UW Food Pantry Student Director
UW Food Pantry Student Director Position Description
Department/Program Description
The Division of Student Life serves as a hub for a variety of programs, services, facilities and operations designed to enrich the Husky Experience. Since 2016, the Office of the Vice President for Student Life (OVPSL) has led Any Hungry Husky, a collaboration of campus services aimed at reducing the negative impact food insecurity can have on student success. The UW Food Pantry provides students, staff, and faculty with access to shelf-stable, non-perishable goods, fresh produce, and community resources at no cost.
At the University of Washington, diversity is integral to excellence. We value and honor diverse experiences and perspectives, strive to create welcoming and respectful learning environments, and promote access, opportunity and justice for all. The UW Food Pantry serves a diverse shopper base. Students selected for this position must be excited to work on and learn about concepts of diversity, social justice, power, privilege and oppression, including their relationship to these concepts in the context of food insecurity among college students.
Job Description
The UW Food Pantry, a unit of Student Life, is seeking a student to serve as Student Director. This position is charged with ensuring the success of the pantry, including providing leadership to the student staff and large volunteer team, as well as managing operations, food procurement and scheduling. This individual will oversee the food pantry stock and be responsible for purchasing food on a regular basis. The student director will work closely with their supervisor to further the mission of the pantry, support the staff and volunteers, and ensure the short and long-term success of the pantry.
Pay rate: $26/hr
Hours: 15-19.5 hours per week
Supervision: Provided by the Assistant to the Vice President for Student Life
Responsibilities
- Oversee daily management of the pantry, including staffing and administrative tasks
- Recruitment and training of volunteers and staff, quarterly scheduling, and supervision
- Coordinate pantry layout, facilities management, and maintenance
- Keep stock of the pantry and regularly place food and supply orders
- Oversee pantry budget for food purchasing as well as preparing funding requests
- Support food deliveries by coordinating arrival, stocking, and storage
- Provide leadership and mentoring for pantry staff and volunteers
- Maintain a high level of communication through management of the pantry email account, uwpantry@uw.edu
- Identify and oversee special projects for staff and volunteers, including data visualization, graphic design, fundraising, and recipe writing
- Collect and manage data related to the pantry including oversight of the Food Bank manager system, visitor demographics, usage, and weight of food distributed
- Facilitate weekly team meetings and 1:1 meetings with pantry staff in coordination with supervisor
- Manage requests for pantry tours and information
- Develop and maintain positive working relationships across campus and in the local community
- Represent the pantry at events (in person or virtual) as needed, including class presentations, tabling, fundraisers, and the media
- Ensure pantry staff and volunteers are educated on proper food handling protocols as outlined by UW Environmental Health and Safety
- Raise awareness of community resources related to food, housing, mental health, and financial services for visitors, staff, and volunteers
Commitment to Student Learning and Growth
The UW Food Pantry is committed to student learning as part of their employment. The student selected for this position should expect to discuss learning goals and reflect on meaningful learning with their supervisor on an ongoing basis. Additionally, the Division of Student Life will review each student employee’s academic progress via GPA reviews. The intent of these grade checks is to offer our student employees holistic support and connect students to resources and academic support services should the need arise. These reviews will begin after you complete your first quarter of employment. GPA reviews have no impact on your selection for the position or your standing as an employee.
The following have been identified as potential areas of learning for the Student Director:
- Supervision and team leadership
- Working through ambiguity successfully
- Communication skills
- Strategic planning
- Critical thinking and creative problem solving
- Operations management
- Budgeting and fiscal planning
Minimum Qualifications
- Currently enrolled as student at the University of Washington, Seattle; expected to maintain matriculation through spring 2026
- Experience hiring, training staff, managing teams and coordinating schedules
- Food industry experience (food service, food production, food bank, farm work, etc.), or relevant education in Nutrition and food safety
- Understanding of food insecurity and hunger relief services/systems
- Understanding of the concepts of power, privilege, and oppression, and self-awareness of one’s own relationship to these concepts; desire to work and learn in a diverse setting
- Demonstrated skills in resolving conflicts
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with individuals throughout an organization
- Able and willing to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends, and the occasional impromptu coverage for a colleague
- Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs. to facilitate moving and distributing food
Desired Qualifications
- Volunteer or staff experience in food banks
- Experience with food systems, food preparation, and food safety
- Experience with volunteer recruitment, training, and management
- Budget management experience
- Able to independently and proactively seek opportunities for program improvement
- Digital marketing and communications experience
- Valid driver’s license and ability to drive in Washington state
- Ability to work through summer 2026, ending employment in September 2026