VA Partnership Specialist

About the Organization:

It is an exciting time at the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) as we continue to undertake our mission. We know that creating long term solutions to food security requires more than meals. It requires education, training, and collaboration. We are seeking people with strong ideas and a passion to come together to address the complex interrelated issues of food security, poverty, and equity. We are expanding in multiple ways: providing food for today and addressing the root causes of hunger by partnering with organizations that provide critical services like job training programs, health care and education. Food has the power to transform lives and move everyone forward. Find out how on our website at capitalareafoodbank.org. 

Description:

The Capital Area Food Bank partners with about 100+ organizations on the front lines of anti-hunger work in Northern, Virginia. The VA Partnership Coordinator will be responsible for supporting and enhancing the partnerships of these partner agencies in addition to monitoring sites for compliance. This position will work in a collaborative environment as part of the VA Regional Team that oversees the work of the Capital Area Food Bank in Virginia, as well as with position counterparts on the MD Regional Team and the DC Regional Team. This is a key position that will serve a connecting point between the organization and partner network we serve.

The VA Partnership Coordinator will play a critical role in achieving the mission of the Capital Area Food by supporting, recruiting, and enhancing the abilities of partner agencies located in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William County and City of Alexandria, Manassas, and Manassas Park. The Coordinator will develop a strong understanding of the local emergency food environment, identify opportunities to strengthen the CAFBs network, make connections across partners and programs, and recommend anti-hunger advocacy strategies.

Essential Functions:

Partnership Building, Recruitment and Management - 35%

• Primary point of contact for approximately 100 partner agencies located in Northern Virginia.
• Actively engage with partners to ensure they have access to the variety, type and amount of food they are seeking in alignment with CAFB distribution goals.
• Act as a subject-matter expert on Northern Virginia region food security landscape and drive efforts to improve partner needs by engaging with CAFB.
• Identify gaps in key hunger hot spots and conduct targeted recruitment efforts for new partners in high needs areas. Communicate regularly with Operations staff about product availability and delivery accuracy.
• Ensure timely response to inquiries by potential partners Respond in a timely manner to partner concerns and make recommendations for process improvement.

Compliance - 50%

• Maintain compliance with all aspects of rules of operation and reporting for internal CAFB and external organization standards
• Review, process and allocate product to partner orders in compliance with CAFB standard operating procedures.
• Perform site inspections of all sites on a scheduled basis to ensure program guidelines are met
• Maintain partner agency information and accurately updates databases and files.
• Onboard new partners in compliance with CAFB and Feeding America guidelines Collaborate across departments on best practices on various priorities including but not limited to brand standards, conducting information gathering surveys, database management, etc. Facilitate new partner trainings and workshops.

Regional Outreach and Engagement - 15%

• Work with existing and potential partners and community-based organizations to assess need and report back to management recommendation.
• Contribute to developing and im