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Food Recovery Coordinator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Food Systems Director

Maplewood, MN ยท On-site

$95K - $105K/yr

Oversee the food rescue fleet, including route planning, driver coordination, and a structured ... Strong working knowledge of food waste and food recovery systems, including donor relationship ...

Manager of Local Food Donors

Boston, MA ยท On-site

$80 - $100/hr

... and food recovery efforts. Role & Responsibilities: * Manage GBFB's Retail Donation Program ... Agencies, coordinating as needed to ensure effective outcomes. * Collaborate with GBFB ...

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Community Case Manager

Waukesha, WI ยท On-site

$20 - $25.50/hr

Lead day-to-day Food Pantry operations and related TEFAP, food-recovery, donation, inventory ... Volunteer Coordinator; assign schedules, routes, pantry, receiving, inventory, seasonal, and ...

Compost Coordinator

Fairfax, VA ยท On-site

$70K/yr

The Compost Coordinator position leads the planning, implementation, and assessment of composting ... Food Recovery Network, the Student Support and Advocacy Center's Patriot Pantry, and Facilities and ...

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How much do food recovery coordinator jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for food recovery coordinator in the United States is $21.40, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.87 and $25.00 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a food recovery coordinator?

Food Recovery Coordinators are professionals responsible for organizing and managing the collection, redistribution, and reduction of surplus food from businesses, institutions, or organizations to prevent waste and address food insecurity. They often collaborate with food donors, non-profits, and community groups to ensure that excess edible food is safely redirected to those in need. Their work involves logistics, outreach, education, and compliance with food safety standards. Food Recovery Coordinators play a critical role in promoting sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of food waste.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a food recovery coordinator?

To thrive as a Food Recovery Coordinator, you need a background in food systems, logistics, and program management, often supported by a relevant degree or experience in nonprofit, environmental, or food service sectors. Familiarity with inventory tracking software, food safety certifications, and donor management systems is typically required. Strong communication, organizational skills, and the ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders are crucial soft skills. These competencies ensure efficient food redistribution, compliance with safety standards, and effective collaboration with donors and recipients.

What are some typical challenges faced by food recovery coordinators, and how can they be addressed?

Food Recovery Coordinators often encounter challenges such as coordinating logistics with multiple food donors, ensuring food safety during transportation, and managing tight schedules to prevent spoilage. Effective communication, strong organizational skills, and the ability to quickly adapt to changes are essential in overcoming these hurdles. Building strong relationships with donors, volunteers, and recipient organizations, as well as staying informed on local food safety regulations, can greatly enhance success in this role.

What is the difference between Food Recovery Coordinator vs Food Service Worker?

AspectFood Recovery CoordinatorFood Service Worker
CredentialsMay require food safety certifications, relevant experienceTypically no formal certifications required
Work EnvironmentNonprofit organizations, food banks, community programsRestaurants, cafeterias, catering services
Employer & IndustryNonprofits, food redistribution industryFood service industry, hospitality
Job FocusOrganizing food donations, reducing wastePreparing and serving food to customers

The Food Recovery Coordinator primarily focuses on managing food donations and reducing waste within nonprofit or community settings, often requiring certifications. In contrast, Food Service Workers are involved in preparing and serving food in commercial food establishments. While both roles involve handling food, their work environments, responsibilities, and industry contexts differ significantly.

What cities are hiring for Food Recovery Coordinator jobs?

Cities with the most Food Recovery Coordinator job openings:

What states have the most Food Recovery Coordinator jobs?

States with the most job openings for Food Recovery Coordinator jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Food Recovery Coordinator jobs?

For Food Recovery Coordinator jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Food Recovery Coordinator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 69% Full Time, and 31% Part Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $44,509 per year, or $21.4 per hour.

Food Systems Director

Maplewood, MN โ€ข On-site

$95K - $105K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago


Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

Open Cupboard is one of the largest food rescue and food access organizations in the Twin Cities, operating our innovative Today's Harvest free fresh market model across two locations and distributing more than seven million pounds of food a year. The Director of Food Systems is a new senior leadership role responsible for growing and strengthening the systems that get food into Open Cupboard and move it efficiently once it's here.
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Food Systems will lead our food rescue, food sourcing, and inventory/operations work, including our regional hub-and-spoke distribution network. This person will oversee the growth of donor and food-source relationships, the performance of our food rescue fleet and inventory operations, and the internal flow of food to reduce waste. This role will lead execution of strategic goals of expanding food rescue collections, deepening donor partnerships, and scaling our hub-and-spoke network.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Food Rescue & Sourcing
•     Lead strategy and execution to increase the total volume of food coming into Open Cupboard through food rescue, food sourcing, and donor development.
•     Deepen relationships with existing retail, grocery, distributor, and wholesale donor partners to unlock additional available-but-uncollected pounds.
•     Identify, cultivate, and onboard new food rescue and sourcing partners, including retailers, distributors, food service operators, and institutional sources.
•     Grow and manage agricultural food rescue partnerships, including relationships with farmers markets, individual growers, and value-added processing/compensation partnerships.
•     Steward all donor relationships through named relationship management, regular impact reporting, and consistent check-ins to retain and grow volume over time.

Mini-Hub / Hub-and-Spoke Program
•     Own and grow and scale Open Cupboard's regional hub-and-spoke distribution network
•     Build and maintain the communications, onboarding, and logistics infrastructure that allows partner agencies to request, receive, and (over time) contribute food efficiently and reliably.
•     Identify and onboard new spoke/mini-hub agencies
•     Oversee order management and food distribution to spoke/mini-hub partners, ensuring donated food reaches partner agencies before it spoils.
•     Guide the network's evolution toward a bidirectional, mutually reinforcing exchange model in which high-capacity partners both receive and contribute food.

Inventory, Operations & Internal Food Flow
•     Oversee inventory operations across Open Cupboard sites, including intake, sorting, storage, and cold-chain management of rescued and donated food.
•     Oversee the food rescue fleet, including route planning, driver coordination, and a structured preventive maintenance program to ensure vehicle availability and routing efficiency.
•     Oversee systems for tracking incoming food to support accurate reporting.
•     Support decision-making on facility repairs and upgrades to ensure smooth operational flow

Staff & Program Management
•     Hire, train, supervise, and develop food rescue drivers, inventory staff, and other food hub/operations staff.
•     Build team capacity to support growing collection volume, an expanding donor base, and a scaling hub-and-spoke network.
•     Set clear goals, provide regular feedback and coaching, and foster a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
•     Partner with the Executive Director and other program directors to align food systems work with organization-wide strategy and capacity.
•     Alongside the Executive Director, create and monitor program budget and create optimization plans for equipment and staffing expenses.
Grant Management, Data & Reporting
•     Serve as the operational lead for grant-funded food rescue and hub-and-spoke initiatives, ensuring work plans, timelines, and budgets stay on track.
•     Track and report on pounds rescued, pounds distributed through the hub-and-spoke network, and other program metrics using Open Cupboard's data systems.
•     Monitor progress against objectives and make mid-course adjustments to collections, staffing, or partnerships as needed to hit targets.
QUALIFICATIONS

Required
•     8+ years of progressively responsible experience in food rescue, food recovery, food banking, or a related food systems/supply chain field.
•     Strong working knowledge of food waste and food recovery systems, including donor relationship management, perishable food logistics, and cold-chain handling.
•     Demonstrated experience managing programs and supervising staff, including hiring, coaching, and performance management.
•     Strong relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to represent the organization to donors, partner agencies, and funders.
•     Comfort working with data to track performance, identify trends, and report outcomes to leadership and funders.
•     Valid driver's license and ability to travel regularly between Open Cupboard sites and partner locations across the East Metro.
Preferred
•     Experience managing state or federal grant-funded programs, including work plans, budgets, and reporting requirements.
•     Familiarity with fleet management and preventive maintenance programs.
•     Experience working with or serving Environmental Justice communities.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
•     Growth in total pounds of food rescued year over year through retail, agricultural, wholesale, and food bank channels.
•     A growing, well-run network of mini-hub/spoke partner agencies 
•     Smooth, fast internal food flow that minimizes spoilage and gets perishable food to Open Cupboard's own programs quickly.
•     A capable, well-supported food sourcing, rescue, and operations team.
•     Strong, well-stewarded donor relationships that retain and grow volume over time.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
This is a full-time, exempt position with an annual salary of $95,000–$105,000, based on experience, plus a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
•     Medical and dental insurance
•     401(k) retirement plan, available after six months of employment, with a company match of up to 3% of salary.
•     Paid time off and 8 paid holidays per year, plus two floating holidays.
•     Long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
•     Minnesota Paid Leave, providing pay and job protection for qualifying family or medical needs.
TO APPLY
Please submit your application by 9/21. If you have any questions about the position, please contact Jessica Francis, Executive Director, at jessica@opencupboard.org.  
Open Cupboard is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
We believe our work is strongest when our team reflects the communities we serve, and we encourage people from all backgrounds — including those historically underrepresented in the nonprofit and food access sectors — to apply.