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Manager of Community Connections

  • On-site
    • Denver, Colorado, United States
  • $57,000 - $72,000 per year

Job description

ABOUT METRO CARING

Metro Caring offers innovative programming in Food Access, Nutrition, Community Connections, and Community Organizing. We know that Coloradans don’t go hungry because of a lack of food. Coloradans go hungry because they can’t afford to put food on the table. Unaffordable housing, low wages, an industrialized food system, and centuries of racism and oppression are some of the leading causes that force people to go hungry. We need bold new solutions to tackle these root causes. By investing in community wealth building, organizing our community leaders, and exploring innovative solutions to our food system, we know that, together, we can end hunger at its root.

Mission

As one of Colorado’s leading anti-hunger organizations, Metro Caring works with our community to meet people’s immediate need for nutritious, culturally relevant food while building a movement to end hunger at its root.

Our Values

We’re guided by shared values that reflect our vision and mission. These values shape our daily work, influence our decisions, and help us evaluate our impact as we strive to make a positive difference in our community. We guide ourselves by seven core values:

  • Pursue Equity

  • Champion the Mission

  • Rise Together

  • Find the Joy

  • Own It

  • Are Brave

  • Think Outside the Box

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Manager of Community Connections leads with compassion, clarity, and strong organizational skills to ensure a welcoming and dignified experience for community members, staff, and volunteers at Metro Caring’s Fresh Food Market and Welcome Center. As the key steward of our “front door,” this role sets the tone and culture for all who enter—shoppers, volunteers, and staff alike. Working in close partnership with the Volunteer, Facilities, and Food Access Managers, the Manager designs seamless processes that align people and systems, ensuring that community connectors and volunteers are well-supported and empowered. This leader balances efficiency with empathy, guiding the daily flow of Market and Welcome Center operations to create systems that nurture staff and volunteer talent, honor community relationships, and foster a structured, responsive, and people-centered environment. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Market & Welcome Center Leadership 

  • Oversee daily operations of the Welcome Center, ensuring a welcoming, organized, and efficient experience for community members during Fresh Food Market hours.  

  • Collaborate with the Food Access Team to oversee the daily operations of the Fresh Food Market, ensuring a values-aligned and efficient community shopping experience. 

  • Develop and maintain clear monthly, weekly, and daily shift schedules for staff and volunteers that maximize coverage, are easy to follow, and allow others to step in seamlessly when gaps occur. 

  • Improve and manage scheduling, appointment systems, and front of house operations  to reduce confusion, minimize wait times, and strengthen efficiency. 

  • Develop communication tools that facilitate warm handoffs between shifts, ensuring troubleshooting, seamless transitions, and operational readiness at opening and closing of the Fresh Food Market. 

  • Lead and model effective responses to escalated situations, in collaboration with the Facilities and Safety Manager, by preparing, training, and coaching staff and volunteers in de-escalation techniques, with clear protocols and deployment plans in place. 

 

Community Experience & Care 

  • Foster a compassionate, patient, and respectful environment where community members feel welcomed, supported, and treated with dignity. 

  • Model composure, effective coping strategies, and healthy self-care practices for staff and volunteers in high-stress, community-facing situations. 

  • Support connectors in resource navigation, referrals, and event-based engagement (e.g., ID project, resource fairs, tabling partners). 

  • Partner with staff to develop solutions that balance operational efficiency with care and respect for community needs. 

 

Systems & Process Improvement 

  • Collaborate closely with the Volunteer, Food Access, and Facilities Managers to create effective, safe, systems and policies. 

  • Lead improvements in scheduling tools, volunteer coordination, and communication systems to increase efficiency and reduce barriers, especially during Fresh Food Market hours. 

  • Build team capacity by improving resource referral processes, supporting daily operations, and creating space for long-term projects. 

  • Design and implement continuous improvement practices to evaluate team talent and operational systems, identify opportunities for growth, and guide timely changes that strengthen market operations and the community experience. 

  • Ensure follow-through and clear communication of front-end operational and policy changes with all impacted staff and volunteers. 

 

Organizational and Team Leadership 

  • Coach and develop community connectors through dynamic supervision and performance management, fostering outcome-driven goals, professional growth, and cross-organizational collaboration using Metro Caring’s tools of accountability and data collection. 

  • Foster a culture of accountability and support by setting clear expectations, providing timely and reciprocal feedback, and implementing strategies for continuous quality improvement. 

  • Facilitate regular team and 1:1 meetings to ensure connection with staff and calibration of programs. 

  • Maintain accurate data and reporting systems to track program progress, trends, and impact.  

  • Support and coach teams through change management and continuous quality improvement using qualitative and quantitative data. 

  • Participate in annual budget development, planning, and goal-setting. 

  • Work with the Director of Programs and Impact to align program development with Metro Caring’s strategic plan and vision. 

  • Nurture authentic community relationships and build collaborative partnerships with external organizations to identify opportunities for staff and participants. 

  • Create conditions for success by aligning staff and volunteer strengths with meaningful responsibilities, removing barriers, and celebrating accomplishments both big and small. 

  • Regularly collaborate across teams and departments to ensure compliance with funding requirements and reporting. 

Job requirements

To be successful in this role:

We are seeking a mission-driven professional eager to contribute to a collaborative, inclusive, and outcomes-oriented workplace. The ideal candidate is grounded, adaptable, process-driven, and motivated by the opportunity to support a people-first organization through strong systems and clear, compassionate communication. Candidates should bring the following: 

  • Minimum three years of progressively responsible experience in program/food pantry/market management, logistics and systems improvement, customer service, team leadership. 

  • Clear, respectful, and ethical communication skills, especially in support of culturally and linguistically diverse staff and community. 

  • Strong organizational and project management abilities, with a willingness to adopt new tools and improve workflows. 

  • Ability to explain and translate processes and technical information in a way that is accessible to diverse learners and varying English proficiency levels. 

  • Commitment to equity, confidentiality, and inclusive practices. 

  • A grounded, solutions-oriented demeanor—and ideally a sense of humor and caring candor—when navigating deadlines and high-pressure situations. 

  • Enthusiasm for building and maintaining efficient, people-centered systems that foster a supportive, high-performing workplace. 

  • Experience and commitment to nurturing spaces for thoughtful, specific feedback—and openness to receiving and integrating feedback as part of continuous growth and performance management. 

  • Self-awareness, with a demonstrated ability to reflect on systems, roles, and experiences to support personal and professional growth within an IDEA framework (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access). 

  • Bilingual/bicultural experience or intermediate proficiency in a second language beyond English (highly desired). 

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office; familiarity with Asana and Salesforce preferred.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Applicants must have reliable transportation. Relocation costs are not covered by Metro Caring.

IMPORTANT DETAILS

  • POSITION TITLE: Manager of Community Connections

  • REPORTING TO: Director of Programs and Impact

  • COMPENSATION: $57,000-$72,000 full-time, exempt, annual salary

  • SCHEDULE: Metro Caring currently operates on a four-day, 32-hour work week for full-time staff, with Fridays off. Work will take place at the office between typical office hours, with occasional shifts on Tuesday or Wednesday evening market shifts. Onboarding and training will be conducted in the office, with the position primarily requiring full-time, in-office work, with occasional hybrid opportunities, in coordination with the direct supervisor.

  • STARTING DATE: Resume screening will begin immediately. This position will remain open until it is filled.  

     

  • Benefits:

    • 4-day work week

    • 401(k) 5% Match

    • Health insurance

    • Dental insurance

    • Vision insurance

    • Health savings account

    • Employee assistance program

    • Life insurance

    • Paid time off

    • Paid holidays

    • Family and Medical Leave

    • Short-term disability

APPLICATION PROCESS

Importance of Inclusion and Belonging

Please note: Research suggests that women and BIPOC individuals may self-select out of opportunities if they don’t meet 100% of the job qualifications and/or requirements. We encourage anyone who believes they have the skills and the drive necessary to succeed here to apply for this role.

Metro Caring is an equal-opportunity employer. The organization is dedicated to the goal of building and maintaining a diverse and inclusive staff. We encourage applications from qualified individuals of all backgrounds. Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BlPOC), veterans, first-generation Americans, and those who identify as LGBTQ and non-binary are strongly encouraged to apply.

Ready to apply?

If you share our values and our enthusiasm for building a movement to end hunger at its root causes and champion food as a basic human right in solidarity with the community, we’d love to review your application!

To apply, please submit a cover letter and Resume

Please use your cover letter to highlight how your experience overlaps with the job responsibilities and requirements, and what about the role interests you.

Note: Applicants must have reliable transportation. Relocation costs are not covered by Metro Caring.


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