Food Distribution Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary

The Senior Manager of Logistics is responsible for ensuring maximum efficiency and effectiveness of Manna’s distribution, manufacturing, and daily transportation operations and providing comprehensive support to the Director of Logistics by acting as a key liaison between the Director of Logistics and the rest of the Logistics team. The Senior Manager of Logistics coordinate 

Key Responsibilities

• Serves as the operational lead for day-to-day Warehouse and Logistics activities while maintaining regular consultation and alignment with the Director of Logistics on priorities and operational decisions.
• Manage all aspects of Manna’s daily transportation operations
• Manage and supervise Drivers and all distributions and food pickups are executed as schedule.
• Manage and supervise the Warehouse Clerks. 
• Collaborates with the Procurement Manager to align inventory availability with food box production and distribution needs
• Manage, oversee the manufacturing of food boxes (produce, dry items, shelf-stable, etc.), 
• Collaborate and Coordinate with the School Base Coordinator to ensure the production of smart-sacks pallets, drops and school market deliveries. 
• Coordinate with Facility & Fleet Manager any vehicle issues. 
• Ensure that distributed food meets all food safety guidelines. 
• Act as a visible and vocal advocate for warehouse and food safety.
• Any other duties as assigned. 

Summary of Essential Job Functions

Drivers and Daily Transportation Operations

• Manage daily driver assignments and routing to ensure efficient and timely execution of all distribution and collection activities.
• Mentor, coach, and train Drivers, and address performance, safety, and operational compliance issues to ensure adherence to Manna’s standards and procedures.
• Ensure all drivers complete required pre-trip and post-trip inspection reports accurately and on time, in compliance with operational and safety standards.
• Monitor driver performance, adherence to schedules, and operational compliance, addressing issues as needed to maintain service reliability.
• Coordinate with the Facilities & Fleet Manager regarding vehicle issues, required maintenance and repairs, anticipated truck downtime, and rental needs to ensure timely resolution and continuity of Logistics operations

Manufacturing and Production

• Oversee Warehouse Clerks to ensure proper food storage and handling in support of inbound and outbound warehouse operations, and in coordination with Procurement Manager to ensure required products are available for production needs.
• Mentor, coach, and train Warehouse Clerks, and address performance and operational issues as needed.
• Lead and delegate the manufacturing of all food boxes (produce, shelf-stable, special boxes, etc.) in alignment with distribution lists provided by the Call Center.
• Oversee palletization of all shipments for food distribution, including home delivery, satellites, OCP, pop-up events, and school-based program deliveries.
• Proactively manage FIFO (first-in, first-out) rotation to ensure proper food utilization and continuity of box production, in coordination with Procurement to support ongoing production needs.
• Oversee the sorting and use of all Food Rescue products, as well as donated food from farmers and community partners, for inclusion in food box production.
• Collaborate with the School-Based Program Coordinator to ensure timely production and fulfillment of Smart Sacks and school program pallets.
• Communicate proactively with the Call Center Manager to resolve discrepancies identified in daily distribution records and ensure alignment between scheduling and production.

Reporting & Communication to Director of Logistics

• Provides consistent and proactive updates to the Director of Logistics on daily warehouse, transportation, and distribution operations to ensure full visibility of Logistics activities.
• Communicates operational risks, delays, staffing challenges, and resource needs in real time to support timely decision-making and issue resolutions.
• Reviews and aligns with the Director of Logistics on key operational priorities, scheduling decisions, and distribution planning to ensure organizational consistency and control.
• Escalates significant operational, safety, fleet, or staffing issues immediately to the Director of Logistics for guidance and resolution.
• Maintains ongoing coordination with the Director of Logistics to ensure all Logistics functions remain aligned with organizational goals, policies, and service delivery expectations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree preferred
• ServSafe certification or ability to pass certification within 90 days of hiring.
• Knowledge of warehouse operations, safety practices, and proper food handling procedures.
• Demonstrated knowledge of FIFO (First-In, First-Out) principles and their application to food production, inventory rotation, and product handling.
• Demonstrated experience safely operating electric and manual pallet jacks, walkie stackers, and other warehouse material-handling equipment.
• Able to multi-task effectively and handle a wide variety of diverse and concurrent responsibilities.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent customer service skills, including the ability to manage difficult and/or challenging participants.
• Experience effectively collaborating with diverse staff and volunteers.
• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook and Excel.
• Able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly and 75 pounds at one time.
• Valid driver’s license and DOT medical card with the proven ability to drive any Manna vehicle.
• Clean driving record with no moving violations in the past two years and no major violations in the past ten years. No DUI citations.  

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit and climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and/or move objects up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move objects that weigh more than 75 pounds. The employee must be able to stand continuously for up to 3 hours at a time. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Conditions

While picking up and distributing food, the employee will be exposed to a wide array of environmental conditions, including extreme heat and cold, rain, snow, and ice. The employee must be able to work in these conditions for up to 3 hours at a time.

Why Choose Manna?

It takes all types of people to make Manna great. We seek a diverse and committed group of individuals who are eager to engage in service to the community while enabling their own personal growth and professional development. One of our core priorities is to enable our employees to live a well-balanced life and career, and our benefits are an important extension of that philosophy. As such, we offer a competitive suite of benefits including:

• Participation in Manna’s comprehensive Health Benefits Plan.
• Eleven paid holidays + your birthday! Two weeks paid vacation, which increases with tenure, 10 paid sick days to start, and 3 personal days per fiscal year.
• Free Short-Term Disability Insurance.
• Generous retirement benefits.
• New parents leave.
• Support for work-related transportation in accordance with Manna’s practices and procedure.

Our Culture

At Manna, our core values are passion and determination, relationships built on respect, resourcefulness, community involvement, and adaptability and ingenuity.  Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is a top priority that enables us to find excellent teammates and creates an environment where all types of people can belong and thrive.

Manna is participant-centered and data-driven. Our people do meaningful work in an environment where they feel a genuine sense of community and connectedness to Manna’s mission.

Manna relies on problem-solving and solution creation from all levels.

Working at Manna is a dynamic experience with the opportunity to take ownership and make a difference.

Our work is strengthened by the voices of people with lived experience of food insecurity.

Racial Equity Statement

Manna Food Center is committed to serving as an ally for racial justice and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We are fully committed to equity and believe deeply in diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, political opinion, and national origin. Applicants with lived experience of our service area are encouraged to apply.

Disclaimer

This job description is not a contract and confers no contractual rights, privileges, or benefits on any applicant or potential applicant. Manna has the right to change any and all terms of this job description, including, but not limited to, job responsibilities, qualifications, and benefits. Nothing in this job description constitutes an offer or guarantee of employment. Manna reserves the right to change its current benefits program at any time, in a manner that is consistent with applicable federal and state regulations.