Program Advocate, Loaves & Fishes

Job Description

Job Description

Summary: Loaves and Fishes Kitchen operates in three churches within Springfield. Lunch and dinner are served seven days a week. It is a life sustaining service and essential to the health of the people we serve. The staff assistant must work with volunteer food groups that bring meals, other volunteers, and guests at the kitchen. This person must maintain a welcoming and pleasant atmosphere. This position is responsible for all aspects of the operation of the kitchen.

Why Work for SMOC?

• Paid Time Off: All full-time employees can accrue up to 3 weeks of vacation, and 2 weeks of sick time and are eligible for 12 paid holidays during their first year of employment.
• Employer-paid Life Insurance & AD&D and Long-Term Disability for full-time employees.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package including Medical Plans through Mass General Brigham with an HRA Employer cost-sharing program, Dental Plans with Orthodontic Coverage, and EyeMed Vision Insurance available to full-time employees.
• 403(B) Retirement Plan with a company match starting on day one for all full-time and part-time employees.
• Additional voluntary benefits including; Term and Whole Life Insurance, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital indemnity, and Short-Term Disability.
• Flexible Spending Accounts, Dependent Care Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement and more.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Coordinate food groups and volunteers.
• Must ensure that there is adequate food for the lunch and dinner meals.
• Must assist with the preparation of food.
• Maintain a clean and safe environment for guest and volunteers.
• Adhere to Serve Safe guidelines.
• Must be able to work weekends and holidays when necessary.
• Other tasks as assigned by the program Director.
• Engage all clients by understanding and addressing their needs whether within or outside the scope of work.
• Attend & participate in team meetings as requested and communicate effectively with clients and staff in other areas.
• Maintain confidentiality of client, employee and agency information in accordance with federal and state laws and funder requirements.
• Ensure compliance with program/department, agency and/or funder requirements, as well as, SMOC policies & procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

• Must be caring, compassionate, and flexible. 
• Must have an understanding of homeless population, mental illness, and substance abuse.
• Must be able to self-initiate and diffuse volatile situations.
• Ability to maintain a calm attitude during stressful times and emergency situations.

Organizational Relationship:  Directly reports to Program Director. Indirectly reports to Division Director. Direct reports to this position are volunteers.

Physical Requirement:  Ascending and descending stairs.

Working Conditions: As part of the responsibilities of this position, the Program Advocate will have direct or incidental contact with clients served by SMOC in various programs funded or administered through the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. A successful background check is required.