Salesperson for Retail Sales

Retail Sourcing Specialist

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.

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.

• Builds champions out of retail store staff to support ongoing food sourcing efforts and HFB mission/vision.
• Analyzes data and trends to coordinate store and partner pantry visits for maximum efficiency.
• Quickly solves operational issues that arise day-to-day, from software malfunctions to missing supplies to driver/store relationship challenges.
• Continually educates store personnel (meat, deli, dairy, bakery, produce managers, receivers, and store managers) on their donation guidelines.
• Works with Partner Services to identify new partner pantries to participate in the expansion of the Retail Rescue and Red Barrel Programs.
• Works with Logistics Department on routing and driver performance, including regular shadowing of retail drivers to audit store donation practices and pickups.
• Thoroughly understands HFB, its mission and policies, culture, values, history, key stakeholders, and programs, as well as retail program-specific guidelines and policies.
• Monitors retail stores to ensure program guidelines are being followed.
• Ensures compliance with HFB Retail Agreement with partner pantries and escalate any issues or findings to Retail Sourcing Manager.
• Monitors and manages Meal Connect to ensure proper and on-time reporting; Assists the Retail Industry Manager in applying corrective actions as needed for violations of the HFB Retail Agreement.
• Assists the Retail Industry Manager in creating and presenting annual trainings for partner pantries.
• Participates in events outside the workday schedule/respond to emergencies by working beyond the workday schedule. Ability to travel as necessary.

Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Communication, Retail Management, Hospitality, Supply Chain, or a closely related field preferred

Minimum of 2 years of related work experience in sales, retail, and communication

Bilingual English-Spanish strongly preferred

Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations:

Must have reliable transportation, a valid driver's license, and insurance.

Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

Strong customer service skills and willingness to assist others.

Organizational skills in managing projects simultaneously while maintaining a satisfactory work product.

Ability to develop, interpret, and evaluate policies and procedures.

Carries out responsibilities in accordance with HFB policies.

Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

Action-Oriented / Customer Focus / Drives for Results / Informing / Approachability / Learning on the Fly / Perseverance / Self-development / Listening / Peer Relationships / Integrity and Trust / Functional/Technical Skills

While performing the duties of the job, the employee is required daily to analyze and interpret data, communicate, and remain in a standing or stationary position for a significant amount of the workday; and often access, input, and retrieve information from the computer and other office productivity devices. The employee must regularly move about the facility, use hands, wrists, and fingers to grip, type, and write. The employee will need to have the average ability to hear horns, warnings, and alerts associated with a warehouse.

While the job is generally performed in a pantry and office environment, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, strong food-related smells, and outside weather conditions. The employee will be exposed to loud/elevated noises throughout the workday.

Travel Required:

Travel is required for this position (up to 60% of the time and on a domestic basis within our 18-county service area in personal vehicle).

This role supports hours of operations at the Houston Food Bank facilities, as necessary, and may require flexibility (e.g., times of disaster, community events, company events).

*Houston Food Bank