Department: Facilities & Campus Operations
Classification: GMU Worker
Job Category: Part-Time / Hourly Wage
Job Type: Part-Time
Location: Fairfax, VA
Workplace Type: On Site Required
Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa
sponsorship
Salary: $20/hour; Salary commensurate with education and
experience
Criminal Background Check: Yes
Financial Background Check: Yes
Work Schedule: 15-20 hrs. per week during the academic year
(August – May), 20-29 hrs. Per week during academic breaks (May –
August); 1,200 hours maximum per year. This position’s work
schedule will require flexibility to work earlier and later than
typical work hours (8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.), including occasional
weekend work.
Work Locations: Mostly in-person work, typically required at
the Fairfax Campus. In-person work may be required at the Mason
Square Campus and Science and Technology Campus for event-specific
tasks. Limited remote work available when responsibilities
permit.
Important Eligibility Requirement
Employees in this position are required to operate university
vehicles in accordance with George Mason University Vehicle Use
Policy 1411. Applicants must possess and maintain an active, valid
driver’s license that satisfies university requirements. Final
candidates are subject to a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) review, and
successful completion of the review is a condition of
employment.
Minor or major driving violations may affect eligibility for
employment. Applicants with prior driving infractions need to
review the Eligibility & MVR Review Information (
English /
Spanish ) before applying.
About the Position:
The Food Rescue Specialist will directly support George Mason
University’s new Food Rescue and Composting initiative on the
Fairfax campus, and the Food Recovery Network chapter (FRN at
George Mason) by providing mostly operational, but also
administrative, data reporting, and engagement support. This
position advances progress on two goals: 1) address food insecurity
on campus and 2) address food waste at George Mason University.
This position will help plan, design, and implement food rescue
processes and activities in collaboration with a variety of
partners at the university, including Auxiliary and Business
Services, University Sustainability, FRN at George Mason, George
Mason Dining Services (Chartwells), and the Patriot Pantry. It will
also serve as a member of George Mason’s Food Rescue and Composting
Working Group.
The Food Rescue Specialist will develop and strengthen food rescue
partnerships, integrate food rescue activities within university
operations, and increase opportunities for community engagement. In
partnership with FRN and George Mason’s student leaders, they will
provide hands-on help to rescue and redistribute food to George
Mason Patriots experiencing basic needs insecurity, while also
reducing food waste disposal on campus.
George Mason University’s host office anticipates hiring two
candidates in this capacity.
Responsibilities:
Food Rescue Operations
- Safely transport food donations from a variety of on-campus
donation partner locations, predominantly Dining Services’
residential dining halls, as well as potentially the Presidents
Park Greenhouse, retail dining, and catering sites;
Package and label food donations in the new Southside Food
Rescue Hub, supporting FRN and Dining staff efforts;
Train on and operate a university vehicle/motorized utility
vehicle to pick up, transport, and deliver food donations;
Deliver packaged and labeled food donations to the Student
Support and Advocacy Center’s Patriot Pantry on the Fairfax Campus,
approximately 2-3 times per week;
Support FRN at GMU’s food rescue route and volunteer shift
planning, administering route and food rescue volunteer shift
adjustments based on volunteer capacity and partners’ needs;
Ensure all food safety and handling policies and procedures are
appropriately followed by FRN members and volunteers, after proper
training;
Maintain regular communications with university staff and
important donation partners to support food rescue activities,
including Patriot Pantry staff, Dining Services staff, and FRN at
George Mason’s community donation partners, among others;
Represent FRN at George Mason by serving as a point of contact
for Dining Services staff, ensuring consistent and timely
communications for food donation pick-ups;
Collaborate with student leaders in FRN at George Mason, Dining
Services staff, and members of the Food Rescue and Composting
Working Group to develop and update food rescue planning materials,
including standard operating procedures (SOPs), logistics plans,
and other process documentation to support food rescue activities;
and
Lead staff and volunteer training sessions and supervise
volunteer groups for on- and off-campus food rescue
activities.
Food Rescue Community Engagement
- Assist with the creation of volunteer and staff training
videos, directional guidance, and other best practice materials to
improve food rescue activities at the university;
- In collaboration with the Student Support and Advocacy Center
(SSAC) and FRN at George Mason, create educational and
communications materials to engage students about the initiative,
its purpose, and raise awareness about prepared meals and fresh
food options available at the Patriot Pantry;
- Co-host student outreach, volunteer recruitment, and
educational events with FRN at George Mason members, engaging with
attendees, answering questions, and providing operational support
at on-campus events;
- Assist FRN at George Mason with on-campus events by
coordinating logistics, communications plans, and space
reservations, as needed;
- Attend FRN at George Mason’s chapter meetings and Food Rescue
and Composting Working Group meetings on a regular basis and
collaborate with members at meetings by offering feedback and
recommendations to improve food rescue operations and engagement;
and
- When needed, serve as a representative of FRN at George Mason
at Food Rescue and Composting Working Group meetings, and by
responding to student and donation partners’ collaboration and
information requests.
George Mason Food Recovery Data Collection
- In collaboration with FRN at George Mason, track food rescue
data on a regular basis and maintain records for reporting and
community engagement;
- Complete and submit accurate reports for food donations
received and redistributed to on and off-campus partners, including
Patriot Pantry and FRN staff, when needed; and
- Contribute to continuous improvement of George Mason’s food
rescue operations by developing, implementing, and analyzing
assessments related to food rescue activities.
Other Duties as Assigned
- As needed, evaluation activities to support George Mason’s food
rescue strategic planning (e.g., analysis to determine
environmental and social impact, ROI for select activities, etc.);
and
- Assist with other administrative and support tasks, such as
monitoring and updating volunteer signups, maintaining records,
etc.
Required Qualifications:
- Ability to work collaboratively and independently on tasks and
projects;
- Understanding of food insecurity and hunger relief
services/system;
- Ability to lead, train, and manage volunteers for food rescue
activities;
- Experience using Microsoft 365 software programs (Microsoft
Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, etc.);
- Must possess a current, valid driver’s license and the ability
to complete training to operate a university vehicle and golf cart
(training(s) will be provided upon hire);
- Ability to complete food safety and handling training (training
will be provided upon hire through George Mason’s Dining Services
provider);
- Lift, carry, and otherwise transport items weighing up to 40
lbs;
- Ability and willingness to work flexible hours as part of
on-site tasks, including potential night and weekend work; and
- Must currently possess an appropriate, active, valid motor
vehicle operator’s license that meets all of GMU’s requirements for
operating state vehicles and equipment under Mason’s Vehicle Use
Policy 1411 https://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/policies/vehicle-use/
. The Office of Risk Management reserves the right to review the
driver’s licenses and Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) of all
candidates selected with employment contingent upon favorable
review.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Prior involvement with food rescue activities, including
planning and hosting events, participating in food rescue efforts,
redistributing rescued food, etc.;
- Prior knowledge about food (in)security and basic needs
(in)security;
- Passion for community organizing and engagement;
- Prior experience recruiting, supervising, and training
volunteers;
- Prior experience developing and maintaining partnerships;
and
- Ability to proactively seek opportunities to improve food
rescue activities.
Physical Demands
- Organize, move, and otherwise manipulate bins, trays, and
boxes;
- Walk, move, travel, and otherwise navigate the university’s
campuses;
- Walk, stand, sit, stoop, kneel, and crouch;
- Make repetitive motions;
- Talk or hear;
- Type and write by hand;
- Use hands to touch, grasp, hold, or handle;
- Safely utilize a variety of food service equipment and
tools;
- Safely operate a university vehicle and golf cart; and
- Safely work in a variety of locations, including the Presidents
Park Greenhouse and Dining Services’ residential dining halls,
retail dining, and catering sites.
Work Conditions
- Outdoor work in varied conditions (heat, humidity, rain, cold,
winds, etc.);
- Indoor work in climate-controlled and non-climate-controlled
conditions;
- Travel to and work on-site at the university’s campuses;
and
- Limited ability to work remotely when responsibilities
permit.
Instructions to Applicants:
For full consideration, applicants must apply for
Food
Rescue Specialist at
https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online
application to include three professional references with contact
information, and provide a Resume for review.
Posting Open Date: August 21, 2026
For Full Consideration, Apply by: September 4, 2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
Mason Ad Statement
George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 research
university committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous
world. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largest
and most diverse public research university in Virginia, offering
degree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level,
along with certificates and credentials.
George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment for
students, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. We
believe in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancing
our mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; and
we believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity of
origin, identity, circumstance, and thought.
Equity Statement
George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its
community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or
veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.
Campus Safety Information
Mason’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at
http://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/