Food Pantry Director

  • Full-time

Company Description

Mariners Church is a biblically-centered, non-denominational church located in Southern California focused on inspiring people to follow Jesus and fearlessly change the world. Mariners is listed as one of the top 20 largest churches in America by Outreach Magazine. We are a community of ordinary people from all walks of life courageously trusting God to do the extraordinary. Simply put, we trust God to do what we can’t—heal, transform, renew, forgive, provide and sustain. Through the redemption story of each believer, God is glorified, lives are changed and communities are impacted in a significant way. Come and be part of a new season of growth as Mariners Church responds to God’s call in launching new congregations.

Job Description

The Food Pantry Director reports to the Community Center Director and provides strategic, operational, and relational leadership for the Food Pantry at the Mariners Church Community Center. This role is responsible for vision alignment, operational excellence, volunteer leadership, and community partnerships to ensure the Food Pantry serves individuals and families with dignity, effectiveness, and long-term impact.

Key Responsibilities

     Vision & Strategy

  • Cast, implement, and steward a clear ministry vision for the Food Pantry aligned with Mariners Church’s mission and values.
  • Develop and execute strategic approaches to addressing food insecurity, balancing compassion, sustainability, and measurable impact.

Operational Leadership

  • Provide oversight of all Food Pantry operations, including distribution models, inventory systems, scheduling, reporting, and compliance.
  • Establish priorities, systems, and processes that ensure consistency, excellence, and scalability.

Volunteer Leadership & Team Development

  • Recruit, equip, and empower volunteers through clear onboarding, training, and ongoing support.
  • Lead, coach, and develop ministry leaders, coaches, and key volunteers.
  • Build leadership capacity through clear expectations, regular feedback, training, and accountability.

Measurement & Improvement

  • Track outcomes, evaluate effectiveness, and use data and feedback to refine ministry strategy and operations.
  • Champion continuous improvement to strengthen impact and team performance.

Collaboration & Alignment

  • Partner closely with other outreach ministries and departments to ensure alignment, shared strategy, and operational consistency.
  • Pursue win-win opportunities that strengthen church-wide outreach efforts.

Community Partnerships

  • Cultivate and steward relationships with community partners, vendors, and local organizations to ensure adequate food supply and community resources.
  • Ensure engagement with guests and partners reflects dignity, hospitality, and care.

Qualifications

  • 3-5 years of proven leadership experience in ministry, nonprofit, operations, or community services.
  • Bilingual is a plus
  • Strong organizational, operational, and project management skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities with clarity and follow-through.
  • Excellent communication, emotional intelligence, cultural intelligence, and relational leadership skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead teams and collaborate cross-functionally.
  • Proficiency in Google Suite, Asana (or similar), Microsoft Excel, and The Rock Database (or willingness to learn).
  • Availability for a Monday–Friday schedule with occasional evenings or weekends for church-wide and Outreach events.
  • Strong alignment with the mission, values, and theological beliefs of Mariners Church.

Additional Information

  • Love Jesus and call themselves Christians.
  • Embrace a high biblical standard of personal conduct and lifestyle.
  • Agree to and adhere to the church's statement of faith and leadership commitment. 
  • Attend Mariners Church.

We believe the total combination of your pay, benefits, and opportunities aligned with your calling will ensure that you and your family are provided for. The following items are just a sample of the things we offer for full-time employment:

  • Health insurance (medical, dental and vision)
  • 403b Retirement Saving Plan
  • Paid vacation
  • Paid time off to serve
  • Discounts at the Mariners Cafe and Bookstore
  • Tuition discount for Mariners Church Preschool 
  • Opportunity to attend ministry events and conferences
  • Working alongside a community of supportive, like-minded believers