Job Description

Organization Overview:

Nourishing Hope, formerly known as Lakeview Pantry, is a dynamic Chicago nonprofit agency. Nourishing Hope has evolved to become more than solely a hunger relief organization. We provide food, social services such as job and housing assistance, and free mental wellness counseling with a growing team of licensed therapists. Founded in 1970, we strive to serve the needs of the whole person — with respect and dignity, always.

Nourishing Hope offers our neighbors nutritious food using a choice-based distribution model and access to life-changing social services, including:

• Monthly food distribution and additional produce pickup through five different food access programs.
• Home delivery services for older adults, homebound neighbors and neighbors living with disabilities.
• Social services, including case management, mental health counseling, job search support, domestic violence intervention, referrals and public benefits assistance (SNAP, healthcare, government forms) for anyone in need.

Nourishing Hope serves tens of thousands of people each year, providing more than 4 million meals through our programs, in addition to partnerships with other community organizations. This year, more than 7,000 low-income neighbors will also receive case management and social services.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a dependable driver to join our team. This position begins as temp-to-hire with the clear intention of transitioning into a regular, ongoing role after a successful introductory period. This role is responsible for operating Nourishing Hope vehicles for pick up and delivery of food donations for Nourishing Hope to ensure a high level of customer service to donors and partners. This candidate will be a key utility player for the driving team with the ability to operate any of the fleet of vehicles as needed – commercial trucks, box trucks, and vans. This role will also work in our warehouses when needed before or after driving shifts.

Schedule and Locations:

This is a full-time temp-to-hire position reporting out of Nourishing Hope Headquarters, 1716 W. Hubbard in Chicago. The work schedule is Tuesday-Saturday, 8:00am-4:30pm .

Essential Job Functions:

• Safely operate a variety of fleet vehicles, including delivery vans, box trucks, and larger commercial trucks, to pick up and deliver to Nourishing Hope locations around the Chicagoland area in an efficient, timely, and professional manner.
• Operate vehicles according to all local, state, and federal regulations.
• Maintain, load, and unload in-kind donations in vehicles, up to 50 pounds regularly, using manual carts and dollies.
• Load and unload pallets with a manual and electric pallet jack, weighing up to 3,000 pounds, using electric jack.
• Maintain cleanliness and sanitation of assigned vehicles, including completion of pre-trip and post-trip vehicle maintenance and safety checklists.
• Assess and perform basic vehicle maintenance and/or report any routine maintenance issues.
• Prepare and maintain accurate records of all pickup and delivery transactions; enter transactions into our database.
• Operate a forklift, pallet stacker, and pallet jacks; safely build and move pallets of food around the warehouses and in/out of trucks/vans. (Training/certification on equipment can be obtained after hire.)
• Learn and adhere to Nourishing Hope standards for food safety and quality.
• Provide backup lifting support for drivers on routes.
• Support warehouse team in the morning before transport and after route completion, if routes end early.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma/GED or equivalent work experience.
• Proven driving experience and certification required:
  • 2-3 Years of Class B vehicle major city driving experience, preferably in the Chicagoland area.
  • Valid State of Illinois Commercial Driver’s License with Class B and air-brake endorsement.
  • Valid DOT card.
  • Clean driving record for the past 3 years.
• Ability or willingness to learn how to operate material handling equipment.
• Basic understanding of truck maintenance and upkeep.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for coordination with donors, staff, and partner agencies.
• Ability to obtain and maintain food service sanitation certification.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds of food frequently and 100 pounds occasionally while moving food between equipment and vehicles, and in warehouses.
• Ability to move pallets of food weighing up to 3,000 pounds with an electric pallet jack.
• Willingness to submit to periodic substance/drug screening based on a random, unannounced selection process required by IL DOT.
• Ability to climb and move in and out between equipment and vehicles with ease.
• Proven ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
• High level of reliability and punctuality.
• An understanding of, and belief in, the importance of food security for everyone.

Hourly Pay and Benefits:

• $23.00 per hour
• Once converted to a full-time hire, benefits include:
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
  • Employer-paid life and disability insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan with employer contribution
  • Generous paid time off
    • Paid birthday holiday
  • Parental leave
  • Language pay
  • $250 employee referral bonus
  • Free subscription to mental wellness app

Background Check:

Because we are a Medicaid provider, all applicants who are offered employment with Nourishing Hope will be subject to a background screening. Offers of employment are contingent on the successful completion of a background screening conducted in accordance with Nourishing Hope policy and federal, state, and local law.

Nourishing Hope, formerly known as Lakeview Pantry, is a dynamic Chicago nonprofit providing food and social services for anyone in need. Founded in 1970, we’re one of the largest and longest operating hunger relief organizations in Chicago. We also provide free, trauma-informed mental health counseling and other social services, such as job and housing assistance. We strive to serve the needs of the whole person — with respect and dignity, always. Nourishing Hope offers our neighbors nutritious food using a choice-based distribution model and access to life-changing social services including: - Monthly food distribution and additional produce pickup through five different food access programs; - Home delivery services for older adults, homebound neighbors and neighbors living with disabilities; - Social services including case management, mental health counseling, job search support, domestic violence intervention, referrals and public benefits assistance (SNAP, healthcare, government forms) for anyone in need. Nourishing Hope serves tens of thousands of people each year, providing more than 4 million meals through our programs, in addition to partnerships with other community organizations. This year, more than 7,000 low-income neighbors will also receive case management and social services.

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