Volunteers and Warehouse Manager

Borehamwood Foodbank

Location: Borehamwood Foodbank

Hours: Part-time, 20 hours/week

Salary: £25,350 pro rata (based on a 37.5 hour working week)

Contract Duration: 1-year fixed term

Reporting to: Operations Director

As part of the overall management team, the Volunteers and Warehouse Manager will be responsible for the recruitment, induction, training and scheduling of rotas for our team of volunteers across all foodbank activities and will lead in the organisation and running of school holiday family lunches, cookery classes, Duke of Edinburgh student volunteering programme, and social events for volunteers. They will also be responsible for the day-to-day functions of the onsite warehouse units ensuring adequate stock levels and appropriate stock rotation.

Overall Responsibilities:

• To coordinate and run rotas of volunteers across our various foodbank activities including open sessions in all locations (currently 2 per week, possibly increasing to 3 per week), family lunches, and cookery classes.
• To follow up enquires from potential volunteers and actively recruit new volunteers in accordance with safe recruitment practices
• To develop an in-depth induction pack and programme for all new volunteers, in line with policies and best working practices of Borehamwood Foodbank and Trussell Trust, ensuring volunteers are aware of relevant policies and procedures for safe working across the various foodbank activities.
• To organise and oversee all stock donations, orders and deliveries and ensure adequate stock levels are maintained at all times and rotated throughout the different warehouses on site as needed.
• To lead in the organisation and running of school holiday family lunches (minimum 11 per year), cookery classes (minimum 3 per year) and social events for volunteers.
• To coordinate and supervise Duke of Edinburgh student volunteers (6 months per year)
• To set up different communication platforms for coordinating and communicating rotas and important foodbank information to volunteers
• To explore and implement relevant training opportunities for volunteers
• To help plan and run social events for volunteers

Warehouse Functions:

• Supervise the day-to-day running of the warehouse units on site.
• Oversee the inventory, ordering and delivery of stock and ensure that adequate stock levels are maintained at all times and rotated as needed throughout the different units on site.
• Communicate and coordinate with existing and potential donor organisations (supermarkets, schools, faith groups, clubs, etc) regarding their donations and fund-raising activities.
• Send timely thank you messages to all those who donate.
• Ensure that the warehouses and outside grounds are kept clean and organised and being responsible for the foodbank’s waste disposal.

Family lunches and cookery classes:

• Set dates and book venue for a minimum of 11 school holiday family lunches and minimum 3 cookery classes throughout the year
• Actively publicise all events in a timely manner
• Develop a programme of themes and activities for each event and source materials for the activities
• Coordinate the ordering and distribution of school uniforms during the summer family lunches
• Coordinate a rota of volunteers to help with each event
• Ensure smooth running of all events

Duke of Edinburgh (DoE) Student Volunteer Programme:

• Liaise with local secondary schools to recruit DoE students who wish to volunteer for 6 months as part of the DoE programme.
• Coordinate and supervise a weekly evening session for DoE students to make food packs (1 evening per week for 6 months)
• Coordinate and assist DoE students in organising and running a fundraising event on behalf of the foodbank

Key Skills:

• Strong communicator both verbally and written
• Good interpersonal skills
• Good organisation skills with the ability to juggle several tasks at once
• Good time management skills, working to set deadlines
• Ability to work to a set budget
• Strong computer skills in word, excel and internet as well as other social media platforms for communicating (WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram)
• Ability to design publicity material for foodbank events

Personal Attributes:

• Willing to work within and support the ethos and values of Borehamwood Foodbank and our partners
• Having compassion for those in food poverty and in need
• Willing to work in teams with volunteers from all faiths and none
• Willing to proactively engage and participate in relevant training and personal development opportunities available through Trussell Trust and other associated bodies.
• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
• Ability to work unsupervised
• Being proactive and inclusive
• Honesty and integrity
• Having a driving licence is an advantage, but not essential.
• This role will require lifting, moving and handling of stock for which training can be provided.
• Whist the main hours of the role will be during week days, the occasional weekend and/or evening hours may be required.