Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1949 to welcome Holocaust survivors and returning World War II veterans looking to rebuild their lives in Kansas City. Today, JVS welcomes refugees and immigrants from around the world who are fleeing persecution in search of safety and opportunity. JVS embraces, encourages and empowers our newest neighbors in their journey to self-sufficiency.  Offering an extensive array of services in community integration, health & wellness, and workforce development, JVS is Kansas City's premier immigrant-and-refugee-serving organization. 

JVS offers a number of benefits to employees:  health, vision and dental insurance, short-term disability, 403b plan including 3% employer contribution, paid holiday, sick and vacation time, and opportunities for professional development.

Section 1: Overview and Purpose of Position

The Donations Specialist will work in coordination with the Resettlement team, providing support to JVS programs in the areas of in-kind donation solicitation, distribution and tracking. The Donation Specialist will be the point person for donation procurement and distribution and will therefore be responsible for coordinating with community members, donors, clients and JVS staff. The Donation Specialist will work closely with internal staff to ensure accurate and timely tracking of all donated items. When necessary the Donation Specialist will also support the Resettlement team on new housing set-up.

Section 2: Qualifications (skills, education, experience)

  • High School diploma (relevant experience may be substituted for diploma).
  • Minimum 1-2 years of experience working with immigrant populations and/or low-income populations preferred. 
  • Valid driver license, valid auto insurance, access to personal vehicle, and clean driving record with no moving violations within the past three years.

Section 3: Responsibilities/Duties

  • Provide courteous assistance to donors while abiding by JVS donation standards and needs. 
  • Safely load, unload, and disburse goods in accordance with JVS and donor requirements in collaboration with JVS colleagues, direct service staff and community members.
  • Assist housing team with home set-ups as needed, including obtaining and organizing housewares items and assisting with furnishing.
  • Answer telephone and provide JVS information and directions, meeting the caller’s needs and with timely follow up. 
  • In collaboration with the Volunteer Team, occasionally keep volunteers actively engaged in meaningful work, while also finding appropriate tasks for each individual. 
  • Manage and track donations, inventory, and system maintenance.
  • Support resettlement efforts by informing management team of inventory-related needs.
  • Use personal, insured vehicle and/or JVS vehicle to pick up donations from donor houses and deliver to JVS warehouse or client homes.
  • Comply with all policies, procedures and protocols of the agency.
  • Participate in JVS internal committees. 
  • Other related duties as assigned.

Section 4: Skills Needed

  • Strong relationship building skills and ability to effectively build internal and external relationships.
  • Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multicultural environment.
  • Comfort driving box truck and cargo van in and around the KC Metro.
  • Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skill
  • Proven ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.
  • Strong organization skills.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); ability to use the internet and other digital tools for data entry, research, and problem-solving purposes.

Section 5: Working Conditions and Physical Effort

  • Hours:  Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00 pm, with flexibility for occasional evenings/weekends as dictated by donations schedule and client needs
  • Regular travel to pick up donations in box truck or in personal vehicle with mileage reimbursement
  • Up to 50% of the job will be completed in the warehouse which has neither heating nor cooling, so tolerance to extremes of heat and cold is required. 
  • When not working in the community, work is typically performed in an interior temperature-controlled office work environment. Position requires periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
  • Position requires frequent bending, squatting, sitting, standing, walking, pulling, pushing, lifting, and moving items that may weigh up to 40 lbs

Salary Range: $35,560 – $40,900

A note to Potential Candidates:

Studies have shown that women, trans, non-binary individuals and BIPOC are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single qualification listed in the job description. Here at JVS we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and we are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. That candidate may come from a background less traditional to our field of work and that is okay. JVS strongly encourages you to apply, even if you do not believe you meet every qualification described.

Please submit your resume to recruit@jvskc.org