Bilingual (Spanish) Program Associate at Care for Real

Care for Real’s mission is to foster a healthy and equitable community by helping vulnerable neighbors and families overcome food insecurity with dignity. Through locations in Edgewater and Rogers Park, CfR provides food, clothing, pet food, referrals, and additional services with compassion to improve the health and well-being of low-income residents to foster a stronger, healthier, equitable, and more stable community. To learn more about who we are and how we serve please, see our website: https://careforreal.org. 

Care for Real is an equal opportunity employer. Care for Real is committed to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic team representative of the communities which we serve. BIPOC/ALAANA* identified individuals, transgender and gender-nonconforming people, people from poor and working-class backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. 

*Black, Indigenous, and People of Color 

*ALAANA: African, Latinx, Arab, Asian, Native American 

Position overview: 

The Program Associate assists with the Care for Real food pantry and clothing closet program client experience to insure it is dignified, trauma-informed, and client-centered. The Program Associate will also assist with the supervision and coordination of volunteers and volunteer groups so their experience is meaningful and aligns with Care for Real values. 

Essential duties and responsibilities include: 

• Coordinate outdoor food distribution team and provide support to volunteers and clients in line with directions provided by the Warehouse Manager and Director of Programs for each distribution 

• Assist warehouse team in setting up distribution and assigning tasks for volunteers 

• Respond to client requests and needs with a client-centered and trauma-informed approach and in partnership with Warehouse Manager and Director of Programs utilize de-escalation techniques as needed 

• Help lead pre-distribution meeting for volunteers and staff and facilitate the post distribution debrief in coordination with other staff members • Welcome and onboard new volunteers and volunteer groups 

• Follow food pantry policy and procedures in receiving and distributing healthy/safe food and other products (i.e., personal hygiene products, household cleaning products, diapers) and ensure volunteers do the same Additional responsibilities include: 

• Efficiently manage multiple work assignments and prioritize work in a fast-paced environment 

• Ability to know when to ask questions or to clarify work processes and to anticipate hurdles and where to go for help 

• Ability to problem solve and to document problems and resolutions 

• Ability to take initiative and complete projects independently when appropriate, but also collaborate and contribute to team efforts 

• Other duties as assigned 

Job Requirements: 

• Bilingual English/Spanish required 

• Excellent communication skills and comfort in working in a changing environment with a diverse group of people 

• Strong customer service skills 

• Demonstrates professionalism at all times 

• Punctual and dependable 

• Excellent organization and team coordination abilities 

• Ability to effectively manage a wide array of tasks, projects, and responsibilities 

• 1-2 years relevant experience preferable

 • Ability to provide a trauma-informed approach in interactions with clients and volunteers 

• Bachelor's degree preferred 

• Ability to work set schedule Saturdays, 8am-4:30p and Monday, 3:00-7:30p 

Benefits and Compensation: 

Care for Real is proud to offer a team-oriented and supportive workplace culture. The pay range for this position is $18-$19.50/hour, commensurate with experience and skillset. 

Care for Real’s Environment:

Able to sit and stand for extended periods of time, bend, stoop and lift up to 50 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these duties. Care for Real is a smoke, drug and gun-free environment. We are proudly an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment decisions are made in a non-discriminatory manner, without regard to race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, citizenship status, military service, marital status, orders of protection, handicap, disability or any other factor determined to be unlawful by federal, state, or local statutes. 

TO APPLY: Submit resume and cover letter to careers@careforreal.org Please include Program Associate in the subject line of your e-mail. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. No phone calls please.