Programs Specialist

Established in 1982, after a decades-long fight to save Pike Place Market from the wrecking ball, the Market Foundation was established to fulfill the Market’s historic charter to provide services and support for our community, especially our neighbors living on low incomes. 

Rooted in our model for a healthy community, the Market Foundation improves the health and well-being of our neighbors by promoting and increasing access to education, nutritious food, community support, economic stability and a safe neighborhood.  

As a community foundation, we provide annual support and partnership to a network of social services in Pike Place Market in addition to operating our own programs and services through our community resource center, The Market Commons.  

Together, with the support of our staff, service partners, volunteers and donors, we are reaching our vision to nurture a healthy Pike Place Market community so that everyone within it can live their best life possible. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Program Specialist position will assist in the achievement of the Market Foundation’s mission to nurture a thriving Market community by coordinating navigation of resources and programs offered through The Market Commons and supporting program implementation, data tracking, reporting, and community partnership efforts.

POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Passionate non-profit professional with innovative problem-solving skills, strong analytical abilities and capacity to think strategically. 

2. Responsible for greeting visitors, answering questions, assessing needs and coordinating information and referrals for social services while maintaining a high degree of customer service.

3. Engage individual clients through creative, resourceful strategies which build trust and confidence.

4. Co-develop and implement existing and new Food Access Shopping Programs. Activities include managing distribution of coupons, tracking of coupon redemption, and working with Partners to ensure program success.

5. Administer Food Access Program billing, including invoicing and budget tracking.

6. Co-manage Community Growing Garden, including managing volunteers, developing Annual Planting Plan, and tracking distribution of produce to Food Bank. 

7. Administer Annual Program Data, including compiling monthly tracking across all programs, developing reports, and pulling relevant data and track progress of programs. 

8. Support Program Evaluation activities. Activities include assisting in administration of Annual Community Needs Surveys, and compiling evaluation data for annual reporting needs.

9. Support Seasonal Tangible Goods Drives. Activities include working with partner agencies to develop wish lists, and tracking and sorting.

10. Support day to day operations of The Market Commons including managing supplies inventory, assisting with day to day cleaning, and supporting the Resource Desk through taking sign-ups and answering phones.

11. Participate in and contribute to Board meetings, Committee meetings, and relevant Community meetings.

12. Demonstrate understanding of the Pike Place Market Foundation mission, vision, values, and scope The Market Commons programs and represent the organization to key partner organizations. 

DESIRABLE WORK EXPERIENCE AND QUALITIES:

1. Passionate non-profit professional with innovative problem-solving skills, strong analytical abilities and capacity to think strategically. 

2. Excellent communication and customer service skills, with the ability to work effectively with people displaying a wide range and sometimes unpleasant behavior.

3. Ability to build internal and external relationships with a variety of people.

4. Exhibit a flexible approach to work, and quickly adapt and pivot to changing needs in a good humored, fast-paced, on the go work environment in the middle of Pike Place Market.

5. Detail oriented with the ability to stay highly organized and good humored in a fast-paced, open office environment in the middle of Pike Place Market.

6. Strong analytical and data reporting skills, with emphasis on clear and concise communication that can adapt to a wide variety of modalities and settings.

7. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects with variable timelines, while meeting goals and deadlines.

8. Ability to work both independently and collaboratively. 

9. Advanced fluency of Microsoft Office products, particularly in Excel. 

10. Minimum two years of experience in the non-profit sector, preferably in direct service or delivery of programs. 

11. Demonstrated interest in working for a mission-driven organization and personally committed to equity and inclusion.

12. Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field or commensurate work experience preferred. 

13. As frontline staff, this position requires excellent attendance and punctuality.

14. Ability to pass a criminal background check.