Program Specialist - Community Resources

What you'll do: Answer questions and support applications for 3SquaresVT and CSFP.Connect community members with additional resources. Support outreach, advocacy, and trauma-informed initiatives. Elevate community member voices and help address gaps in food access.

What we're looking for: Compassionate, resourceful, and community-focused. Strong communicator and relationship builder. Organized, adaptable, detail-oriented, and comfortable supporting diverse needs. Committed to equity, dignity, and trauma-informed approaches.

Why join us? Because you'll do work that matters. Be part of an equity-minded organization working to ensure everyone in Vermont has enough food every day!

Position Purpose: SNAP, known as 3SquaresVT (3SVT) in Vermont, is our country's first line of defense against hunger. It is a proven program that centers customer choice by boosting food budgets. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) is a federal food box program for people 60 years and above. This position is part of a team working to raise public awareness about 3SquaresVT and CSFP and address gaps in food access in Vermont. Primary responsibilities for this position include responding to community member inquiries about 3SVT and CSFP, supporting people through application and enrollment processes, and offering additional resource connection. This position also contributes to varied efforts related to outreach, advocacy, trauma-informed systems development, and elevating community member voices. This is a hybrid position, but staff must live within commuting distance of a Vermont Foodbank distribution center. Building equity and social justice into Vermont Foodbank's organizational practices is everyone's responsibility, and it requires the commitment and collaboration of every employee and team. Therefore, everyone is expected to honor diversity, contribute to an inclusive organizational culture, and leverage their own personal agency and scope of influence to center equity.

Global Functions and Responsibilities: Work cooperatively with staff and volunteers to support the mission of the Foodbank to meet and sustain organizational goals. Positively contribute to an organizational culture of safe and secure food handling, warehousing, and distribution. The Foodbank relies on volunteers every day to fulfill our mission. All Foodbank employees must support our culture of philanthropy by treating every volunteer with appreciation and respect. This position will occasionally be required to travel to other Foodbank locations and to attend required meetings, trainings, etc. Some out-of-area and overnight travel may be expected.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities: Develop, maintain, and apply in-depth knowledge of complex policies and procedures to effectively serve community members requesting 3SquaresVT and CSFP assistance and resource connection. Respond to community member inquiries received by phone, email, and text to assess eligibility, answer questions, offer application assistance and guidance, and make referrals to other resources. Apply a trauma-informed, tailored approach to support community members through 3SVT follow-up and benefit retention as needed. Identify issues that arise within the 3SquaresVT application process; collaborate with community members and VT Department of Children and Families, Economic Services Division staff to resolve. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of other public assistance programs in order to connect people with available resources. Develop fluency with a range of technology and tools related to inquiry systems, including a customer-tracking database and texting program. Track and enter data related to inquiries, applications, and enrollment. Communicate and problem-solve collaboratively with VF cross-departmental staff and external partners to execute 3SVT and CSFP tasks and refine systems towards staff efficiency, best practices, and dignified customer experience.

Outreach: May conduct visits to community sites identified by VF 3SquaresVT team to share information about food access resources. Support team efforts to build 3SquaresVT awareness through methods such as dissemination of materials, presentations, tabling at events, storygathering, and contributing to writing blogs and social media campaigns. Assist in identifying, developing, and testing new technology, communication tools, and inquiry strategies or systems that strengthen the reach or efficiency of the VF 3SquaresVT team. Collaborate within the Community Impact team and across departments to identify opportunities for growth with community outreach, trauma-informed customer experience, and cross-promotion of food access resources. Facilitate meetings on a rotational basis.

Community Engagement and Advocacy: Participate in statewide 3SVT workgroup and local coalitions to identify gaps in access to 3SquaresVT and to support strengthening SNAP program integrity and policies on a state and national level, as needed. Participate in quarterly CSFP workgroup to support caseload management and administration of CSFP in VT.In collaboration with VF 3SquaresVT team, support strategic partnerships with organizations that help community members overcome barriers to 3SquaresVT. This includes participation in cultivating referral partnerships, building bridges and sharing expertise with service providers and programs, and gathering community member feedback. In collaboration with VF Advocacy team, elevate the voices of people with living experience of food insecurity by connecting them with opportunities for advocacy, media, and more.

Other Functions: Other duties as assigned by Director of Community Resources or required by Community Impact Department, in alignment with Vermont Foodbank's Strategic Plan. Driving will be within state, with some exceptions.

Skills/Qualifications: The requirements listed below are representative of the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and/or abilities an individual needs in order to perform this job successfully. Education and/or Experience 0-2 years of experience and/or education with issues related to hunger, poverty, or resource connection. Strong customer service orientation and prior experience in customer-facing positions are preferred.

Other Skills and Abilities: Flexible communication skills, including ability to explain concepts in plain language. Ability to remain calm, patient, and friendly with customers who may be experiencing high stress or traumatic experiences. Ability to prioritize, multi-task, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail. Strong organizational and time management skills are important. Ability to rebalance, communicate boundaries with community members, and practice sustainable approaches. This position is regularly exposed to confidential information shared by community members. A high degree of confidentiality, discretion, and security in handling PII is required. Demonstrated problem-solving skills, especially when supporting people in navigating challenging situations or complex systems. Strong commitment to collaborative decision-making and teamwork is required. Passion for food security, public benefits assistance, or social work.