Community Connections Specialist (Somerset County; Franklin County; Greater Waterville Area)

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Job Title: Community Connections Specialist

Location: Hybrid - Somerset County; Franklin County; Greater Waterville Service Area

Schedule: Monday to Friday, full-time (40 hours per week), with infrequent weekend and evening work required

Travel: Requires frequent driving to partner agency locations within the assigned service area.

Designation: Hourly | Nonexempt

Compensation

Hiring Range: $52,000 - $57,668

The salary range for Grade 06 is $52,000 - $63,336. Consistent with GSFB's Salary Administration Policy, most new employees are hired between the minimum and midpoint of the grade range. Starting salaries above the midpoint may be considered in limited circumstances based on qualifications and experience.

The Role in Our Mission:

The Community Connections Specialist (CCS) plays a vital role in advancing Good Shepherd Food Bank’s Strategic Priorities by supporting a statewide network of community partners, school partners, and healthcare partners. Serving as the primary liaison for partners and retail donors within a designated region that is fluid and subject to change, this role helps ensure effective and mission-aligned collaboration across the network.

Reporting to the Senior Manager of Community Partnerships, the CCS fosters strong relationships with community liaisons, and GSFB partners. This position provides direct support and compliance guidance to partners with the goal of strengthening partner capacity and ensuring program success. Key responsibilities include site visits, monitoring and synthesizing data, and identifying service gaps. The CCS works closely with partners to implement strategies that promote a safe, compliant, and accessible charitable food network that meets the diverse needs of food-insecure individuals.

In This Position, We:

Partner Relationship Management & Community Engagement

• Gain knowledge and a deep understanding of communities within a designated service area by building and maintaining strong, trust-based relationships with partner agencies, retail donors, and community-based organizations to cultivate connections and increase collaborations.
• Collaborate with partners and community organizations to understand and reduce barriers to food access, promoting a safe, compliant, and accessible charitable food network that meets the diverse needs of food-insecure individuals.
• Conduct outreach to address service gaps, expand partnerships, and enhance hunger-relief efforts across communities.
• Represent GSFB at events, conferences, food distributions, and community gatherings to build visibility and strengthen collaborations.
• Serve as a connector and liaison between partners and Good Shepherd Food Bank departments, including logistics, operations, research & evaluation, and advancement.

Partner Support & Capacity Building

• Facilitate onboarding, account management, and ongoing support for new and existing partners.
• Identify and share resources and opportunities with partners, support capacity-building efforts, and foster connections among network partners and community organizations.
• Provide support with administrative processes, data entry, and system navigation related to partner operations.
• Support the Retail Donation Outreach Manager in maximizing food rescue and coordinating retail pickup logistics.
• Assess partner resource needs and collaborate with sourcing teams to ensure alignment with community-specific priorities.

Partner Compliance Monitoring & File Management

• Conduct regular site visits and compliance monitoring visits to ensure adherence to Feeding America, IRS, and Good Shepherd Food Bank network standards.
• Complete monitoring visit reports, document compliance activity, and collaborate on corrective action plans, initiating follow-ups as needed.
• Develop optimized maps and schedules for partner site visits, ensuring both time and cost efficiency.
• Maintain accurate and compliant partner files within designated service area(s).
• Document all partner and retail donor interactions, including communications and compliance activities.

Partner Data Tracking & Evaluation

• Collect and analyze partner statistics, identify trends, recommending best practices to strengthen network capacity and impact.
• Gather and report qualitative and quantitative data to support analysis of partner operations, driving enhancements in neighbor experience and service accessibility
• Provide support for grant-related activities, including tracking, coordination, and general assistance. Support funding requirements and organizational goals by collecting partner data, testimonials, and survey responses.
• Provide feedback cross-departmentally as it relates to partner and neighbor experience, needs and services

Milestones of Success:

In the first 45 days:

• Participate in appointed onboarding activities.
• Develop an understanding of the GSFB network and Community Connections Specialist role.
• Begin to navigate NetSuite (Good Shepherd Food Bank's customer relationship management system) to access partner and retail donor information.
• Develop working relationships with the Senior Manager of Community Partnerships, Community Partnerships Supervisor & Community Connections Specialists (CCS’s), understanding the support structure and teammates’ strengths.
• Have a firm understanding of GSFB’s mission and core values and how those apply directly to your role.
• Train/shadow with one or more Community Connections Specialists over-the-road.
• Attend weekly one on ones with the Senior Manager of Community Partnerships
• Attend team meetings.
• Begin the support of partner agencies within the designated service area.

In the first 90 days:

• Build an understanding of Good Shepherd Food Bank’s internal operations and how departments work together.
• Demonstrate competence in using NetSuite by consistently and independently documenting all agency interactions in NetSuite.
• Be able to map out an efficient, individualized on-the-road plan. Ensure monitoring visits are up-to-date and/or scheduled.
• Collect and analyze unduplicated service numbers for partner agencies.
• Show an understanding of Feeding America compliance regulations as they pertain to partner agency documentation, food safety requirements, and digital file audits.
• Become familiar with the national Feeding America network of Food Banks and how to tap into research and best practices through HungerNet and Yammer.
• Begin understanding the Retail Programs and how best to support the desired outcomes for donors and the food bank.

In the first 6 months:

• Have been in contact with all partner agencies within the region.
• Attend a Community Partnerships Division Meeting.
• Have a firm understanding of NetSuite – orders, billing, reporting, data entry, and hygiene.
• Work cross-departmentally to support strategic plan initiatives.

In the first 12 months:

• Be able to problem solve and support complex partner agency inquiries.
• Have created strong relationships with partner agencies and local community organizations within the region.
• Be able to knowledgeably recommend partner agencies for pilot programs, projects, or other opportunities (media inquiries, advocacy support, guest speakerroles, etc.) requested internally or externally.

The skills, characteristics, and professional experience we are looking for include:

• Proven experience in relationship management, community engagement, or a customer service-oriented role, ideally within a nonprofit or community-based setting with strong interpersonal skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively convey complex information, policies, and guidelines with the ability to adapt communication style for diverse audiences.
• Comfort and competency with public speaking and facilitation of meetings.
• Strong diplomatic skills with a solutions-oriented mindset in relation to problem solving, both internally and externally, with an eye for innovation.
• Cultural competency and sensitivity, with the ability to work with diverse communities and understand unique barriers to food access.
• A proven ability to self-manage and function equally as a team member and autonomously as a sole contributor.
• Exceptional time management skills with strong accountability, timely follow-ups, and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines under pressure.
• Ability to perform detailed documentation and record-keeping related to relationship sustainability and strategic planning.
• Experience with data analysis to track trends, assess partner performance, and provide insights for program improvements.
• Have demonstrated proficiency in data entry, Microsoft Office Suite, virtual applications, and the ability to learn new software programs and systems.
• A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to travel within the assigned service area.

More about the role:

This position allows for telecommuting from your home office, though occasional attendance and meetings at GSFB's administrative offices in Auburn, ME and/or Hampden, ME may be required . Full-time hours are flexible and accommodating; the position requires 40 hours per week. Frequent travel throughout the service area is required, and mileage reimbursement is offered at the federal rate.

Physical and Other Requirements & Work Environment : The physical demands and work environment characteristics are representative and not intended to be exhaustive. Good Shepherd Food Bank will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of the role. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract.

The position is varied in nature, with extended periods of walking, standing, and sitting. The position requires extensive use of a display terminal or computer. The position requires reading, comprehension, and communication abilities. The position requires the use of hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms, and talk and hear. Vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.