, as the pantry serves as a critical resource in helping lessen this burden. The pantry relies primarily on financial donations to be able to purchase food, approximately 10K per month.

Position complexities include: supervising student staff; recruiting and overseeing 100+ volunteers; managing budgets; providing pantry advocacy and education to internal and external constituencies; demonstrating independent judgement and decision making; fundraising; competent in utilizing technology, including Microsoft 365 and social media; operations management, including facilities maintenance, food handling and storage; flexible and sometimes unpredictable working hours; skills in de-escalating situations with unsatisfied visitors and unaffiliated persons.

This is a part-time, 65 percent FTE permanent position. The salary information provided below is for a full-time position and will be prorated for this part-time, 65% FTE opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of the Pantry, including staffing and administrative tasks, requiring independent judgement and decision making (20%)
• Recruitment, training and supervision of student staff and volunteers (20%)
• Facilitation of weekly team meetings and individual meetings with Pantry student staff (10%)
• Coordination of Pantry layout, facilities management and maintenance with HFS Facilities (10%)
• Keep stock of inventory and regularly placing food and supply orders (5%)
• Oversee Pantry budgets for food purchasing and staffing (5%)
• Ensure Pantry staff and volunteers are educated on proper food handling protocols as outlined by UW Environmental Health & Safety (5%)
• Maintain a high level of communication through management of the Pantry email account (5%)
• Represent the Pantry at events (in person and virtual) as needed, including class presentations, tabling, fundraisers, and the media (5%)
• Maintain an awareness of community resources related to food, housing, mental health, and financial services for visitors, staff, and volunteers (5%)
• Explore additional resources in the greater community to lessen the burden on the Pantry financially (5%)
• Collect and manage data related to the Pantry including oversight of the Food Bank manager system, visitor demographics, usage, and weight of food distributed (3%)
• Identify and oversee special projects for staff and volunteers, including data visualization, graphic design, fundraising, and recipe writing (2%)

Required Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification and/or registration.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nutrition, food science, public health, or related field.
• Two or more years of work experience managing staff in a food industry context (food service, food production, food bank, farm work, etc.)

Additional Qualifications

• Experience hiring, training and supervising student staff.
• Managing teams and coordinating complex schedules.
• Budgeting and fiscal planning experience.
• Understanding of food insecurity and hunger relief services/systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Competent in utilizing Microsoft 365, including OneDrive, Teams, Excel and Outlook.
• Able and willing to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends, and provide occasional unexpected coverage as necessary.
• Experience with data management and producing visually appealing reports and presentations.
• Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs. to facilitate loading, moving and distributing food.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to drive in Washington state.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working or volunteering in food banks.
• Experience with volunteer recruitment, training, and management.
• Ability to independently and proactively seek opportunities for program improvement.
• Digital marketing and communications experience.
• Desire to work and learn in a diverse setting.

Working Conditions

• The pantry works similar to a grocery store and is open during the day, Monday – Friday.
• Northwest Harvest trips each week to Kent require driving in Seattle traffic roundtrip to Kent.
• Classes and organizations request presentations during the evenings and weekends.
• Some work can be completed virtually.
• The UW Food Pantry is a space that occasionally encounters conflict from both affiliated and unaffiliated persons requiring de-escalation skills.

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

$66,000.00 annual

Pay Range Maximum:

$66,000.00 annual

Other Compensation:

Benefits:

For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/

Shift:

First Shift (United States of America)

Temporary or Regular?

This is a regular position

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

65.00%

Union/Bargaining Unit:

Not Applicable

About the UW

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Our Commitment

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.