Retail Rescue Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

JOB TITLE: Retail Rescue Specialist                                   

DEPARTMENT:  Sourcing & Demand Plannin g

LED BY:  Retail Rescue Manager

FSLA STATUS:  Exempt    

HOURS:  Full-time; 40 hours/week

LOCATION: Brooklyn Park, MN / Hybrid

ABOUT SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND 

Second Harvest Heartland is the second-largest food bank in the United States, sourcing and delivering food to nearly 1,000 food shelves and food distribution partners throughout 59 counties across central and southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Our work begins with a bold vision: a community where no one goes hungry. We help fill plates, shelves, and fridges throughout the region while shining a light on food insecurity and its root causes and inspiring action at home and across the country. By utilizing new and better data, engaging and mobilizing partners, and advancing innovative solutions, we are on the leading edge of a movement to address hunger and food insecurity in our communities.

If you’re ready to turn your passion into purpose, join us and help build a future where every neighbor has the food they need to thrive.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Retail Rescue Specialist is responsible for securing donated food from retailers by directly serving retail partners and facilitating relationships between retailers and partner agencies. The Retail Rescue Specialist works to maximize donations and program participation by stewarding approximately 160 retail donors, supporting 45 hunger-relief partner agency organizations, and maintaining the standards of the Retail Rescue program across an assigned territory within our Minnesota service area. This work supports a retail food recovery network that facilitates approximately 48 million pounds of donated food annually. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

This list is not intended to be inclusive of all duties and responsibilities. As SHH grows and the community needs change, employees should expect that new and different tasks, temporary and on-going, will be part of one’s daily work. 

Donor Relations and Food Procurement 

• Collaborate with the Retail Rescue Manager and team members to increase donor program participation and support annual retail food recovery goals. 
• Manage a caseload of approximately 160 retail donor locations and support relationships with approximately 45 hunger-relief organizations, contributing to a retail food recovery program that facilitates approximately 48 million pounds of donated food annually. 
• Plan and prioritize activities within assigned geographic territory to support retailer participation and food recovery goals. 
• Call on multiple donor sites each week to engage retail staff members, reinforce program standards, and identify opportunities to increase donations. 
• Solicit food and related products through contact with current donors and assist in engaging prospective donors. 
• Develop and execute annual donor stewardship plans for assigned donors, with support from the Retail Rescue Manager. 
• Provide onsite training and follow-up support for store employees participating in the Retail Rescue program. 
• Manage donor and agency contact information, activity records, and program documentation in designated databases and systems. 
• Prepare, review, and interpret reports, dashboards, and charts using available tools, including Power BI and spreadsheet-based reporting. 
• Maintain active communication with internal partners to identify potential issues and opportunities for improvement. 
• Foster trusted partnerships by responding with urgency and professionalism to issues, conflict resolution needs, questions, and requests. 
• Inform the manager of significant problems, risks, or unresolved issues in a timely manner. 

Partner Agency Support 

• Facilitate Retail Rescue agency partnerships with retailers across an assigned portfolio of approximately 45 hunger-relief organizations. 

• Provide ongoing training and follow-up support as required by program expectations and agency or retailer requests. 
• Monitor and support agency compliance with Retail Rescue program requirements, including timely and accurate submission of donation receipts and related documentation. 
• Work collaboratively with Partner Operations and other internal teams to support partner agencies participating in the Retail Rescue program. 
• Provide materials, guidance, and training for agency partners to execute and expand their Retail Rescue activities. 
• Provide onboarding, training, and follow-up support to agencies beginning participation in the Retail Rescue program or adding new retailer partnerships to ensure successful program implementation. 
• Monitor adherence to Retail Rescue program standards and address operational issues to ensure safe, consistent food recovery. 
• Foster trusted partnerships by responding with urgency and professionalism to questions, concerns, and operational issues. 

VALUES 

• We Deliver: We use our head and heart to make decisions, we make the best use of donor dollars, and we achieve results safely and reliably.
• We Lead with Our Hearts: We keep our neighbors, partners, and teams at the center of our work. We seek to understand and anticipate their needs.
• We are all in this Together: We collaborate, internally and externally. We communicate openly, seeking feedback and sharing knowledge.
• We Innovate: We seek out bold new ideas, we embrace change, and we commit to continuous improvement for ourselves and our work.
• We Believe our Differences Make us Stronger: We value inclusion and embrace the variety of backgrounds that make up our team and our community. Our different experiences and perspectives empower us to fulfill our mission

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 4 years of relevant experience (work, education, military, or transferable skills), preferably in food shelf operations, retail, or nonprofit program coordination.
• Strong relationship-building and customer service skills, with the ability to engage retail donors.
• Proven problem-solving and planning skills; able to respond to challenges with initiative.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities, both verbal and written, including public speaking.

• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities independently.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and Office 365; able to quickly learn new software.
• Knowledge of food safety and safe product handling.
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout the 59-county service area, including overnight trips; valid driver’s license, safe driving record, current personal vehicle insurance and ability to be insured by Second Harvest Heartland required.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff, volunteers, and external partners.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Experience working with food banks, food shelves, hunger-relief organizations, or community-based nonprofit programs.
• Knowledge of retail grocery operations, inventory management, product recovery, or donation programs.
• Familiarity with donor stewardship, account management, or business relationship development.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing data, tracking program metrics, and preparing reports to measure outcomes and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Knowledge of food insecurity issues, nutrition access programs, and community resources.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a remote or field-based environment with minimal supervision.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field.

Second Harvest Heartland is an equal employment opportunity employer.