TITLE: Driver 

DEPARTMENT: Distribution 

REPORTS TO: Manager, Distribution 

LOCATION: Oakland 

BENEFITS: Yes                 

STATUS: Union, Full-time, Non-Exempt  

CLASSIFICATION: Operatives 

SUPERVISES: Occasional Delivery Volunteer

POSITION SUMMARY: 

Project Open Hand provides more than 2,000 meals with love each day to its community of sick and elderly clients and the Distribution department is the frontline of the organization. As a Driver, you will nurture vital connections as you deliver nutritious, health-supporting meals directly to homebound clients and senior sites throughout San Francisco and Alameda counties.  

This is an ideal position for a compassionate dedicated driver looking to directly help others on a daily basis. 

 
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: 

Two years’ experience driving large delivery vehicles in an urban setting like Oakland  and San Francisco

Valid California driver’s license and excellent driving record 

Schedule flexibility and ability to work nights, holidays and weekends when necessary 

Strong verbal and written proficiency with the English language to facilitate communication 

Excellent professional references 

QUALIFICATIONS DESIRED: 

Experience serving clients with multiple diagnoses (i.e. substance abuse, mental illness, critical illness) 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Load and unload POH delivery vehicles 

Drive POH vehicles to ensure timely delivery of meals to clients and senior sites 

Deliver extra routes not covered by volunteers 

Prepare route sheets, dispatch, and engage with delivery volunteers as needed 

Facilitate communication between clients, Dispatcher and Client Services 

Provide Client Services with status updates on POH clients 

Perform routine daily maintenance of delivery vehicles 

Transport agency supplies and equipment as needed 

Assist other departments and participate in agency-wide events as needed 

Other duties as assigned 

POH COMPETENCIES:  

A Team player: Demonstrates cooperative spirit, respects professional boundaries and is successful at sharing responsibilities with others 

Self-Led: Knows and completes responsibilities in assigned timelines, asks for clarifications when needed 

Sensitive to the circumstances and needs of the critically ill and seniors, as well as people with mental health and substance abuse issues 

Customer oriented: Works well with all customers (internal staff and external contacts), promotes a positive image of the agency and works diligently to resolve customer issues 

Poised: able to maintain a calm, positive and constructive attitude during interactions with diverse populations, sometimes in challenging situations 

Ethical: Honest, accountable, maintains confidentiality 

Well organized: Information organized and accessible, maintains efficient work space, manages time well 

Motivated: Looks for opportunities to increase knowledge, works to increase responsibility, strives to achieve personal goals 

Flexible and available: Must be flexible to work nights, weekends or holidays to meet demands 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Physical demands: While performing duties of job, incumbent is required to move; walk; walk multiple flights of stairs; sit; drive; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. Employee will must bend, stoop and lift and/or move up to 50 pounds unassisted on a regular basis. Employee will be asked to move fully loaded meal containers from floor to vehicle and vice versa on a regular basis. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 

Work environment: The noise level in the work environment will consistently vary from moderate to loud. The work environment will be ever-changing with volunteers and staff members all sharing limited space and working together in the Distribution area. The work environment will vary every day from headquarters at 730 Polk St., to driving routes and delivering to private residences. 

Project Open Hand offers a generous employee benefit and wellness package. Eligibility for different programs is determined by the role and employment statuses but may include:

  • Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage, and Flexible Spending Account

  • Long Term Disability, Life/AD&D, and Supplemental Life Insurance

  • Retirement Savings Plan 403(b), Commuter Check Subsidy

  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Financial Counseling, Cell Phone Discounts, and additional discounts

  • Holidays (11 per year), generous vacation and sick leave, and complimentary lunch