JOB TITLE: FOOD ASSISTANCE REPRESENTATIVE

JOB CODE: 02570

DEFINITION: This is technical field work in ensuring state and federal funds are used to purchase and distribute food in compliance with appropriate rules and regulations.

An employee in this job is responsible for monitoring and providing advisory services to eligible agencies, such as schools, charitable institutions, summer camps, senior citizens centers, childcare centers, and emergency feeding programs within an assigned geographical area. Work involves providing information and advice to agencies regarding participation in state and federally-funded food assistance programs administered by the Department of Agriculture; independently conducting periodic on-site inspections of facilities including product storage, inventory control, and recordkeeping to determine if the facilities are in compliance with state and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations; and conducting follow-up compliance reviews to ensure prior discrepancies have been properly addressed and to provide additional assistance or guidance. Work is performed independently within established regulations and policies with oversight by the Food Assistance Director.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Provides information to program participants regarding policies, procedures, and regulations concerning state and federal food assistance programs.

• Visits sub-distributors, schools, charitable institutions, summer camps, emergency food providers, childcare centers, commercial distributors, and distribution centers to review records for adherence to food distribution recording procedures and accountability.

• Conducts physical inventory and compares to facility records.

• Recommends corrective action to sub-distributors or recipient agencies to ensure compliance with USDA program regulations and to correct errors in records or deficiencies in storage.

• Revisits food assistance sites to ensure errors have been corrected.

• Assists in the reallocation of food between agencies to prevent overages or deficiencies of stock.

• Reviews supporting documents associated with inventory reports for adherence to food assistance verification procedures.

• Conducts review of commodity flow to ensure food product is being transported correctly and recordkeeping is accurate.

• Conducts on-site farm visits to verify food is grown in Pennsylvania.

• Visits farmers’ markets to ensure Farmers Market Nutrition checks are being properly used by checking receipts and that vendors are following established regulations.

• Ensures proper handling and storage of food products and identifies products that are expired or out-of-condition and should be discarded.

• Operates a motor vehicle.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of recordkeeping principles and practices.

• Knowledge of methods used to obtain information through personal contacts, observation, and examination of records.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Ability to read and interpret written information.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• Three years of experience in public contact work, which included one year of verifying the accuracy of financial or transactional records;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training, which included one year of verifying the accuracy of financial or transactional records.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

• All positions require possession of an active Pennsylvania non-commercial Class C driver's license or equivalent.