Program specialist Jobs in Waterloo, ON

Compensation: $23.33 per hour

Reports to: Distro Development and Program Manager

Direct reports: none

Term: Until April 30, 2027, with the possibility of yearly extensions. This is a union-exempt position as an employee of Martin Luther University College. Luther employees are not employees of Wilfrid Laurier University.

Hours: 15hrs per week

Must be available on Wednesday evenings for donation pick-up.

Must have open availability to be in-person every Thursday for weekly Distro.

Remaining hours to be scheduled as per Distro need and employee availability.

Location: A combination of on-site at both Martin Luther University College and LSPIRG, along with various pick-ups and deliveries throughout the community.

New position/existing vacancy: Existing vacancy

Artificial intelligence is NOT used in screening, assessing, or selecting applicants for this position.

Job Overview: The Distro Program Coordinator, in collaboration with Martin Luther University College (Luther) and Laurier Students’ Public Interest Research Group (LSPIRG), oversees and manages the Free Weekly Distro, facilitating all aspects to meet student need and Distro program values.

Background: Luther and LSPIRG run a Free Weekly Distro, a food program to fight food insecurity, located at Luther, which is located on Wilfrid Laurier University’s Waterloo campus. The program’s details and our values can be found at lspirg.org/distro.

Responsibilities:

1-hr per week planning and calculating grocery purchases to maximize Distro budget, using weekly flyers, known sales, community partnerships and negotiated agreements.

Supervise all Distro volunteers, including coordinating and assigning responsibilities on Distro Day.

Interact directly with Distro users, in a personable, engaging, and approachable manner.

Educate Distro users on proper cooking techniques across a wide range of food items and ingredients.

Coordinating and facilitating weekly Distro operations:

Stock supplies.

Purchasing fresh food each week.

Picking up donated food from partners each week

Collecting donations from the community.

Pick-up COBS bread donation every Wednesday evening.

Ensuring donation deliveries are received and stored.

Ensuring extra food is donated to other organizations weekly as needed.

Coordinating or facilitating deliveries to students in need.

Ensuring Distro takedown is complete on Distro Day.

Follow and administer all public health and food handling safety guidelines.

Apply safe food storage practices.

Collaborate with other Luther and LSPIRG staff on regular basis.

Tracking work-related kilometres and sending regular travel reports to managers.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

Must have a valid G-level driver’s license and regular access to a reliable vehicle (kms will be reimbursed in accordance with Laurier’s Expense Handbook).

Must have or be able to obtain valid business use of car insurance.

Must have a safe driving record.

Certification in safe food handling required (or obtained upon hire).

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Embodying and supporting the Distro program’s values.

Strong interpersonal skills.

Ability to work autonomously with a high degree of accountability, dependability, and initiative.

Comfortable with students and the broader Luther community.

Understanding of anti-oppression and its connection to food security.

Experience working with marginalized communities an asset.

Experience with the Distro an asset

Experience in a post-secondary environment an asset.

Working Conditions

Comfortable lifting, carrying, setting down a minimum of 50 lbs independently (heavy boxes of food).

Required to work flexible hours, fulfilling Distro need.

Required to stand for extended periods of time.

Must be able to sit for prolonged periods and frequently enter and exit vehicle.

Must be comfortable working in a faith-based, multi-faith community.

Must be comfortable working in a dog-friendly office.

TO APPLY

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter in one file to by March 13, 2026. Please insert “DISTRO COORDINATOR” in the subject line.

Candidates selected for an interview will be required to provide three professional references along with proof of the ability to obtain business use of car insurance.

Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in the recruitment and selection process, and to Luther employees at every stage of employment.

In line with Wilfrid Laurier University’s hiring policies, Martin Luther University College is committed to diversity and creating a culture of inclusion by increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from qualified members of the equity-deserving groups. The College welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race nationality, gender-affiliation or sexual orientation. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

Candidate provided information is used for recruitment purposes only and will not be shared with outside agencies. Information will be retained for a minimum of two years for the sole purpose of applicant review and future recruitment.

ABOUT LUTHER

Martin Luther University College (formerly Waterloo Lutheran Seminary) is in Waterloo, Ontario and federated with Wilfrid Laurier University. As a federated college, Luther has its own board of governors which oversees the work of the institution. Luther offers academic programming at the undergraduate, graduate, and graduate diploma levels. Please visit