Summary:  The FoodShare Outreach Specialist conducts outreach to educate the public about the FoodShare Wisconsin benefit at a variety of community locations in their assigned support area, to actively build collaboration to increase the quantity of FoodShare applications submitted through Second Harvest Foodbank, thereby increasing food security. The Specialist also administers assistance to potentially eligible nonparticipants at a variety of locations or by phone to increase access to FoodShare benefits, as well as maintain up-to-date knowledge and understanding of policy issues related to FoodShare.  

Position Responsibilities & Essential Functions

• Build relationships with community businesses and organizations to facilitate neighbor referrals for FoodShare application assistance. Build trust and actively listen to cultivate and maintain community-centered relationships.
• Connect, participate, and engage in initiatives that are mission-aligned and/or provide community value.
• Collaborate with SHF team to deliver responsive and supportive customer service.
• Share expertise for development of promotional strategies and collaterals.
• Provide detailed explanation of FoodShare benefits.
• Conduct outreach to all potentially eligible households, particularly populations who are under participating, such as seniors, low-wage workers, and immigrant populations.
• Partner effectively with sites and conduct presentations to ensure widespread information dissemination and recruit potential applicants.
• Screen potentially eligible members using the State of Wisconsin’s ACCESS online application tool and share results with members.
• Provide personalized FoodShare application assistance (in-person and over-the-phone) utilizing the ACCESS online application and three-way conference calls with the member and the consortium. 
• Submit members’ verification documentation to the local FoodShare office in a timely manner.
• Serve as liaison for member follow up and communication.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding all aspects of members’ personal information.
• Perform ongoing monitoring of county, federal and state policy to ensure that barriers and/or opportunities are being communicated to FoodShare Outreach team.
• Collect and report data as required promptly.
• Collaborates with Community Representatives, department team members and other SHF Staff to engage partner agencies and community collaborators with FoodShare.
• Participate in mandatory Foodbank and FoodShare Outreach team activities and meetings. 
• Facilitate FoodShare Outreach team meetings on a rotating basis. 
• Schedule and attend weekly check-ins with the FoodShare Outreach Manager.
• Work effectively with FoodShare Outreach team to share knowledge and build program capacity. 

Skills and Abilities

Personal Effectiveness

• Outstanding outreach and customer service skills.
• Ability to take personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work and achieve results with little oversight. 
• Ability to partner effectively with internal and external collaborators and find connections and resources to work towards 
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize and be adaptive to changing needs. 
• Respects and maintains confidentiality.
• Ability to build and maintain customer satisfaction with the services offered by Second Harvest. 
• Ability to focus on results and desired outcomes and how best to achieve them. 
• Ability to maintain composure in highly stressful or adverse situations.
• Ability to build constructive working relationships characterized by a high level of acceptance, cooperation, and mutual respect. 
• Ability to work and communicate with people of diverse backgrounds. 
• Adheres to all workplace safety standards and practices. 
• Ability to cultivate and develop equitable and inclusive working relationships with staff, volunteers, community partners, vendors, and applicants. 

Communications

• Relationship-builder with an understanding of community voice and seeking opportunities to support community-driven solutions
• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to draft reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals; relate well to all levels of the organization, ability to build appropriate rapport.
• Ability to make effective group presentations and conduct productive meetings. 
• Accurately provide and receive information in oral and written communications; consistently offer ideas, opinions, or information in an articulate, professional way.
• Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries and complaints.
• Ability to communicate the branded message internally and externally (mission, vision, values).
• Computer Skills
• To perform this job successfully, the individual should have an intermediate knowledge of the following computer software programs.

Microsoft Office Suite – specifically Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

o Google WorkSpace

o Internet

o Zendesk

o Must have the ability to quickly learn and effectively use internal software programs as well as Access online software application.

Benefit package includes:

• Health Insurance (we pay 90% of premium for full-time employees)
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with 5% match
• Short Term Disability Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Section 125/Flexible Spending Plan
• Paid Time Off starting at 23 Days per year
• 15 Paid Holidays per year
• Paid Family Leave
• Employment Transition Pay
• Tuition reimbursement

To ensure consideration, please apply by Sunday, January 12th, 2025.

Qualifications

Required Education/Experience

• Two or more years of relevant outreach experience.
• Must reside within assigned support area.
• Valid driver’s license and safe driving record.
• Regular access to dependable transportation with insurance levels of 100/300/50.
• Must drive, park, and use SHF vehicle if/when necessary.
• Ability to travel throughout support area for meetings and food distributions
• Bilingual (Spanish) will be required for some assigned support areas.

Preferred Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field. 
• Knowledge of and experience with private and public food assistance resources; extensive knowledge of FoodShare required within 3 months of employment
• Experience working successfully with community based, nonprofit organizations.
• Experience working as an out-posted staff.
• Lived experience with the impacts of systemic racism or marginalization.