Director, Product Sourcing & Strategic Partnerships

Position:                         Director of Product Sourcing & Strategic Partnerships Team:                              Programs Reports to:                     Vice President, Programs Job Type:                        Full-time Location:                        Flexible, must have easy access to a major national/international airport The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) is an international nonprofit development organization working to alleviate hunger and food insecurity by developing, uniting, and accelerating the food bank model around the world.  The food bank model is based on the recovery and redistribution of surplus, wholesome food to improve food access and food security, thereby reducing food loss and waste. Founded in 2006, GFN now connects food banks in 44 countries, primarily in emerging and developing market economies, and provides vital assistance to 40+ million people experiencing food insecurity. The organization is operating under a ten-year vision to improve food access for 50 million people facing hunger by 2030. GFN’s work is aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG Target 12.3 (Halve Global Per Capita Food Waste). We are attentive to the socio-economic, cultural and food security realities unique to each community served by member food banks and guide global resources and support for local action and impact. Since 2019, GFN has made significant investment to broaden the capability and scale of member food banks better enabling their efforts to recover more food and leading to the distribution of more than 882 million kilos of food and grocery product for hunger relief in 2020. Our aim in future years is to accomplish even more.  A third of all food produced is lost or wasted leading to substantial resource and environmental degradation at the same time more than 2 billion people worldwide are food insecure. Food banks can help address this need. GFN supports food banks to provide even greater food access for vulnerable populations, increasing the amount of food distributed to those in need and strengthening the resilience of their communities and the food systems they rely upon. We are looking for an outstanding and visionary individual to lead the Product Sourcing team.  This position fosters multi-national partnerships that generate greater product donation across the food system, builds alliances with multi-stakeholder organizations in the broader dialogue on food loss and waste, and devises strategies for significantly increasing the amount of nutritious and culturally appropriate food being distributed by GFN network food banks. The Director will be the thought partner primarily responsible for the organization achieving the food distribution and nutritional diversity targets set forth by the Board of Directors through the strategic plan. Summary: The Director of Product Sourcing role carries out the following:

• Serve as a partner to the leadership team and full organization on overall strategies to achieve transformational breakthroughs in growing product donation at a network-wide level.
• Coordinate the development of strategies to engage multinational companies (MNC) in the work of GFN food banks to ultimately increase desirable product donation, working in close coordination with the development team.
• Forge and collaborate on the organization’s Food Loss and Waste (FLW) thought leadership agenda.
• Craft and collaborate on strategies the enhance the nutritional diversity and cultural appropriateness of foods distributed by the GFN.
• Collaboratively create product sourcing knowledge sharing internally to GFN, through GFN knowledge networks, and to key food banking partners.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Maintain a high-level of understanding of the GFN and – through data and analysis – devise strategies that lead to transformational breakthroughs in the volume and diversity of product flowing through the GFN members, especially in regions of organizational focus. Serve as the organization expert on all matters related to product sourcing and distribution at a network level including regional and global trends related to supply chain segments, opportunities for greater recovery that span countries, and nutritional mix/diversity. 
• Forge and maintain strong and creative relationships with MNCs that generate increased product donation of desired foods, essential grocery items and, secondarily, valuable in-kind and human capital resources, in markets of focus, in close collaboration with the development team. This includes crafting a global case for product donation, developing target lists, interfacing with potential donors, crafting creative partnerships, and stewarding partners.
• In partnership with the data team, collect and analyze information on product donation volumes, food categories distributed, and segments from which sourcing is occurring. Share analyses in a way that supports decision-making, and where appropriate, back to donors and food bank staff. Data is currently available network-wide annually, with an organizational commitment to increase the frequency of data in the future.
• Lead GFN’s Food Loss and Waste (FLW) mitigation thinking and actions with a focus on food recovery. This includes aiding in the strategic vision and determination of objectives of GFN, member activities, and recruitment of multi-national partnerships within the framework of Sustainable Development Goals 2 and SDG 12.3, Board objectives, and role of food banks in food system resilience. Serve as the external lead for FLW partners.
• In partnership with GFN field teams, develop and manage technical assistance, training, and knowledge sharing that can be used network wide.
• Manage a global team of three located in multiple time zones and regions. Develop and maintain an annual team budget, work plan, and support quarterly reporting to the Board of Directors on KPIs related to product sourcing.
• Work to collaborate with the development team in achieving GFN fundraising goals.
• Work collaboratively with the field team in a way that supports GFN work in local communities, especially in areas of priority for the organization.

Minimum Qualifications/Experience:

• At least ten years of prior experience working in the food and agricultural space with MNCs, which should include work in an emerging or developing markets context. Food banking experience or experience working in food recovery preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in forging strong relationships that generate product donation with actors in the food system, preferably with CPG or grocery retail players. Must have experience serving as the relationship lead on high-profile, global partnerships with MNCs.
• A significant understanding of global dialogues and global organizations on food loss and waste, including familiarity with the intersection of the issues with broader food security and environmental conversations.
• Demonstrated experience crafting innovative relationships that drive tangible impact such as financial or in-kind support through multi-stakeholder partners – such as global NGOs, UN actors, or regional and global convening platforms.
• Experience managing diverse teams in service to a diverse client-base. The ideal candidate will have worked in emerging and developing markets. Must be skilled in cross-cultural communications.    
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to effectively present complex issues succinctly and represent GFN well externally to high-profile audiences.
• Strong data analytics capability, especially using data to steward partnerships and inform decision making.
• An effective and service-minded people manager. Proven ability to translate big picture vision into specific strategies and manage to outcomes. Demonstrated success in building effective working relationships with peers in flat and remote organizational structures.
• Highly organized, goal driven, and the ability to implement and support collaboration and communication tools and processes that drive productivity. Experience with the Microsoft Suite, Salesforce and Monday.com preferred.
• Experience in being able to communicate high-level strategies through writing, and in presenting information in a way that inspires action.
• Commitment to the mission of nourishing the world’s hungry through uniting and advancing food banks.
• Fluency in English required. Additional language fluency related to the regions we serve is a plus.
• Flexible on location but candidate must be prepared to conduct the position on a global stage, including managing a team and interacting with partners based in a variety of time zones. In normal times, 25% travel expected. GFN is committed to following CDC guidance regarding travel. Candidate must have authorization to work in the location where they will be based; a valid passport; and all necessary visas to enable unencumbered travel to the United States, Europe, and Singapore. Please note The Global FoodBanking Network requires the COVID-19 vaccine for all positions involving travel. 

Unique Attributes of Working with GFN: GFN is in a growth phase, having expanded its membership by nearly 50%, more than doubling its service delivery and increasing food distribution by more than 100% in just three years. We are looking for entrepreneurial leaders, that are firmly committed to respecting and embracing a diverse and locally driven network of community leaders. The issues this portfolio includes are changing rapidly, and it is vital this leader be able to adapt their approach and strategies in an evolving landscape, be skilled at representing GFN and the opportunity to achieve SDG12.3 and SDG2 well to external audiences on a global platform and build GFN’s relationships with multinational corporations. Internally, GFN is supporting food recovery organizations through its field team. This leader must be a positive internal collaborator and an excellent people manager. The GFN work environment is remote and the candidate must be comfortable and effective working full-time in a virtual setting. To Apply: Please email a cover letter, resume, and salary expectations to hr@foodbanking.org. EOE 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.