Bergen Cares Assistant

Under the direction of the Bergen Cares Center Coordinator, the Bergen Cares Assistant will assist the Bergen Cares Coordinator in the management of the Bergen Cares Food Pantry and Threads Clothing Closet and supervise Bergen Cares student workers and volunteers. The position will assist the Coordinator with food and student emergency assistance, clothes and food donations/distribution, address food and housing insecurity on campus and provide social service referrals in collaboration with The Center for Food Action and Bergen Community College Personal Counselors.

POSITION SUMMARY

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Supervise Bergen Cares food pantry and Threads Closet student workers in the absence of the Bergen Cares Coordinator.
• Conduct in-take assessments with visitors to Bergen Cares Center and complete all aspects of Emergency Fund Request application. le, initial intake meeting, outreach to financial aid and student follow up.
• Provide referrals to on-campus or community resources as needed.
• Refer students at risk to a Personal Counselor or Assistant Vice President of Student Support as needed.
• Participate in outreach to include food pantry and Threads tabling events, hunger free advocacy and Homeless Awareness Week.
• Conduct outreach within Bergen Community College to include tabling events, class presentation and collaboration with on campus departments and student clubs and organizations to develop donation drives.
• Create and distribute promotional material to campus to include flyers, posters, and social media.
• Serve as a member on the campus Hunger Task Force.
• Maintain clear professional and personal boundaries with all visitors and student workers in the Bergen Cares Food Pantry and Clothing Closet.
• Assist the coordinator with collecting and maintaining all data for the Bergen Cares Food Pantry and Clothing Closet including data log of food donations and stocked items within the pantry.
• Assist with daily Store tasks (upkeep of office supplies, cleaning up student work spaces, folding and hanging clothes, etc).
• Assist Bergen Cares Coordinator with maintaining inventory and organization of the Food Pantry and Threads Storage Closet located in S-115, and C-111A including a list of available sizes and donation counts.
• Answers and responds to a high volume of phone calls to the Bergen Cares Center and addresses the inquiry as needed.
• Complete additional projects as needed under the direction of the direction of the Bergen Cares Center Coordinator.
• Maintain the confidentiality of all Faculty, Students and Staff who visit the Threads Clothing Closet and Bergen Cares Center

SPECIAL SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Associate degree; preferably in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services or related area. Ability to think conceptually, develop and implement policies and procedures, and make administrative/procedural decisions and judgments. Bachelor degree in Social Work or related field preferred.

Experience: Experience working with a culturally diverse community. Experience in student support/advisement, case management, program management, implementation and administration preferred.

Other: Ability to lift up to 40 pounds.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Superior verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to supervise student workers
• Proficiency with various computer software programs and Ellucian-Colleague (formerly Datatel) or similar higher education student information system.

HOURLY RATE AND BENEFITS

• Hourly rate: $20/hour
• NJ State Pension Plan.
• 403B Plan
• Earned Sick Leave

Bergen Community College provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.