Food Thought Specialist

Compensation: $17.83 per hour, Up to 29 hours per week.

Employment Type:

Temporary (Fixed Term). Grade: NE06.

The Food for Thought Specialist plays a vital role in promoting student well‑being and food security across campus. The position supports students by coordinating food access initiatives, connecting them with resources, and fostering partnerships to address basic needs. The Specialist leads outreach, plans events, and supports program operations to ensure that students have consistent access to nutritious food and essential supplies.

Student Support & Resource Navigation: Meet individually with students to assess needs and connect them to SNAP, emergency food assistance, hot meal vouchers, and local community resources. Distribute emergency food boxes, meal vouchers, toiletries, snack packs as needed, maintaining documentation in Excel and CRM. Assist with data tracking and reporting for grant requirements and program improvement.

Campus Food Access Initiatives: Coordinate daily and weekly distribution of campus‑wide snack baskets to 20+ locations, including outlying centers. Organize and staff recurring events such as:

• Grab & Go Meals
• Free Produce Distributions
• Holiday Food Boxes
• Food Bag and Toiletry Events

Collaborate on seasonal and monthly food events like SJC Cooks’ Food of the Month, highlighting in‑season produce with recipe demos and samples.

Program Outreach &

Education:

Partner with community resources for monthly pop‑up events to promote awareness and application support. Record and share cooking demo videos to promote healthy eating using pantry staples. Create flyers, recipe cards, promotional materials; support branding efforts for programs and events.

Operational & Collaborative Support: Maintain and update program website and calendar of events. Coordinate with departments, community partners, and volunteers to support food distribution and outreach. Participate in cross‑campus collaborations, statewide consortiums, and meetings to address student basic needs. Assist in developing policies, procedures, and monthly/quarterly reports for program effectiveness and compliance.

• Knowledge of SJC Admission and Financial Aid processes.
• Ability to troubleshoot and anticipate resolutions.
• Knowledge of basic coaching principles.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention principles.
• Knowledge of community resources and services.
• Knowledge of college policies and procedures.
• Skill in operating computers and job‑related software.
• Decision making and problem solving skills.
• Interpersonal relations and public interaction skills.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Working effectively with diverse constituencies.

The Coordinator of Food for Thought assigns work in general terms. The supervisor spot‑checks work while it is performed and upon completion for compliance with procedures, accuracy, and final results.

Guidelines include Federal, State, private foundation laws, rules, regulations, grant requirements, and college and program policies and procedures. They require judgement and interpretation in application.

The work involves promoting student well‑being and food security on an individual basis. The unique needs of each client contribute to the role’s complexity. The purpose is to eliminate barriers for student success by providing and addressing basic needs, building bundled assets. Success results in efficient and effective service provision.

Intermittently sitting, standing, stooping, walking, bending, crouching. Occasional light lifting. Works primarily in an office setting.

Associate’s degree or equivalent competency. Demonstration of experience within San Juan College culture, working with SJC students and community resources.

San Juan College is dedicated to providing equal employment and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, genetic, veteran’s status, or on the basis of any other category protected under federal, state and local laws.

• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage options.
• Generous paid leave plans and holiday pay.
• Public Employee Pension Plan (NMERB).
• Optional 403(b) tax‑deferred annuities, 457 and Roth plans.
• Flex Spending accounts.
• Life and Disability coverage.
• Employee Wellness Incentives.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Tuition waiver.
• Free SJC Gym Membership.
• Free Library services.