Food Access Initiatives Operations Assistant

Description

Organization Information 

GrowNYC is a 56-year-old environmental nonprofit organization helping more than 3 million New Yorkers by providing essential services and taking action to make NYC a livable city, one where every person can enjoy a healthier, more sustainable life. GrowNYC Programs include: 

• Our network of Greenmarkets and the work of GrowNYC Wholesale ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the freshest, healthiest local food. 
• We build and support community and school gardens through volunteer days, technical assistance, training, grants and more. 
• We provide 70,000 children each year with programs that provide meaningful interactions with the natural environment. 

Food Access Initiatives Operations Assistant (Full-Time): 

Position Summary

GrowNYC’s Food Access Initiatives (FAI) provide the framework for making healthy, regional food accessible to all New Yorkers by overseeing GrowNYC’s work to promote and accept SNAP/EBT, Health Bucks, WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Checks, eWIC, Over the Counter (OTC) Healthy Foods Benefits, and Greenmarket Bucks. The Food Access Initiatives Operations Assistant will report directly to the Food Access Initiatives and Partnerships Program Manager and assist in all program operations. The ideal candidate for this role possesses flexibility, initiative, responsiveness, organization, and excellent communication skills.

Requirements

Responsibilities (Include but are not limited to):

Food Access Site Operations 

• Coordinate operations, promotion, and acceptance of electronic payment processing and FAI currencies, including EBT tokens, Debit/Credit tokens, Health Bucks, OTC Healthy Foods, FMNP, etc.
• Monitor weekly food access site reports and work closely with Greenmarket Regional Managers to follow up on bank or coupon discrepancies, troubleshoot, and provide ongoing training and support. 
• This role will document and report information on staff’s bank and currency management in consultation with the FAI Program Manager. The information will be used conjunctively with the appropriate managers to issue Corrective Action Notices (CANs) and Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) as needed. 
• Manage and track the program’s equipment (e.g., iPads, receipt printers, card readers, tokens) across all Greenmarket program staff. 
• Provide both virtual and onsite support for currency questions or issues for Site Leads and producers as needed at any Greenmarket location. 
• Provide phone and email support on weekends for Managers and Site Staff to troubleshoot time-sensitive field issues (e.g., TotilPay server issues, Filemaker not loading).
• Provide fill-in coverage for EBT Lead shifts across markets as needed, with a focus on high-volume transaction sites. 

Food Currency Tracking 

• Conduct regular inventory of the in-house Health Bucks, Greenmarket Bucks, tokens, and promotional materials and coordinate timely ordering and restocking. 
• Enter and track financial information for various currencies redeemed at Greenmarkets, such as Greenmarket Bucks, and collect information for redemption reports. 
• Support the entering and tracking of financial information for various currencies redeemed by GrowNYC Wholesale, such as Greenmarket Bucks, Health Bucks, FMNP Coupons, and Fresh Connect coupons. 
• Submit packaged FAI currencies as needed.
• Run the end-of-year inventory for any unused Greenmarket and Health Bucks to report to GrowNYC finance and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYDOHMH), respectively, before destruction. 

Onboarding and Training 

• Provide initial and ongoing training to Greenmarket Site Leads in the operation of Food Access Initiatives programs, including handling equipment, running transactions, operating prescription programs, and other special initiatives.
• Coordinate with Food Access and Agriculture (FAA) administrative staff during onboarding to administer equipment to all new Site Leads according to protocols.
• Work with the FAI Program Manager to update FAI-related SOPs and training materials each year.
• Coordinate with Regional Managers to train new Greenmarket Producers to accept all FAI currency in compliance with Greenmarket Producer rules. 
• Support Greenmarket Producers with their applications to accept the required FAI currencies and liaise with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, NYDOHMH, and Greenmarket Producers regarding any issues. 
• Serve as a point of contact for the Greenmarket Producer community for questions or guidance regarding nutrition benefit redemptions. 

Programs and Partnerships 

• Coordinate the Greenmarket Buck program: respond to inquiries in a timely manner, coordinate and prepare orders for external partners, and track payments. Prepare redemption reports at the end of the year or when requested.
• Coordinate with external partners to organize nutrition education and food access-related programming at GrowNYC sites.
• Support the creation of promotional materials for the program, as well as regularly update the relevant materials used to train and assist GrowNYC Site Leads, producers, and partner organizations.
• Support FAI project evaluations, including compiling reports and project statistics.
• Train and support interns assigned to the FAI program. 

Required Qualifications

• 1-3 years of administrative or operations experience, preferably in the food access space.
• Valid driver’s license for at least 1 year with a satisfactory driving record and willingness to drive a cargo van or small vehicle throughout NYC. DMV records will be solicited. 
• Demonstrated proficiency in Google Sheets and/or Microsoft Excel. 
• Demonstrated proficiency using Apple products (iPads and iPhones) and apps.
• Strong commitment to a racially and socially just food system with a knowledge of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), and other nutrition benefit programs.
• Outstanding organizational skills. 
• Precision, accuracy, and timeliness in completing duties.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including patience with others.
• Ability to follow directions, work as a team, and manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work with confidential information with a high level of discretion and sensitivity.
• History of successfully working with people from various identity groups and backgrounds.

Ideal Qualifications:

• A working knowledge of Spanish or another non-English language is a plus. 
• Familiarity with Filemaker Pro, NetSuite, Adobe InDesign, Learning Management Systems, recording platforms (e.g., PearDeck, Panopto), or a willingness to learn.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 65 lbs and work outdoors (aiding techniques/tools will be provided for safe lifting upon request), walking, and standing for periods of 8-10 hours, sometimes in extreme temperatures. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• Ability to work in a potentially noisy environment.
• A valid driver’s license and willingness to drive for GrowNYC

Schedule

This position is full-time, year-round, with an expected weekly workload of 35-40 hours. Work schedule is primarily Wednesday through Sunday, with mandatory in office presence on Wednesdays and availability to work on holidays. Coverage for site shifts may begin as early as 6 AM, and assistance with special events can require evening work.

Compensation

The position is a full-time, non-exempt salaried position. It pays  $52,000 - $54,000 per year and includes full benefits (medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability, incentive savings plan, paid time off, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and potential for parental leave for full-time regular employees who have been employed with GrowNYC for 175 days and FSA programs). This position is union-eligible.

Location

This is a hybrid role with a minimum of 3 days per week in our Manhattan office with a mandatory presence on Wednesdays or in the field at food access sites. In-person field-based work and off-site travel will be expected.

Other Duties

This role requires regular on-site visits to program sites (including weekends) to provide support for field staff and Greenmarket producers. This will also help keep the FAI Operations Assistant grounded in GrowNYC’s food access work and foster opportunities to build relationships with relevant stakeholders. 

**Upon tender of offer, GrowNYC expects that the candidate will be available to start the role within a maximum of 21 days.**

GrowNYC is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer and hires without regard to race, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation or physical disability.