The Partner Recruitment & Engagement Specialist at St. Mary’s Food Bank is responsible for identifying, recruiting, and onboarding new community partners to expand St. Mary’s Food Bank's reach and strengthen food distribution throughout Arizona. As a member of the Partners and Programs Team, this position takes a proactive approach to developing partnerships by identifying organizations serving communities experiencing food insecurity, building relationships with prospective agencies, and guiding them through the recruitment and onboarding process.
Serving as the primary point of contact for prospective partners, this individual manages a pipeline of partnership opportunities, evaluates organizational needs and capabilities, coordinates onboarding activities, and collaborates with internal teams to ensure successful integration into the St. Mary’s Food Bank network.
The position also represents St. Mary’s Food Bank at community events, supports partner engagement, and conducts assigned monitoring visits to ensure compliance with program requirements.
Essential Functions
Partner Support & Outreach
- Proactively identify, recruit, and engage prospective partner agencies to expand St. Mary’s Food Bank’s distribution network.
- Build and maintain relationships with community organizations, identifying partnership opportunities in underserved and high-need areas.
- Manage a pipeline of prospective partners, tracking recruitment efforts, outreach activities, and progress toward onboarding.
- Represent St. Mary’s Food Bank at community meetings, networking events, and outreach opportunities to promote partnerships and network growth.
Partner Intake & Onboarding
- Guide prospective partners through intake, application, and onboarding.
- Assess agency needs and connect partners with appropriate programs, services, and resources.
- Review required documentation and communicate requirements, status, timelines, and next steps.
- Coordinate site visits and onboarding activities with regional and internal teams.
- Maintain accurate partner records and track applications through completion.
Monitoring & Compliance
- Conduct assigned partner monitoring visits for program, food safety, and policy compliance.
- Document findings and required follow-up.
- Assist partners in addressing identified needs and maintaining compliance.
- Any other duties as assigned by leader
Performs all functions according to established policies, procedures, regulatory and accreditation requirements, as well as applicable professional standards. Provides all internal/external customers of St. Mary’s Food Bank with an excellent service experience.
Scope and Complexity
May interact with all levels of leadership, employees, agency representatives, community neighbors, volunteers, external vendors, and clients.
Physical Demands/Environment Factors
- Requires extensive sitting with periodic standing and walking.
- May be required to lift up to 20 pounds.
- Requires significant use of personal computer, phone and general office equipment.
- Needs adequate visual acuity, ability to grasp and handle objects.
- Needs ability to communicate effectively through reading, writing, and speaking in person or on telephone.
- Office and field-based work with regular local travel.
- Occasional evening or weekend work may be required.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s level degree in a related field
- Two years of related customer service, nonprofit, intake, outreach, case management, or social service experience preferred.
- Strong communication, customer service, presentation, organization, and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain accurate records, and identify practical solutions.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ability to learn database and management systems.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams.
- Team Player
- Commitment to St. Mary’s Food Bank’s mission.
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous food distribution and non-profit work experience
What we offer:
- Competitive Compensation Package:
- Competitive Pay, $55,000 annual, including:
- 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a generous employer match
- Employee Referral Bonus Program
- Tuition Assistance
- Comprehensive Benefits:
- Medical and Insurance Coverage
- An employee-only medical plan at no cost to you
- 4 low-cost employee-only, spouse and/or family member medical plans
- Vision and Dental coverage
- Health Savings Account generously funded by the employer and Flexible Spending Account options
- Short- and Long-Term Disability, Life and Accidental Death & Accident Insurance at no cost to you.
- Employee Assistance and Wellness Programs
- Optional Pet Insurance and Legal Shield Identity Theft offering
- Time Off
- 15 PTO days, accrued bi-weekly, that increases with length of service
- 40 hours of Personal/Sick time
- 8 Company Paid Holidays
Qualified candidates are invited to submit their resume and salary requirements to: https://www.stmarysfoodbank.org/careers/
St. Mary’s Food Bank is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regards to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other protected status under all applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.