Project Manager

Overall responsibility of the job:

To oversee the operation of Southend foodbank, with concern for its operational efficiency and standards in accordance with The Trussell Trust franchise model and the vision of local supporting churches.  In partnership with the steering group: guide the development of the foodbank project, including its material resources, financial assets, reputation, partnerships and volunteer body. Guide the campaigning work of the foodbank and ensure that Distribution centres are fulfilling their role as signposting hubs and providing further support to guests.

Specific responsibilities:

Reporting to Trustees

• Report to the charity’s trustees at quarterly meetings
• Advise the trustees of exceptional events, such as complaints, major press contacts, accidents, external evaluations or risk to reputation 

Strategic development

• Call meetings of the trustee group four times a year, providing a report in advance and agenda

Compliance

• Ensure Foodbank – warehouse and distribution centres, comply with Trussell’s standard operating procedures and our mission and values.
• Ensure Foodbank – warehouse and distribution centres, comply with statutory requirements and good practice (e.g. health and safety)
• Being familiar with the on-line data system, monitoring the key data indicators
• Ensure policies are up to date and being followed
• Compiling and submitting annual report to the Charity Commission

Communications/stakeholder management

• Create and maintain good relationships with top ten referral agencies. Hold at least two events each year, with top ten agencies, and hold events with groups of agencies viz schools and churches.
• Ensure that the foodbank’s profile is raised in the community by overseeing the communication rollout plan for the year.

• Create, maintain and develop good relationships, in conjunction with PR and campaigns co-ordinator, with
  • • Volunteers
    • Donors – churches, schools and others
    • Voucher holders (referral agencies)

This means      – Visiting distribution Centres and Warehouse on a regular basis

– responding to queries or issues

• Oversee and manage decision-making where some guests need extended provision
• Signing off press releases and social media campaigns

Line management/volunteers

• Oversight and support paid PR and Campaigns co-ordinator, administrator, warehouse co-ordinator and key volunteer staff – e.g. volunteer co-ordinator, voucher co-ordinator
• Ensure volunteers are engaged and liaise with volunteer co-ordinator to ensure all areas are sufficiently staffed. Monitor volunteer engagement with Peakon surveys and improve scores where possible.
• Host bi-weekly meetings with staff and eight-weekly meetings with staff

Development and new opportunities

Working in consultation with Trustees and staff to look for ways Foodbank can develop and take on new opportunities.

This may include new projects, new DCs, grant applications and fund raising

Finance and fundraising

• Working with community fundraiser, trustees, treasurer to ensure that the foodbank is sufficiently funded

Distribution centre development

• Annual assessment of current distribution centres – are there areas of development with regard to volunteers and process that we can improve
• Undertake research on best practice for DCs – this will include visits to other foodbanks in the network
• Provide a report with recommendations to the trustees for further development of the distribution centres

REQUIREMENTS and KEY SKILLS:

• Ability to manage and monitor the development of a project
• Experience of managing people
• Experience of working or volunteering in an organisation that deploys volunteers
• Flexible working hours, will include occasional evening and weekends

• Good oral and written communication
• Access to own transport
• Confident user of email, word processing and internet
• Ability to work independently and unsupervised
• Numerate and comfortable interpreting statistical data