Charlotte, NC (On-site) Reports to: Food Operations Manager Status: Full time, hourly (40 hours/week, Monday-Saturday) Compensation: $25/hour
About The Bulb
The Bulb is a Charlotte-based nonprofit working to strengthen community health and wellness by increasing access to fresh produce across Mecklenburg County.
Through mobile farmers markets, food rescue, local farm partnerships and sustainability initiatives, we move hundreds of thousands of pounds of food directly into neighborhoods each year with no payment, ID, referral or application required.
Our work is barrier-free, community-led and rooted in dignity, trust and consistency. We believe stronger food systems help build stronger communities. Let’s build this together!
The Role
The Sustainable Food Operations Coordinator is a hands-on operational role at the center of The Bulb’s food rescue and distribution work. This position focuses on coordinating food rescue efforts, maintaining organized inventory systems, supporting produce quality practices, and helping move food efficiently from donation to community distribution.
This role also supports volunteer engagement, broader organizational operations, while occasionally assisting with mobile market coverage during high-capacity periods and supporting occasional design and communications needs.
This is an ideal role for someone who enjoys balancing active, hands-on work with organization, coordination and systems thinking. The ideal fit is proactive, adaptable, community-minded and energized by tangible, mission-driven work.
Please note: This is a physically active role requiring frequent movement, lifting and the ability to safely handle up to 50 pounds.
Core Areas of Responsibility
Food Operations and Logistics
This role helps coordinate the movement of food through its full lifecycle: rescue, sorting, storage, allocation and distribution. Strong operational systems keep our markets, partnerships and food programs running reliably.
Responsibilities include:
Coordinating food donation pickups from grocery, farm and community partners
Sorting produce for freshness, quality and usability
Supporting produce purchasing and allocation for markets and partner distributions
Monitoring food quality, packaging standards and food safety practices
Supporting composting and zero-waste initiatives for unusable produce
Warehouse and Inventory Systems
This role also helps maintain organized, reliable systems that keep day-to-day operations running efficiently.
Responsibilities include:
Maintaining organized cooler and warehouse systems
Tracking inventory and ensuring digital records reflect physical stock
Supporting operational data collection across food rescue, purchasing, compost and distribution activities
Maintaining internal operational guides, systems and workflows
Operational Coordination and Problem-Solving
Food rescue and distribution environments shift quickly, requiring adaptability, communication and problem-solving skills.
Responsibilities include:
Identifying operational challenges and contributing practical solutions
Coordinating with vendors and grocery partners on deliveries and pickups
Assisting with operational planning during high-volume periods, holidays and organizational breaks
Volunteer Coordination and Team Support
Volunteers are an essential part of The Bulb’s operations and culture. This role helps create a welcoming, organized and engaging volunteer experience across food operations activities.
Responsibilities include:
Leading for sorting, rescue and warehouse volunteer shifts
Communicating with volunteers regarding scheduling, expectations and logistics
Providing onboarding, guidance and day-of support during volunteer activities
Helping maintain a welcoming, organized and team-oriented workspace
Collaborating with staff on volunteer appreciation and engagement efforts
Mobile Market and Community Operations Support
(Occasional / As Needed)
While this role is primarily focused on food operations, occasional support at mobile markets may be needed during staffing shortages, special events or high-capacity periods.
Responsibilities may include:
Assisting with market setup and breakdown
Supporting produce restocking and guest flow
Engaging respectfully with guests and community members
Helping maintain a welcoming and organized market environment
What You Bring
2+ years of experience in community-based work, nonprofit operations, food systems, logistics, communications, project / program management, customer service, or related fields preferred
Strong communication, organization and interpersonal skills
Ability to manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced, community-centered environment
Proactive, dependable, adaptable and solutions-oriented mindset
Comfort with physical work, including lifting up to 50 pounds and working in varying indoor and outdoor conditions
Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
Proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets; familiarity with Airtable or other database tools; ability to quickly learn and adapt to new technologies to support evolving operations.
Financial acumen, including budget oversight, resource allocation, and using data to drive cost-effective, impact-focused decisions.
Familiarity with Google Workspace
Fluency in Spanish preferred (but not required); ability to communicate confidently and respectfully with Spanish-speaking guests and community members
Compensation and Benefits
The Bulb operates year-round programming Monday through Saturday with a collaborative, community-centered team culture.
Benefits include:
Hourly compensation ($24/hour)
10 days paid time off, accrued annually
$250 monthly taxable health stipend
Up to $150 annually for professional development
A Note on Language & Community
Spanish language skills are deeply valued at The Bulb and are central to how we build trust, strengthen relationships, and create truly barrier-free experiences across our communities.
We recognize bilingual community-centered professionals are in high demand, and we strive to foster a workplace where these skills are respected, utilized meaningfully, and supported as an essential part of the role—not simply an added bonus.
If you’re looking for work that is active, collaborative, community-rooted, and directly connected to tangible impact, we’d love to hear from you!
