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Material Resources Coordinator - MCC BC

All MCC workers must have a personal Christian faith, be active members of a Christian church, and be committed to nonviolent biblical peacemaking.

Candidates of a gender or ethnic group typically underrepresented in this type of MCC assignment are encouraged to apply.

Material Resources Coordinator - MCC BC in Abbotsford, BC

Date Opened: 
October 21, 2009
Date Required: 
December 1, 2009
Full Time Equivalent: 
1.0

 

Synopsis: 

The MCC BC Material Resources Coordinator is responsible for organizing and supervising the collection, management, processing and shipping of all material resource items arriving or departing from the MCC BC Material Resource Warehouse in Abbotsford. In addition, the Coordinator is responsible for recruiting and supervising volunteers and presenting volunteer groups with information on the work of MCC and the uses of material aid. The Material Resources Coordinator reports to the Director of Resource Development and Communications.

This position is available on a salaried basis. Only those candidates who are legally eligible to work in Canada should apply.

 

Qualifications: 
  • Commitment to the mission of MCC and appreciation for MCC supporting churches
  • Basic knowledge of international relief programs and the role of material resources, or the ability to learn
  • Ability to recruit and work effectively with volunteers and appreciation for their contribution
  • Commitment to teamwork and flexibility
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills
  • Good written and verbal communications skills, including presentations to small groups
  • Understanding and commitment to equity/diversity in the workplace
  • Good fitness with the ability to do physical work for lengthy periods of time, including bending, standing, pushing carts and lifting (up to 50 lbs)
  • General handyman skills relating to mechanical and carpentry preferred
  • Good driving record and ability to drive a one tonne cargo van and larger vans, as needed
  • Ability to operate a forklift safely and effectively in a warehouse setting, or the ability to learn
  • Appreciation about safety issues in the workplace in a context of volunteer helpers, heavy lifting and operating equipment
  • Willingness to work some evening and weekends with volunteer groups
  • Level One First Aid or the willingness to acquire Certification
  • Ability to work to standard workplace computer programs
  • Satisfactory criminal record check

 

Assignment Description: 

The MCC BC Material Resources Warehouse serves as a receiving and shipping point for materials received from supporters in the MCC BC constituency intended for places of need overseas. The BC warehouse makes shipment to the MCC Central Warehouse in Plum Coulee, Manitoba. The primary responsibility of the Material Resources Coordinator is to ensure that all materials be suitably prepared and packed before shipment occurs. This includes receiving, packaging, recording, and arranging shipment of various kinds of material aid. A key dimension of this position is to coordinate the work of volunteers that donate, assemble and package material resources and provide informal presentations to volunteers and visitors on the role of material resources in the work of MCC. This position is also responsible for the maintenance of physical facilities and vehicles, for assistance at the relief sale, and for transportation and various other duties. The warehouse is the collection and shipping point for all MCC clothing, recycling, requiring the Material Resources Coordinator to work in close collaboration with MCC Thrift Shops and Above the Underground in the processing of clothing for recycling.

The Material Resources Coordinator reports to the Director of Resource Development and Communications and works collaboratively with counterparts in other MCC regions that are involved with material resources, especially the Material Resources staff at MCC Canada and MCC Bi-national offices. The Material Resources Coordinator supervises staff and volunteers working in the Material Resources Department.

 

Duties: 

Relating to Constituency:

  • promote material resources and volunteering to constituents and the community via church and school visits, relief sales, annual meetings, displays, submissions to communications
  • provide tours of the Material Resource Centre and explain its function and operation to interested groups
  • respond to media inquiries, as appropriate, in consultation with supervisor and Executive Director
  • articulate MCC's mission, values & beliefs to volunteers, church groups and community agencies
  • maintain database of potential volunteers; maintain record of volunteers and the hours they work

Managing and Handling Material Resources:

  • coordinate the province-wide collection of materials for special appeals
  • coordinate the receiving and processing of material aid donations including:
  • sorting donated clothing to meet overseas specifications
  • folding comforters/blankets in preparation for baling and shipping
  • checking all kits to meet MCC guidelines and packing into standard MCC shipping cartons
  • baling other items such as yard goods, towels, sheets, etc.
  • packing new bars of soap and laundry into cartons
  • processing donated fabric for kit bags, items, clothes and purchase & resale of fabric for comforter-making
  • assembling various relief kids
  • acknowledge material resources donations
  • purchase material resources project supplies and warehouse supplies
  • manage warehouse space so that all processed donations are stored in a neat and orderly manner
  • prepare monthly inventory reports for MCC's Material Resources Department and MCC BC management
  • maintain a clean, safe workroom and warehouse, including maintenance of equipment
  • coordinating MCC facility and MCC vehicle maintenance
  • Travel to MCC Material Resource Network meetings, as required

Volunteer Education:

  • plan and implement volunteer appreciation events
  • interpret the work of MCC for volunteers through varying activities
  • articulate MCC's mission, values and beliefs to volunteers

General

In all aspects of the assignment, the Material Resources Coordinator is expected to:

  • model Christian faith and service through daily interactions with co-workers, volunteers and donors
  • be actively involved in a church in the community
  • model nonviolent peacemaking in the workplace and community
  • participate in prayer and biblical reflection at staff meetings and retreats
  • support MCC's values in efforts to promote equity in the workplace

Revision: Oct '09

 

Location Description: 

Abbotsford is a city in excess of 150,000 people. It is a city which amalgamated Clearbrook, Matsqui, Mt. Lehman and some other small communities in 1995. Abbotsford is located in the Fraser Valley, about 80 kms to the east of Vancouver, a major Canadian city. The ocean and mountains are a real scenic drawing card, but be prepared for a lot of rain!

The city has been growing rapidly in recent years with major building programs and the emergence of new businesses. It serves the community well with a full range of health and community services. Clearbrook once a strong Mennonite farming community, continues to have a strong presence of Mennonite churches, as well as other Christian denominational churches.

In the last years the community has also increasingly become multi-cultural, being host to a large Indo-Canadian community, and to a lesser degree reflecting the Afro-Canadian, Latino, European and other Asian communities.

 

Challenges: 

This individual must be able to do physical work for many hours at a time -- stooping, bending, standing, pushing carts and lifting. The warehouse can also prove to be rather cold in winter -- be prepared to wear layers.