Foodbank jobs

You would be leading an experienced and highly effective core management group and a further 150 enthusiastic volunteers who last year fed over 5500 people. You’ll develop a strategy, in line with that of the Trussell Trust, and in liaison with like-minded local organisations, to seek to eliminate food poverty locally.

You’ll need to have worked as an employee or volunteer in a social action charity and be able to bring leadership skills and experience with a collaborative and consultative style. Ability to work effectively with other organisations with similar aims, and to oversee a communications and social media strategy will be essential.

As Chipping Barnet foodbank’s manager responsible to the board of trustees, you would be our first salaried member of staff.  As such you would ensure the longer-term resilience and robustness of our operations. We are open for two hours, twice a week and now offer, in addition to essential provisions, fresh food, supermarket and fuel vouchers, support for school uniforms, enabling grants and an in-house Citizens Advice service.  You would lead the development of these and other initiatives.

Download an application pack, which includes a person specification along with our Annual Report and an application form, uploadable to the Charity Jobs site by Saturday 30 April.

Initial Zoom interviews (to include a presentation) will be held in mid-May with final interviews taking place a little later when shortlisted candidates will be invited to visit the foodbank to view our operations and to meet some of our core group.

Purpose of the Role

To ensure the resilience and robustness of the Foodbank’s operations consistently to achieve the charity’s mission of “The prevention or relief of poverty in Chipping Barnet and surrounding areas…” and, in liaison with other organisations in the area, and in line with the Trussell Trust’s strategy, to seek to make Chipping Barnet a place where hunger is no longer a problem.

A: Ensuring Resilience and Robustness of the Charity’s Operations.

1. Manage the Foodbank’s operations with concern for financial and practical efficiency, high standards, and in accordance with The Trussell Trust franchise model. 
2. Lead and support the core volunteer group, mindful of their volunteering status and historical high performance.
3. Maintain and respond to the Foodbank website, phone, email, and social media accounts and implement new IT systems as needed.
4. Promote and market the Foodbank’s activities within the local community and businesses through networking, playing an active role in the local community and working closely with relevant statutory authorities.
5. Raise awareness of the Foodbank, forging links with organisations that could provide support or could signpost their clients to it.
6. Ensure that volunteers are adequately trained and competent to play their part in achieving the Foodbank’s objectives.
7. Identify potential talent amongst our volunteering resources for additional tasks enabling them to expand their volunteering role.
8. Ensure that activities are in line with all key legislation and Foodbank policies and procedures, such as financial control, health and safety, safeguarding, and GDPR.

B: Strategic Development and Direction

1. Implement the Trussell Trust’s ‘Together for Change’ strategy locally, via a collaboratively developed and articulated local strategic plan.
2. In liaison with other local organisations, seek to understand the particular challenges faced by ‘food insecure’ communities; and work collaboratively to alleviate them, focusing on the unique contribution the Foodbank can make.
3. Guide the development of the Foodbank initiatives and the “More Than Food” projects.
4. Encourage further partnerships/projects working to prevent or relieve poverty and become a ‘voice for the voiceless’.
5. Work with other local foodbanks, referral agencies and Foodbank users to carry out research including lived experiences and collating key case studies, using this information to highlight and address problems in our community.
6. Seek to empower Foodbank clients so that the service provided becomes less of a ‘handouts’ model.
7. Contribute to the development of the Foodbank’s other strategies and policies.
8. Lead on any organisational change projects enabling stakeholder buy-in and participation. 

C:  Quality Assurance, Public Relations, Governance and Sustainability

1. Prepare for and host the annual Quality Assurance visit from The Trussell Trust.
2. Ensure that there is an effective Public Relations presence maintained for the Foodbank through the production of newsletters, press releases, articles, and presentations.
3. Provide a quarterly written report to the Trustee’s Board or for special meetings, along with producing the annual report for the Charity’s AGM,  and participate in such meetings.
4. Meet periodically with the Chair of the Trustees Board.
5. Seek to secure ongoing funding to enable the Foodbank to become sustainable for as long as it is needed allowing it to expand its services.

D: General Duties

1. Undertake the  role in a professional manner maintaining a high standard of work  in accordance with the aims, values, and ethos of Chipping Barnet Foodbank.
2. Take part in training programmes.
3. Take responsibility for your own health and safety and that of others in line with good practice.
4. Attend any meetings or training events as requested by the Chair or the Board of Trustees.
5. Comply with all policies and procedures including but not limited to health and safety in the workplace.
6. Work within all legal requirements and any quality standard frameworks as required.
7. Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role as requested.

You would work normally either at home or at the foodbank premises at Mary Immaculate and St Peter, 63 Somerset Rd, New Barnet EN5 1RF.

There are 25 days paid holiday each year (exclusive of statutory bank holidays) an employer sick pay and a contributory pension scheme.