National Food Bank Standards Coordinator

National Food Bank Standards CoordinatorFull-time, one-year contract / 37.5 hours per week Who are we? Food is not the solution to food insecurity, but people need support today. Knowing this, we collect and distribute more than three million kilograms of food annually to 140 member food banks, meal programs, and shelters across the province. This equates to over $1 million worth of food each month. We also support our member agencies as they build capacity to serve their communities. While we help Nova Scotians meet a very basic need, we're raising awareness of the root causes of food insecurity - things like systemic racism, low wages, inadequate income support, and unaffordable housing. And we're advocating for sustainable, policy-based solutions that will allow everyone to live a life of dignity and leave no one relying on charitable band-aids to address human rights.National Food Bank StandardsFood Banks Canada is a national charitable organization, supporting Canadians living with food insecurity by supporting a network of provincial associations, including food banks and food agencies, that work at a community level to relieve hunger. They act in collaboration with a food bank network coast-to-coast, including a partnership with us here at Feed Nova Scotia, to maximize collective impact, strengthen local capacity, and reduce the demand for food banks until a day when they are no longer needed.In January 2024, Food Bank Canada announced their "Standards of Excellence", a new set of national food bank standards that covers all areas of food bank operations, to ensure overall operational excellence across the network. More details about the Standards of Excellence can be found on Food Bank Canada's website.This one-year contract is a new role to support Feed Nova Scotia member organizations in achieving compliance with the Standard of Excellence by March 2025, and providing post-implementation support to the team in transitioning this work.  Food Banks Canada has provided funding that contributes to the salary of this contract position. Overview of ResponsibilitiesThe Standards Coordinator will be responsible for supporting Feed Nova Scotia's network of 140 agencies achieve compliance with the Food Banks Canada Standards of Excellence (SOE) by March 2025. The Standards of Excellence program provides a framework for food banks to identify opportunities for innovation and performance improvements in the areas of client service and care, food operations, safe food handling, and more. The standards also reflect the food banking network's thought leadership and commitment to continually enhance our collective capabilities to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow.Some evening and weekend work will be required of this position to accommodate necessary engagements with community partners, agencies, and other interested parties. The current expectation would be up to one evening per week and one weekend day per month, which would be accounted for through the provision of lieu time.What does the Standards Coordinator do?  Get thoroughly acquainted with the Feed Nova Scotia network of 140 member agencies through on-site visits, member meetings, virtual and one on one callsInitiate preliminary assessment phase to identify gaps in compliance with standardsUtilize a variety of tools and approaches, including supporting member self-assessment, short surveys, group consultations, and one-to-one meetings Investigate common challenges and barriers for agencies to achieving compliance; communicate findings, paired with reasonable recommendations for resolutionDevelop individualized action plans to address gaps in compliance for members, drawing on the expertise of others, adapting and compiling existing resources and templatesEnsure members are compliant by March 2025; identify and communicate which provincial regulatory requirements apply Support individual members in tracking their progress towards complianceProvide monthly reports on progress; these monthly reports will feed into quarterly reports submitted to Food Banks Canada on behalf of Feed Nova ScotiaMid-contract review to help determine what, if any, additional staff resources and support are required to reach compliance in line with targeted deliverablesAttend regular meetings to provide updates on progress, and collaborate with cross-functional teamsOther duties, as assignedWhat are we looking for?Diploma from a community college or university in a related field such as adult education or project managementTwo to three (2-3) years of relevant work experience, including training facilitation and adult learning principlesAn equivalent combination of education and/or experience will be considered, given that they relate to the core tasks and responsibilities of the rolePrevious experience working in the non-profit sector, with specific knowledge and skills working with volunteers and supporting volunteer-run organizationsFamiliarity with governance and fundraising within non-profit organizations; development and management of organizational policies and processesPrevious experience operating according to regulatory standards, and/or working within the boundaries and expectations of a regulatory body (for example, roles within the healthcare system, personal accountability to a professional designation, etc)Exemplary communication skills, oral and written; able to communicate findings effectively in verbal, written, and visual formats to a variety of audiences with varying skill levelsExperience conducting primary research through surveys, for the purpose of gaining participant input and feedback Exceptional presentation, facilitation, and public speaking skillsDemonstrated experience with a variety of communication methods (email, phone, virtual and in-person meetings) and approaches (consulting, coaching, compassionate listening, de-escalation, etc.) Excellent organizational and time management skills; ability to quickly prioritize tasks and deliverablesResourceful and highly organized; pays close attention to details and deadlinesDemonstrated experience conducting assessments or gaps analysis, developing a project or case plan, and tracking progress towards goals Comfortable providing seamless user experience, utilizing virtual conferencing platforms (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc) to facilitate meetings, workshops, and webinarsProficiency in MS Office suite requiredCollaborative by nature; demonstrated ability to solicit engagement in others by valuing their ideas, experiences, and expertiseUnderstanding and respect for the importance of privacy and confidentialityExperience with participation in advisory groups, working groups, whose purpose is to provide feedback and/or develop programming and processes, including the development of templates and resourcesCentres equity, diversity, and inclusion in their workPlease note: this position will be travelling to and from network agencies, and attending collaborative events and meetings across the province. Therefore, applicants require access to a reliable vehicle, and must have the qualifications required to be added to Feed Nova Scotia's vehicle insurance policy, including a valid Class 5 driver's license and a recent drivers abstract showing a clean driving record (the abstract check will be administered by Feed Nova Scotia, at no cost to candidates). When a personal vehicle is used for work purposes, staff are reimbursed at a rate of $0.42/kmCompensationThe annual salary range for this position is $49,118 - $57,786 paid out on a biweekly basis. Our total compensation package includes three weeks of paid vacation.SummaryThere is no such thing as the perfect candidate. If you don't meet all of the requirements, we encourage you to apply and share your story with us; what do you bring to the table that others may not? We aren't looking to hire someone who 'checks all the boxes'. We want someone who is passionate about our mission, who has the potential to do great work with the right tools and resources, and who is willing and ready to learn alongside our team as we work towards making positive, sustainable change in our community.If you are looking for an outstanding opportunity to make an impact in your community, please submit a cover letter and resume that clearly indicate how you meet the requirements of this position, in a PDF document to: recruitment@feednovascotia.ca by 11:59pm on April 22, 2024. Please include National Food Bank Standards Coordinator in the subject line to help us action your application more efficiently.---For us to create meaningful, sustainable change, equity, diversity and inclusion must be centred in every aspect of our work. As a provincial organization with influence and credibility, we recognize the responsibility we have to hold ourselves accountable to this. We know our efforts will effect more change if our employees, their identities, and their lived experiences are reflective of the communities we work with and live in.Through ongoing work empowering everyone to bring their full, authentic selves to Feed Nova Scotia every day, we want to build a culture where difference is valued. We know where we want to be, but we'll be honest—we aren't there yet, and we won't get there overnight. But we're committed to doing the work, and we hope you'll join us on our journey and share your strengths as a member of our team.---If you require any accommodations to submit your application successfully, please contact us via e-mail at recruitment@feednovascotia.ca or by phone at 902-457-1900. Thank you for your interest in working with us at Feed Nova Scotia!