Director, Food Sourcing & Strategic Partnerships

Position: Director, Food Sourcing & Strategic Partnerships Team: Programs Reports to: Vice President, Programs Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) is an international non-profit organization that nourishes the world’s hungry through uniting and advancing food banks in more than 30 countries. GFN focuses on combating hunger and preventing food waste by providing expertise, directing resources, sharing knowledge and developing connections that increase efficiency, ensure food safety and reach more people facing hunger. Last year, 943 GFN member food banks rescued over 500 million kilograms of food and grocery product and redirected it to feed 9.6 million people through a network of more than 55,000 social service and community-based organizations. Summary: The Director of Food Sourcing & Strategic Partnerships, is responsible for leading and administering six mission critical functions.

• Managing the development of GFN food sourcing activities which lead to more effective operations, and secure greater quantities and diversified sources of food for hunger relief;
• In collaboration with the Fundraising and Development team, establish or bolster existing partnership development activities with relevant national, regional and global/multi-national food corporations;
• Identifying opportunities in the commercial food system – from agricultural producers, processors, consumer goods manufacturers, to retail and food service companies – for food banks to procure surplus food and mitigate food loss and waste, in a manner practical and efficient to the food bank model;
• Providing technical assistance,  information access, training and knowledge sharing from GFN to food banks toward developing greater proficiencies in food procurement and partnerships with companies throughout the value chain;
• Lead all product procurement activities and provide insights toward achieving GFN’s key performance indicators related to Sustainable Development Goals 2 and Target 12.3;
• Manage the development, dissemination and evaluation of programs and services designed to facilitate scale, capacity expansion, and effectiveness of food banks in the GFN network.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Identify, develop and manage relationships with food industry and other corporate partners to drive the acquisition of relevant resources for GFN and its Members and Member Candidates.
• Identify, develop and secure key relationships with global and multi-national food/consumer goods, agricultural, retail and food service corporations toward the procurement of in-kind products and commodities for hunger relief.
• Identify opportunities in commercial food systems to assist Member food banks to secure greater quantities of surplus food through business solution models, diversify food obtained or “rescued,” and assist in the development of food bank-food business relationships leading to sustainable sources of product for hunger relief.
• In collaboration with GFN’s Fund Development function, establish or bolster existing partnership development activities with relevant global/multi-national food and consumer goods, agricultural, retail and food service corporations.
• In collaboration with field teams, develop and manage technical assistance, training, and knowledge sharing from GFN to food banks toward developing greater proficiencies in food procurement and partnerships with companies throughout the value chain.
• Develop and lead all product procurement activities and provide insights toward achieving GFN’s key performance indicators related to Sustainable Development Goals 2 and SDG Target 12.3.
• Actively participate in inter-departmental projects, task forces, and other special projects.
• Develop and manage workplans and budgets for assigned projects.
• Willingness to travel to provide direct, hands-on support to Member food banks in the area of food procurement, meet with international corporate partners, and attend global meetings and symposia of relevant trade associations and partners organizations.
• Other tasks as assigned

Candidate Profile:

• BA/BS or equivalent combination of training and experience
• 10 years experience in the food industry, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) food procurement, or program/project management
• 10 years experience in food banking of similar human services NGO support capacity, preferably at a national or international scale
• 5 years experience in personnel/team management
• Experience in developing food sourcing strategies for food banks or similar human services NGOs
• Skilled in cross-cultural communications
• Knowledge of food banking operational and food safety standards; experience with certification and standards enforcement preferred
• Confidence and assertiveness in pursuing desired outcomes, using knowledge and understanding derived from research and careful attention to customer needs and concerns
• Ability to effectively direct and supervise.
• Service-minded and looks for ways to exceed expectations.
• A self-starter who takes initiative and has a passion for solving problems.
• Commitment to the mission of reducing world hunger through the advancement of food banking.
• Intercultural competence, ability to work with individuals of diverse backgrounds

To Apply: Please email a cover letter and resume to hr@foodbanking.org. EOE Provide salary expectations. The Global FoodBanking Network embraces a philosophy that recognizes and values diversity.  Its goal is to attract, develop, and retain a talented, diverse workforce in a culture where all employees will contribute to their fullest potential.