(Archived) Veggie Van Specialist

YMCA of GREATER GRAND RAPIDs

Veggie Van Specialist

Revision Date: July 2015 Reports to: Community Collab Dir

Status: Part-Time Branch: Mary Free Bed

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Department: Community Outreach

Job Grade: __H Compensation:

OUR CULTURE:

Guiding Principles describe our behaviors to support our organization’s work throughout its life in all circumstances, irrespective of changes in goals, strategies, and leadership. Our Guiding Principles are as follows: We CULTIVATE-We grow staff and volunteer leaders who will be stewards of the Y mission, resources, and opportunities. We OWN-We think long-term and act on behalf of the organization, beyond our own team. We WELCOME-We are inclusive of all people and all communities. We SERVE-We provide timely and excellent service to members, volunteers, community, and each other. We LEARN-We are never done learning and always seek to improve. We are curious about new possibilities and act to explore them. We UNITE-We work together to achieve big goals and speak as one voice. We RESPECT-We treat others with kindness and speak positively about other people in all situations. We PLAY-We celebrate, appreciate, and have fun!

The YMCA of Great Grand Rapids utilizes a Membership By Design framework, which is a member involvement and community building model for YMCAs across the country. All staff members—front-line, management, full- and part-time—and volunteers have a role to play in member engagement. These responsibilities can be broken into six steps:

1. Enrollment: Staff and volunteers encourage potential members to enroll in programs and activities that meet their needs.
2. Satisfaction: Staff and volunteers ask members continually about their satisfaction with a program or activity, track responses, listen to suggestions, and respond promptly in a manner consistent with the values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
3. Relationship Building: Staff and volunteers are open, friendly, and approachable to all YMCA members and participants. Staff and volunteers initiate interaction with and between members.
4. Education and Conversion: Staff and volunteers know about and share their knowledge of the YMCA, its programs, its policies, its mission, its values, and how it benefits members and the community.
5. Volunteerism and Leadership: Staff and volunteers create opportunities for members to volunteer in their areas of interest, and they ask members to do so whenever appropriate.
6. Ownership: Staff and volunteers encourage members to “own” the YMCA, using words such as “we,” “us,” and “our association” (and actions that match those words) to include members as well as staff and volunteers.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Veggie Van makes daily stops in urban neighborhoods throughout Grand Rapids, making fruits and vegetables available to people who otherwise have limited access to fresh produce. We sell locally grown, top-quality fruits and vegetables at reduced prices. Additionally, we accept SNAP, WIC, and Senior Project Fresh/Market FRESH benefits.

This position requires a part-time 2-3days/week, approximately 8hrs/day commitment. This position may involve some early morning and evening responsibilities. This is a grant funded position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Program Management

• Assist with the pickup of produce from local suppliers as needed
• Set up produce displays efficiently and attractively (requires heavy lifting)
• Offer exceptional customer service to a diverse group of clients
• Host food tastings and cooking demonstrations featuring local produce
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of produce on the van
• Communicate in a positive demeanor with host sites to ensure proper implementation of the Veggie Van

Performs any other functions necessary for the smooth and efficient operation of the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids

QUALIFICATIONS:

Associates degree or equivalent experience preferred; 1-3 years of experience in the local (West Michigan) agricultural community, farm retail or equivalent combination of education and experience. Ability to speak Spanish is strongly desired. Ability to interact with people from all ethnic backgrounds, ages, and lifestyles. Minimum of two years’ experience working with diverse populations preferred. Ability and desire to work with low income populations. Ability to react quickly to emergency situations. Working knowledge of computers and experience with a variety of software applications. Reliable transportation is required. WIC, Project Fresh, SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks knowledge preferred. Working knowledge of local agricultural and food systems preferred

Customer service experience required.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATION

• Blood Borne Pathogen training
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification required within the first 60 days
• First Aid Certification required within the first 60 days
• State of Michigan criminal background clearance (ICHAT)
• Driver’s license with no traffic violations preferred –Chauffer’s License preferred to be obtained upon hire
• Passing DOT physical preferred

YMCA LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:

Functional Expertise

• Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills to do the job at a high level of accomplishment.
• Uses best practices, guidelines, and industry standards as a framework to improve performance.

Critical Thinking & Decision Making

• Recognizes own biases and suspends judgmental thinking.
• Responds to challenges with possible solutions in a timely manner.

Communication & Influence

• Interprets messages and body language effectively.
• Listens with the intent to understand the perspective of others by using appropriate communication methods, including open-ended questions.
• Responds to the individual needs of the other person.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to write simple correspondence.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written or scheduled form.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finder, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and smell. Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.