Food Justice Specialist

Become A Part of the El Programa Hispano Catòlico Team!

El Programa Hispano Católico (EPHC) is an organization that supports individuals in reaching their fullest potential. For nearly 40 years, our mission has been to advance racial equity and social justice through the power of our Latine roots, culture, and community. This mission, which is at the heart of everything we do, has allowed us to respond to local needs by addressing the social determinants of health. We achieve this through our program areas: Housing, Economic Sustainability, Education, Community Wellness, and DV/SA Prevention and Intervention. Today, EPHC serves more than 30,000 people annually and employs over 100 staff members, the majority of whom are bilingual, and over 93% are bicultural.Although EPHC is affiliated with the Catholic Charities Network, candidates or participants do not need to be Catholic to work with us or receive services. Across our programs and services, staff of all faiths\-or none\-work within our framework of respect for our mission, the dignity of the human person, and the common good.

To learn more about EPHC, visit our website at https://elprograma.org/

Benefits:

• Vacation \& Sick Time Benefits
• 14 Paid Holidays
• 85% employer\-paid health insurance with buy\-up options
• 401k with Employer Contribution
• Short Term/Long Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Access to our Retirement plan
• Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• Group Life Insurance
• Bonus Wellness Days
• Continuous Growth and Development Opportunities
• Opportunities to serve your community and make a positive impact

About The Role:

The Food Justice Specialist leads the implementation of food justice programming aimed at enhancing access to nutritious food, providing food justice education, and restoring culturally specific connections to land and food. This role combines food pantry coordination, culturally appropriate nutrition education, and food justice advocacy to support health and wellness in underserved communities and across the lifespan.

Principle Duties \& Responsibilities:

Food Pantry Coordination \& Advocacy

• Oversee daily operations of a food pantry including inventory, ordering, and scheduling.
• Ensure pantry offerings meet the nutritional needs and cultural preferences of community members
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with local food producers, mutual aid networks, and advocacy groups.
• Collaborate with schools, senior centers, and community partners to schedule and promote workshops.
• Recruit, train, and manage volunteers to support pantry operations and create a welcoming environment.
• Develop and implement an outreach plan to promote food justice programming and distribute materials.
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations and agency protocols.

Nutrition Education \& Curriculum Development

• Develop culturally responsive and accessible food justice curricula (visual aids, multilingual materials etc.,)
• Lead and facilitate culturally responsive, interactive workshops on food justice, guiding discussions, managing group dynamics, and creating inclusive spaces that encourage participation and shared learning.
• Develop and implement an outreach plan to promote food justice programming and distribute materials.
• Provide support to individuals attending the congregate meal (60\+ years) service such as but not limited to resource connection, meal distribution and support, program coordination, etc.
• Collect participant feedback to continuously improve and evaluate curriculum effectiveness and impact.

General Responsibilities

• Ensure accurate data entry and recordkeeping by staff, both electronically and on paper.
• Monitor and maintain required documentation in compliance with program standards.
• Prepare timely reports for funders and internal stakeholders, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Track pantry usage, donations, and outcomes for reporting and evaluation purposes.
• Attend required program, organizational, and funder meetings.
• Follow and enforce adherence to El Programa Hispano Católico's policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned by program supervisor.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Associate’s degree in Public Health, Nutrition, Social Work, or related field (or equivalent lived/professional experience).
• Community Health Worker Certification preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English, with strong bicultural competency and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in both languages (verbally and in writing).
• Ability to lead group classes and engage with diverse community members.
• Strong verbal and active listening skills to lead meetings, engage with community members, and facilitate training sessions.
• Strong knowledge of food justice principles.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks, make proactive decisions, and follow through.
• Attention to detail in managing program records, data entry, and report preparation.
• Ability to work independently and adapt to changing priorities while collaborating effectively with a team.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office programs.

Other Requirements:

• Must successfully pass all required background checks.
• Flexibility to work varied hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally for training, workshops, or organizational needs.
• Occasional work outside standard office environments, including on\-site visits, community outreach, event coordination, etc., at multiple locations.
• Reliable transportation is required for work\-related travel. If driving, employees must have a valid driver’s license, access to a personal vehicle, and automobile insurance that meets the agency’s minimum coverage requirements (100/300/100\).
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods during meetings, food distribution, and site visits.
• Ability to lift and carry materials up to 40 pounds.

Compensation: $25\.00 per hour. This position is funded through a grant ending June 30,2026. With the possibility of extension contingent upon continued funding.

Location \& Typical Working Conditions:

Community On\-Site (50% of time)

• Coordinate food pantry services and provide direct support to community members accessing food pantries, lead workshops, coordinate events, conduct outreach, attend in\-person trainings, community partner meetings, etc.

In office (30% of time)

• In office work is located at EPHC's office in Gresham, OR and is required for staff meetings, department meetings, community events, congregate meal coordination, and other additional duties requiring in office work.

Remote from home (20% of time)

• This position may allow remote work from home for administrative tasks such as data entry, expense report submission, funder report writing, and partner and work\-related virtual meetings.

To Apply: Please submit your cover letter and resume to El Programa Hispano's online application at www.elprograma.org/careers

*EPHC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER*

El Programa Hispano Catolico is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. EPHC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, disability, veteran, military status, religion, age, creed, national origin, sexual identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by local, state or federal law.