Program Associate Jobs in Somerville, MA (NOW HIRING)

Description

Rosie's Place was founded in 1974 as the first women's shelter in the United States. Our mission is to provide a safe and nurturing environment to help poor and homeless women maintain their dignity, seek opportunity and find security in their lives.

Over the years, we have become much more than a shelter. We are a multi-service community center that not only provides meals and shelter but also creates answers for thousands of women a year through wide-ranging support, housing and education services. Rosie's Place relies on the generous support of individuals, foundations and corporations and does not accept any city, state or federal funding.

OPPORTUNITY:

The Food Programs Associate plays a key role in supporting Rosie's Place's mission by ensuring the smooth operation of our food services, including the Food Pantry and Dining Room. This position is responsible for distributing groceries and meals, maintaining food safety standards, supporting guests with dignity and respect, and assisting with the coordination of food-related logistics. The Food Programs Associate reports to the Food Programs Assistant Managers and works closely with the Food Programs Director and other team members.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Greet and assist guests in both the Food Pantry and Dining Room, ensuring a welcoming and respectful environment.
• Explain pantry and dining room procedures to guests and help them navigate services.
• Use the computer database to check-in guests and verify identity.
• Distribute groceries and prepared meals, ensuring equitable access and adherence to food safety guidelines.
• Organize and stock food donations and deliveries, sort and pack pantry items.
• Maintain cleanliness and sanitation of Food Pantry and Dining Room areas in accordance with safety protocols.
• Record daily logs, including refrigerator and freezer temperatures.
• Provide guidance to Essential Service Workers and volunteers during shifts.
• Support crowd management and address guest concerns or conflicts promptly and respectfully.
• Share information about Rosie's Place programs and external resources with guests.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Food Programs Assistant Managers or Food Programs Director.

Requirements

There are innumerable ways to learn, grow, and excel professionally. We know people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We respect this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. We want to get to know you and the unique strengths you will bring to the work. This said, we are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate the majority of the qualifications and experiences listed below:

• Strong commitment to social justice and the mission of Rosie's Place.
• Experience in a food pantry, dining service, warehouse, or grocery setting preferred.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong customer service and communication skills; ability to be assertive yet respectful.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds, bend, reach, stoop, and stand for extended periods.
• Multilingual abilities (especially Haitian Creole, Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin) are strongly preferred.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Ability to use computers and other office equipment

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The job is performed in commercial kitchen and grocery store settings. Day-to-day responsibilities include cooking, serving, lifting, stocking, cleaning, and interacting with staff, guests, and volunteers. Individuals must be physically able to safely lift 50 pounds, reach, bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods of time.

HOURS

Monday - Friday, 11:00am - 7:00pm (40 hours)

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The pay rate for this full-time, non-exempt position is $25 per hour.

Per Rosie's Place Shift Differential Policy, hours worked on Saturdays and Sundays are compensated at an additional $2 per hour.

Rosie's Place offers a robust benefits package, including medical and dental insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, pension contributions, paid vacation, and more.

WORK EXPECTATIONS

We are a hands-on team and seek employees who are passionate about our work and service to our community. The Dining Room Associate is expected to work onsite at Rosie's Place during their work week and engage regularly with staff, guests, and volunteers.  

We adopt safety protocols related to public health as we understand them, which all employees must follow. Among these protocols, we require all employees to be up to date with their yearly vaccinations. Requests for exemptions are considered.   

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your resume and cover letter through Rosie's Place's online portal to apply.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

At Rosie's Place, we believe diversity, equity and inclusion are core components of justice. We commit to acting on a daily basis to dismantle injustice to ensure that opportunities and equitable outcomes are available to all members of our community regardless of individual characteristics including race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation or perceived ability.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We value diversity in our workplace and strongly encourages applications from individuals from all identities and backgrounds. We are an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law