Connecticut Foodshare is the food bank serving all of our neighbors across the state. Working with a strong network of community-based hunger relief programs, we help provide nutritious food as well as long-term, sustainable solutions to food insecurity. By joining Connecticut Foodshare, you will be part of a team that helps drive community awareness, garners support, leverages research, and engages volunteers, to realize our vision of a thriving community free of hunger. 

Position Summary:

The Network Relations Representative is responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships with more than 50 agency partners in the city of Hartford, including food pantries and meal programs that receive food from Connecticut Foodshare. The Representative focuses on providing relevant guidance and support to ensure safe and accessible food distribution partnerships that are responsive to the diverse needs of food insecure people in Connecticut.  This position will be assigned to the Bloomfield Facility and reports to the Senior Director of Network Relations.   

Essential Duties and Accountabilities: 

Support Partner Compliance & Capacity

• Develops working relationships with agency partners to understand their unique program strengths, needs, and opportunities for development.
•  Develops and maintains a comprehensive understanding of current food bank requirements and processes for agency partners and related Federal and State guidelines, including policies regarding federal, state, and donated product.
• Conducts regular agency partner site visits to review program operations, use of food bank product, and compliance with applicable policies.
• With guidance from management, documents and addresses non-compliance issues in a timely manner, including investigations of programs suspected of violating food bank policies.
• Maintains regular communication with agency partners to share relevant food bank updates, tools, and other useful information; collects agency partner feedback, insights, and successes as needed.
•  Coaches agency partners in strategies to increase food distribution and expand best-practices as appropriate, such as accessible hours of operation, creating a welcoming experience, and coordinating with other service providers.
•  Gauges program readiness and refer partners to other food bank initiatives as appropriate.
•  Helps organize, promote, and participate in partner program trainings and forums organized by the food bank.
• Maintains accurate and current agency partner files with required documentation.
•  Responds to agency partner questions or requests for information in a timely manner.
• Manages time effectively and is highly detail-oriented to accomplish complex tasks.

Build Community Connections

•  Works collaboratively with key hunger-related community groups and represents the food bank at key community meetings in the city of Hartford.
•  Evaluates and recommends new agency partners with direction from the Senior Director of Network Relations; onboards selected new programs.
•  Recommends approaches for the food bank to address unmet needs and emerging trends.
•  Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education/Experience: 

•  Associate degree in Public Health, Public Administration, Social Work, or related field with 3 years of related experience in similar or related function in comparable environment OR 5 years of related experience in similar or related function in comparable environment. 
• Proficient with technology, including Microsoft Office and other software systems 
• Valid driver’s license and safe driving record. 

Preferred Education/Experience:

•  Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Public Administration, Social Work, or related field with 2+ years of progressively responsible experience in similar or related function OR 6+ years of progressively responsible experience in similar or related function.
• Familiarity with and ties to the city of Hartford.
• Experience in partnership management and development, community building, customer service, training, and program coordination.
•  Bilingual in Spanish. 

Other Requirements

•  This position requires the ability to climb up and down stairs at agency partner facilities.
• Self-starter with strong interpersonal and communication skills 
• Cultural sensitivity with an ability to work with diverse individuals  
•  Strong organizational skills, with attention to detail and excellent time management 
• Willingness to listen and learn to offer innovative solutions
• Local travel between different agency sites 3-5 days of the week, requiring reliable personal vehicle. (Mileage reimbursement is provided for work-related travel.)