Distribution Operations Lead

at  Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society

Distribution Lead – We are growing our team!
Full-Time, Permanent
37.5 hours per week
Competitive base salary of $65,000 annually.

WHO WE ARE

The GVFB provides assistance to approximately 15,000 people monthly across Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and the North Shore. We also provide food support to 150 agencies such as housing agencies, women and children’s shelters, transition homes and after school programs, which in turn provide hot meals and snacks to thousands of people each week, including people who are unhoused.
Our mission is providing healthy food to those in need. Our vision is to create healthy communities through fair and effective food systems. Currently, the GVFB distributes 8.9 M lbs of food each year.
The GVFB is a proud winner of BC’s Top Employers 2023!
The GVFB is a certified Living Wage Employer! This recognizes the GVFB’s commitment to paying fair wages, upholding good work standards for our employees, and contributing to poverty reduction and a higher standard of living in our community.

POSITION OVERVIEW

As a Distribution Lead at the GVFB, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the efficient operation of our distribution locations. This position requires a unique blend of operational expertise and people leadership. The individual in this role, on our GVFB Distribution Team, will have a strong operations and process systems orientation to assist with keeping our distribution centers running smoothly and efficiently for our team, volunteers, and the clients we serve.
Working in a fast-paced environment with continual change and multiple moving parts, you will ensure compliance with established organizational guidelines and procedures to facilitate providing high-quality service and outstanding client care. Administration and documentation will be a key part of this role including planning and objective setting.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND CORE SKILLS

• Ability to work with sensitivity and without discrimination towards people of diverse cultures, races/ethnicities, socio-economic positions, ages, religions, genders, physical/mental health challenges or disabilities, and sexual orientations.
• Lead by example with integrity, build trust within the team, and drive engagement and performance.
• Strong accuracy and attention to detail.
• Hands-on and willing to roll up your sleeves.
• Resourceful, solution-focused and good critical thinking skills.
• Communicate effectively with staff and volunteers at all levels of the organization.
• Strong and effective leadership skills, coaching with patience and tailoring coaching to individual learner styles where possible.
• Effective interpersonal communication skills (written/verbal), including active listening skills.
• Ability to motivate staff, volunteers and others.
• Friendly, supportive, authentic, and collaborative team player.
• Ability to employ conflict resolution and diffusing skills as needed whilst gaining full knowledge of the situation at hand with all individuals on site.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to adapt, thrive, and multi-task within a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment.
• Be able to delegate tasks to individual team members.
• Excellent time management skills.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• 3-5+ years’ experience working in an operations and/or process-oriented role.
• Experience working in a customer service environment.
• 2-3 years’ experience working in volunteer-driven environments.
• Health and safety experience within the workplace is an asset.
• First Aid Certification or experience is an asset.
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment.
• Public speaking experience and comfortable speaking in front of small groups.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams).
• Being mobile and flexible around work hours and locations is required, available for evening and weekend work, shifts may be subject to change.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Exposure to ambient temperatures and noisy conditions;
• Proper safety footwear required.
• The ability to work in a physically demanding environment, lifting, walking, and standing throughout the shift.
• Bending and lifting material up to 50 lbs. on a regular basis either independently or with another individual if needed and requested.
• Ability to travel locally (both locations are close to public transit).

• Collaborate with other departments to ensure efficient and effective processes are established and in place as needed.
• Collectively participate in the plan to organize the weeks when food is being distributed to clients, and also the tasks during non-client facing weeks.
• Work in multiple locations to ensure functional areas are clean, tidy and organized at all times; the floor is clear of pallets and obstacles at all times and ensuring safe pedestrian pathways.
• Provide training, support and direction to new and existing staff, volunteers and other departments as needed.
• Lead the Distribution team and volunteers, in concert with the Distribution leadership team, in following all processes and procedures, including with the annual budget.
• Requisition of supplies and materials in accordance with the annual budget.
• Ensure departmental internal processes before, during and after distribution shifts are followed (accuracy of outbound and inbound orders; quality control of products).
• Ensure the team schedule is created, updated and posted approximately a month in advance.
• Ensure the daily distribution statistics are produced and shared on Teams in a timely manner, including commentary re: trends, records set and broken, etc.
• Handle confidential and sensitive client information as well as client complaints.
• Recommend continuous improvement-related changes, with supporting data, feedback and observation.