Program Assistant- Special Projects- SCC Clothes Closet at Safe Children Coalition Inc – Sarasota, Florida

This position is responsible for assisting with the coordination of special projects and activities for the CBC with a primary focus on the SCC Clothes Closet.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for organizing and overseeing the operation of the Foster Care Clothes Closet. This includes, but is not limited to:
  • Managing daily operations of the clothes closet with a retail mindset, ensuring a clean, well-organized, and visually appealing shopping environment, while making sure items are clean, seasonally appropriate and accessible.
  • Receiving, sorting, labeling, and inventory of clothing and essential items according to established guidelines and age/size categories while ensuring items are merchandised by type, size, and age using retail best practices to support ease of selection and dignity of choice.
  • Track inventory levels and proactively identify high needs items.
  • Coordinating requests from case managers and caregivers and ensure timely response.
  • Maintaining accurate inventory records and identify gaps of priority needs to inform supervisors.
  • Occasionally, overseeing volunteers who may assist with storing, organizing, and shelving donated items.
  • Preparing basic reports and updates on clothes closet usage.
  • Utilizing the Clothes Closet inventory process to track incoming and outgoing items.
  • Coordinating donations and deliveries of items to and from the Clothes Closet
  • Transporting donated items from donor drop off to the clothes closet daily.
  • Maintaining clothes closet security by monitoring items coming in and going out as well as people coming in and out of the clothes closet.
• Assist case managers and caregivers in obtaining items needed for children in their care via system of Clothes Closet orders and requests.
• Facilitate a positive, customer-service oriented experience for case managers and caregivers when they are present in the clothes closet.
• Answer and respond to all incoming clothes closet inquiries from donors.
• Respond in a timely manner to donors and other community-based groups interested in donating to the clothes closet.
• Assist with the identification, coordination and implementation of various drives and corporate donations as requested.
• Assist with monitoring Special Drives and communicating problems to the Director of Quality Assurance.
• Responsible for ensuring the Clothes Closet is open during operating hours, Monday through Friday.
• Responsible for regular cleaning, maintenance, and organization of the clothes closet to maintain a pleasant environment for case managers and caregivers.
• Responsible for the appropriate disposal of damaged, unsanitary, expired, or non-usable items in accordance with organizational guidelines.
• Maintain adequate records in all forms and manage the retention of files according to policy.
• Maintain back of house organization, including storage, sorting areas and overflow inventory.
• Assist with other initiatives to include the Foster Parent Appreciation Drive, Annual Back to School Drive, Reunification Events, SCC Angels Holiday Gift Drive, and other gift drives as requested.
• Provide input for newsletters as needed to disseminate information on inventory and ongoing needs to be filled as requested and approved.
• Understand and be able to communicate the CBC Clothes Closet Project mission and goals both internally and externally.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Possess excellent verbal communication skills.
• Experience with customer service and multi-task office setting.
• Ability to work well with staff and partner agencies
• Ability to maintain a professional working relationship with outside agencies.
• Have administrative abilities and be detail oriented.
• Possess excellent written communication skills.
• Ability to interpret, adapt and apply guidelines and procedures.
• Ability to work independently and utilize initiative, ability to be organized and to meet deadlines.
• Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations.
• Work to continue personal competency through education, outside literature, seminars, etc.
• Computer experience in a Windows environment, Microsoft Office (Excel, WORD), ability to learn and utilize other software programs.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE:

High School diploma or equivalent preferred.

Part time position

29 hrs. of work