Retail Sourcing Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Retail Sourcing Specialist contributes to the growth of the Retail Rescue and Red Barrel Programs through positive interaction with retail stores and partner pantries. This role is responsible for monitoring retail donor activity and partner agency activity by running reports, analyzing data and trends, and keeping management well informed of program activities. The Retail Sourcing Specialist is required to educate store staff on donation policies, procedures, and guidelines. This position is externally facing with the focus being on building and maintaining relationships with retail store staff and partner pantries. This position spends approximately 60% of the workweek visiting retail stores and partner pantries within Houston Food Bank’s (HFB) 18-county service area.

Adhere to PACT values. (Purpose: Using our strengths passionately to contribute to our mission. Accountability: Choosing to rise above one’s circumstances and demonstrating ownership to achieve results. See It. Own It. Solve It. Do It. Courage: Standing up for what’s right and acting. Transparency: Doing things openly and honestly).

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Spends 60% of the workweek traveling within the HFB 18-county service area building and maintaining relationships with retail donors and partner pantries who participate in the Retail Rescue and Red Barrel Programs, as well as conducting product inspections.
2. Builds champions out of retail store staff to support ongoing food sourcing efforts and HFB mission/vision.
3. Analyzes data and trends to coordinate store and partner pantry visits for maximum efficiency.
4. Quickly solves operational issues that arise day-to-day, from software malfunctions to missing supplies to driver/store relationship challenges.
5. Continually educates store personnel (meat, deli, dairy, bakery, produce managers, receivers, and store managers) on their donation guidelines.
6. Works with Partner Services to identify new partner pantries to participate in the expansion of the Retail Rescue and Red Barrel Programs.
7. Works with Logistics Department on routing and driver performance, including regular shadowing of retail drivers to audit store donation practices and pickups.
8. Thoroughly understands HFB, its mission and policies, culture, values, history, key stakeholders, and programs, as well as retail program-specific guidelines and policies.
9. Monitors retail stores to ensure program guidelines are being followed.
10. Ensures compliance with HFB Retail Agreement with partner pantries and escalate any issues or findings to Retail Sourcing Manager.
11. Monitors and manages Meal Connect to ensure proper and on-time reporting; trains Partner pantries as needed.
12. Assists the Retail Industry Manager in applying corrective actions as needed for violations of the HFB Retail Agreement.
13. Assists the Retail Industry Manager in creating and presenting annual trainings for partner pantries.
14. Organizes and maintains monthly reports for donors and HFB metric reporting.
15. Participates in events outside the workday schedule/respond to emergencies by working beyond the workday schedule. Ability to travel as necessary.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.