Client Relations Specialist (Bilingual)

Ballard Food Bank’s mission is to bring food and hope to our neighbors because there can be enough for everyone. To achieve our mission, we provide access to nutritious foods through our grocery model food bank and Community Resource Hub, which encompasses financial resources, referral, and mail services that support self-sufficiency. We also advocate for food equity and justice. Our new home, which opened in October 2021, serves as a Hub for Hope as it brings together food, services, and community partners in a one-stop shop. The Ballard Food Bank actively strives to be an anti-racist organization and promotes the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in its work.

Position Summary:

The Client Relations Specialist is a key role at Ballard Food Bank. This position is designed to meet community members where they are and to link them to resources and programs at Ballard Food Bank or with Community Partners. The person in this role is responsible for engaging with community members, community partners, volunteers, and staff to build a bridge of services and connection. The hope is to engage community members in the various opportunities available to them. This helps us increase access to healthy food as well as provide services that promote self-sufficiency. In addition to working directly with our program team, this position has the opportunity to work across departments to achieve our organizational mission and goals. Must have experience with de-escalation/trauma informed care and speak Spanish, Mandarin Cantonese, Ukrainian, Russian or languages spoken by our community other than English.

Responsibilities:

• Be part of a team working to create a welcoming community environment where individuals feel respected and a part of the community
• Work with our forward-facing team to create systems to support a positive community space
• Partner with Community Resource Hub team to best make referrals and explain the opportunities available at BFB and in the community
• Work as a part of the Community Resource Hub team to deliver services including financial assistance
• Orient new participants to the variety of services offered in the Community Resource Hub, Café, and Community Market
• Serve as a staff resource for front desk volunteers
• Be available to move around the welcome area and community market to engage with community members and answer questions
• Manage flow of clients through the food bank, often requiring an outside presence
• Act as a part of a team to provide supportive services and build positive professional relationships
• Work with Volunteer Manager to develop, train, and manage volunteers, representative of the community, who can support the front desk
• Engage in De-escalation to help ensure the safety of our community
• Other duties as assigned

Skills/Qualifications:

We are seeking a candidate with 2-4 years of relevant experience. The ideal candidate will be a highly organized and detail-oriented individual who can work as well with a team as they can independently, in a complex and fast-paced environment. An ideal candidate will have:

• Experience with conflict de-escalation and trauma-informed care.
• The ability to serve children, adults, and families from diverse backgrounds and cultures in a respectful manner.
• Proficiency in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Ukrainian, Russian, or another language spoken by recent immigrants to Seattle.
• Lived experience and/or extensive knowledge of historically underrepresented groups.
• Excellent conflict management skills.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Superb written and verbal communication skills; ability to handle difficult issues with tact and diplomacy.
• A commitment to racial equity and social justice.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other office productivity tools, with aptitude to learn new software and systems.
• A high degree of discretion and demonstrated ability to handle confidential information.
• A collaborative work style and ability to work respectfully with staff and volunteers.
• An understanding of food justice and framework understanding on issues related to poverty and hunger.
• A valid driver’s license
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. safely
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines

Physical demands and work environment:

Ballard Food Bank strongly encourages vaccination against COVID-19 to keep our community safe. While performing the duties of this job you will:

• Be required to work onsite at Ballard Food Bank.
• Engage with clients, staff, guests, and volunteers daily.
• Routinely sit/stand at a laptop/computer.
• Routinely spend extended periods of time standing and/or moving.
• May involve working some evening and weekend hours for some events.
• Ability to work outside regularly in all weather conditions

The physical demands and work environment described are representative of those for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Hours:

This is a full-time position with much of the work happening Monday – Thursday with some evening and weekend hours for events or programming. Ballard Food Bank currently works a 35-hour work week.

Equal Opportunity Employment: Ballard Food Bank is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to cultivate a staff team that reflects the rich diversity of our community. We value a team that is vibrant, inclusive and offers a place of belonging. Applicants representing the diversity of our communities are encouraged to apply, including people of color, people with disabilities, people with lived experience, and people of diverse sexual orientations, and gender expressions.