Operations Assistant - Seasonal

Seasonal delivery driver and volunteer leader at a charitable food nonprofit.

Give back to the community this summer with a fulfilling job making a meaningful impact. Wiling Hands is looking for a seasonal driver working 32-40 hours per week who can also support our volunteer programs by leading teams of volunteers to harvest food from local farms. 

The right candidate is reliable, detail-oriented, and motivated to support a community-centered organization that handles and delivers perishable food. A strong work ethic, a clean driving record, and the ability to perform physical labor while maintaining a positive attitude are essential. 

To apply, please submit your resume and a brief cover letter.

Key Accountabilities

• Distribute food to support food security and food equity, maintaining respect and dignity for everyone in our community. 
• Support daily warehouse operations, including receiving, unloading, sorting, staging, and organizing donated food.
• Drive scheduled delivery and pickup routes as needed, ensuring timely and accurate transport of donated food. 
• Maintain accurate records of all pick-ups and deliveries.
• Maintain the general cleanliness, functionality, and safety of vehicles, warehouse areas, and shared equipment; report maintenance concerns promptly.
• Assist with inventory tracking and product rotation to support safe and efficient food distribution.
• Support garden, gleaning, and food recovery teams with unloading, movement, and storage of food and materials within the warehouse.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Gleaning and Garden Support

• Support and maintain positive, professional relationships with existing partner farms when supporting and leading volunteers during gleaning activities. 
• Provide day-of support to Garden and Gleaning staff. 
• Help create a welcoming and supportive environment for volunteers and staff by offering guidance, encouragement, and clear information. 
• Assist with overseeing harvesting activities to help ensure produce is harvested, handled, and packed according to food safety standards and organizational practices.

Warehouse Operations:

• Support receiving, unloading, sorting, culling, staging, and storage of donated food within the warehouse in line with food safety and quality standards.
• Support the Operations Director and Warehouse Coordinator in managing food inventory, loading, and unloading trucks.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized warehouse environment. Support storage, washing, and distribution planning. 

• Assist with post-glean tasks as needed, including washing produce, cleaning bins and crates, and preparing gleaned produce for storage or delivery. 
  

Food Delivery and Food Transport:

• Pick up and deliver food on a weekly schedule and make extra pickups and deliveries as needed.  
• Carefully and accurately weigh and record all incoming and outgoing food while monitoring food temperature and following food safety guidelines. 
• Required to follow all federal and state motor vehicle laws and safety regulations.
• Abide by Willing Hands’ warehouse, food safety, and driving safety protocols
• Responsible for keeping the truck clean, refueling, and daily monitoring of the truck to detect or anticipate needed maintenance or repairs, including daily refrigeration temperature checks on vehicles

Administrative/Other:

• Assist with the collection and entry of program and food movement data, including manifests and related documentation.
• Support general facility/building and grounds tasks as needed to maintain a safe and functional work environment.

Other related assignments as necessary.

Skills/Abilities:

• Demonstrate safe and responsible driving habits, with the ability to operate small box trucks in varying weather and road conditions.
• Shows strong attention to detail when completing logs, temperature checks, and food tracking documentation.
• Can apply food safety, sanitation, and safe lifting practices consistently in warehouse and transportation settings.
• Able to perform frequent physical work, including lifting, carrying, bending, and standing for extended periods in warehouse and outdoor environments.
• Stays organized in a fast-paced operational setting with multiple priorities and changing daily needs.
• Understands basic warehouse flow, including receiving, sorting, staging, and rotating products.
• Able to use basic computer systems or tablets for data entry, manifests, and volunteer hour tracking.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and respectfully with staff, volunteers, and community partners.
• Provides clear instructions and task guidance to volunteers while maintaining a welcoming and supportive environment.
• Monitors volunteer activities for safety, food handling quality, and adherence to procedures.
• Able to adapt quickly to schedule changes, shifting workloads, and evolving program needs.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while also collaborating effectively across teams.
• Shows sound judgment in identifying food quality issues, safety concerns, and maintenance needs, and reports them promptly.
• Demonstrates a positive, service-oriented attitude when representing the organization during pickups, deliveries, and volunteer activities.
• Interest in equitable access to healthy food and engaging the community.
• Dedicated to making an impact in one’s community. 
• Self-motivated, disciplined, and committed to being part of a team.
• Positive attitude, patience, flexibility, creativity, and a great sense of humor.

Required and/or preferred Education and Experience:

• Knowledge of produce (fruit, vegetables, dairy etc) handling is preferred.
• Understanding of inventory management and the principles of food safety a plus.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment: 

• Will spend long periods of time outdoors and in cooler warehouse temperatures.
  • Must be able to work safely in all weather conditions
• Must be able to comfortably lift 40 pounds.
  

General Expectations of all Staff

• Understand and support the mission of Willing Hands as expressed by the Board
• Greet the public through all channels of communication with courtesy and respect
• Coordinate and integrate efforts with staff working on other Willing Hands programs
• Work in a safe manner and report any safety hazards to the Executive Director
• Maintain the individual workstation and office in a clean manner
• Practice good work habits of flexibility, efficiency, punctuality, dependability, and confidentiality
• Strive to grow existing skills and learn new ones
• Employ good communication skills by sharing information, listening to others, and giving positive input
• Work as a team member by helping others and making suggestions for improvements

Benefits and Work Environment

• Paid time off and paid holidays.
• This position is based in our Norwich office.
• Mileage is reimbursed at the current federal reimbursement rate for all approved personal-vehicle work travel. 
• Opportunity to set professional development goals with supervisor.
• Regular meetings of Willing Hands staff
• We care deeply about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable work environment.

Willing Hands is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender or gender identity, race, religion, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, or disability with respect to employment, volunteer participation, and the provision of services.