Volunteer Host

Job Description:

*Must be able to work evenings & weekends

POSITION SUMMARY

Houston Food Bank is not able to do what it does without the generosity of those who give their time. With their help, we’re able to accomplish Our Mission: Food for better lives. The Volunteer Host is a critical role in ensuring that when individuals decide where they will volunteer, they pick Houston Food Bank. For this role, we are looking for an individual who is energetic, passionate, loves connecting with others and creating impactful experiences, is fearless in front of an audience, and can work the mic and improvise! The Volunteer Host is responsible for creating a fun experience for diverse volunteer groups of all sizes. If this describes you, apply today to join the Houston Food Bank Volunteer Host team and use your stage presence to inspire and lead volunteers to fight hunger and feed hope at Houston Food Bank.

The Volunteer Host is an ambassador for Houston Food Bank’s volunteer experience. This role is responsible for delivering the ultimate fun volunteer experience by proactively welcoming volunteers, creatively engaging volunteers throughout the volunteer project, and providing excellent customer service in a fast-paced environment. This position leads and supports diverse groups of volunteers of all sizes, including presenting to groups of up to 1,000 volunteers.

Adhere to PACT values. (Purpose: Using our strengths passionately to contribute to our mission. Accountability: Choosing to rise above one’s circumstances and demonstrating ownership to achieve results. See It. Own It. Solve It. Do It. Courage: Standing up for what’s right and acting. Transparency: Doing things openly and honestly).

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Welcome and Orientation of Volunteers

1. Proactively greets and welcomes volunteers with warmth and enthusiasm, ensuring they feel like valued guests from the moment they arrive.
2. Provides engaging, fun, and informative project introductions for large groups of volunteers (up to 1,000), while maintaining efficiency and structure and setting the stage for a fun volunteer experience.
3. Actively engages with volunteers and assists with moving products in the project area and around the warehouse.
4. Leads, directs, and coordinates large groups of volunteers.
5. Supports off-site events, as needed.

Presentation and Engagement

1. Leads volunteer groups through their projects with a fun and entertaining approach while ensuring project completion, operational efficiency, and packing guidelines.
2. Uses storytelling and fun interactive activities to keep volunteers motivated and excited throughout their shift.
3. Monitors workflow efficiency and adjusts volunteer assignments as needed to improve workflow.
4. Troubleshoots logistical challenges and coordinates solutions to maintain productivity.
5. Oversees the setup and breakdown of project areas and ensures project supplies are always stocked to maintain workflow.

Customer Service Excellence:

1. Provides exceptional customer service, addresses volunteer questions and concerns with a smile, and ensures every volunteer has a positive, impactful experience.
2. Ensures every volunteer feels supported, appreciated, and inspired, creating a smooth and enjoyable experience resulting in them returning to volunteer and getting more involved with the Houston Food Bank.

Safety and Efficiency:

1. Oversees volunteer activities, ensuring adherence to safety protocols and efficient project execution.
2. Manages volunteer group coordination seamlessly, including last-minute changes and special events, like a well-orchestrated show.
3. Cleans project areas and oversees volunteers to ensure project areas remain clean, organized, and free of safety hazards.

Collaboration and Coordination:

1. Works closely with team members to maintain a clean, organized, and well-supplied project area.
2. Participates in team meetings to share insights and continuously enhance the volunteer experience.

Quality Control and Maintenance:

1. Inspects finished products for quality assurance, ensuring everything meets the highest standards.
2. Keeps project areas pristine and reports any equipment issues promptly.
3. Conducts frequent quality control checks to verify that items are packed correctly.
4. Reliable, consistent, on-site attendance is a requirement. This position requires punctuality and dependable attendance to meet the needs of the business, including attending and participating in meetings and presentations.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Experience:

• High School Diploma from an accredited school or general education development (GED) certificate. Some college or bachelor's degrees preferred
• 1+ years of public speaking experience
• 2 years of in-person hospitality, tour guide, activities coordinator, or event coordinating experience
• Volunteer experience preferred
• Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish)

Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations:

Must have reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, and insurance.

Must be able and willing to operate an electric pallet jack.

Special Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. (For best performance, the job holder in this position would be expected to show the right knowledge, skills, and abilities in the listed areas.)

• Ability to work with a diverse population, including the public.
• Exceptional public speaking and presentation skills.
• Must possess the ability to manage multiple tasks and demands from a variety of people and groups, communicate clearly and effectively, and deliver clear instructions, objectives, and goals to team members and volunteer groups.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Must possess exceptional interpersonal and problem-solving skills, as well as have a high-energy, can-do attitude.
• Ability to work and think independently and use sound judgment and critical analysis skills.
• Ability to maintain professional composure and apply de-escalation techniques when needed.
• Ability to utilize and manage time efficiently and quickly shift or change task assignments as needed.
• Must possess accountability and follow-through on all assigned and ad-hoc tasks.
• Must possess attention to detail with the ability to process complex information.
• Must be able to collect and analyze complex data and ability to apply basic arithmetic.
• Must be able to engage with all members across the organization in a professional and courteous manner.

COMPLIANCE:

Carries out responsibilities in accordance with HFB policies.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. (For best performance, the jobholder in this position would be expected to show the right knowledge, skills, and abilities in the listed areas.)

COMPETENCIES:

Action-Oriented / Customer Focus / Drives for Results / Informing / Approachability / Learning on the

Fly / Perseverance / Self-development / Listening / Peer Relationships / Integrity and Trust / Functional/Technical Skills

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is required daily to analyze and interpret data, communicate, and remain in a standing position for the majority of the workday; and often access, input, and retrieve information from the computer and other office productivity devices. The employee must regularly move around the facility, use hands, wrists, and fingers to grip, type, and write. The employee must frequently lift 50 pounds. The employee will need to have the average ability to hear horns, warnings, and alerts associated with a warehouse.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The job is generally performed in various environments, including warehouse or kitchen settings. The employee is frequently exposed to different temperature-controlled environments including the freezer, wet and/or humid conditions, strong food-related smells, and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the production environment is typically loud (e.g., music, horns, fans).

TRAVEL REQUIRED:

Travel is required for this position (up to 10% of the time and on a domestic basis within our 18-county service area).

This role supports hours of operations at the Houston Food Bank facilities, as necessary, and may require flexibility (e.g., times of disaster, community events, company events).

*Is legally able to work in the United States.