Vice President of Operations

We are seeking a Vice President of Operations to join Food Connect at a transformational moment in our journey. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of hunger relief at a national scale, helping lead an innovative organization that is reimagining how food moves through communities to end hunger, stop food waste, and build health.$110,000 – $130,000 based on experienceWorkday & LocationLocation:Greater Philadelphia Area (Headquarters)About Food ConnectFood Connect is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging the gaps in our food system to build healthier communities. We are passionate about leveraging technology and existing community efforts to bring about a more thoughtful, sustainable, and connected food system. There are amazing initiatives happening all over the world, but so much momentum is lost when there is no easy way to connect and collaborate in real time. We are building solutions to help lower the barriers to collaboration and increase efficiencies in food distribution and collaboration to drive better health outcomes for communities and individuals.Our ValuesAwareness – You communicate clearly, even in complexityCourage – You own your voice and take initiativePassion – You believe in the mission and the messageCuriosity – You ask the right questions to drive clarityIntegrity – You deliver what you say you willOur MissionFood Connect bridges the gaps in our food system through innovative technology and focused collaboration to build impactful, sustainable hunger relief solutions. We are committed to reducing food insecurity and improving food equity in real-time and working hand in hand with existing community organizations.Our VisionFood Connect envisions a world where our food ecosystem thrives on real time, open-network collaboration and scalable distribution services to enable equitable access to healthy food resources.About the roleResponsabilitiesAs we enter our next 3 - 5 year strategic cycle, we’re building toward national scale. To do this with intention, we need a VP of Ops that has implemented strong systems and smart infrastructure in multiple markets and is an operational leader who can bring it all together.As a key member of the executive team and a strategic thought partner to the CEO, the VP of Operations will be at the helm of operations that directly impact millions of meals and families. You’ll lead the design and execution of scalable systems that power our core services, Food Rescue, Home Delivery, and Food as Medicine across multiple markets, communities, and partners.This isn’t just about overseeing departments, it’s about building a blueprint for how we grow. You’ll translate bold ideas into real infrastructure, integrating Programs, Technology,Finance and Admin into one high-performing engine for change. You’ll be the anchor that allows Food Connect to scale with integrity, efficiency, and community responsiveness.This role requires a leader with deep, hands-on experience scaling mission-driven organizations and a proven track record of managing and launching operations in five or more distinct markets. You’ve seen what it takes to grow thoughtfully and you know how to build systems that can flex locally while holding steady and scaling nationally.You will be responsible for overseeing operations across existing and new market regions, ensuring successful launches, consistency, and performance. You’ll help strengthen cross-functional execution across departments, aligning internal systems with our strategic vision. You’ll help in designing operational infrastructure that supports exponential growth, delivering more meals, rescuing more food, and advancing better health outcomes for communities across the country.If you’re a systems thinker, a builder, and a values-driven leader ready to drive impact at scale, this is your moment.Mission-Driven Organizational LeadershipPartner with the CEO and senior team to execute our strategic vision to end hunger, stop food waste, and build health through operations, technology, and community impact.Develop and lead annual organizational goals, connecting high-level goals to team workflows and operational metrics.Foster a culture of accountability, positivity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.Representing Food Connect externally (funders, coalitions, government).Shaping long-term operational strategy at the national level.Driving thought leadership in food systems innovation.Program & Market OperationsOversee operations across all Food Connect services Food Rescue, Home Delivery, and Food as Medicine ensuring we deliver on our mission with consistency and impact.Support Regional Directors in performance management, process standardization, and local adaptation across 5 markets and beyond.Manages a team of 23 with a budget of $3MCoordinate with the Impact team to ensure metrics are tracked, programs are evaluated, and data drives decision-making.Partner with the Product team to align platform development (e.g., Partner Portal, logistics platform) with operational workflows and user needs.Leverage technology to optimize food recovery, delivery logistics, and partner coordination; maximizing pounds rescued, meals delivered, and lives improved.Ensure tech adoption and usability across departments and external partners.Financial, Administrative & Compliance OversightCollaborate with Finance and Admin teams to support efficient budgeting, planning, and reporting.Ensure operational policies and practices are in compliance with regulatory standards and nonprofit best practices.Build systems that give funders and stakeholders confidence in our efficiency and readiness for investment.Team Development & Cross-Functional ManagementManage Regional Directors and other operational leads, supporting team development and distributed leadership capacity.Implement clear performance evaluation structures and team feedback loops.Foster a high-trust environment that aligns with our values of equity, innovation, and dignity.Candidate Qualifications and Traits10+ years in operations, cross-functional leadership, or program delivery, preferably in a nonprofit, tech-enabled, or mission-driven organization.Proven track record of launching in multiple markets (minimum 5) or more.Proven ability to scale systems and teams across regions while staying aligned with impact goals.Experience working at the intersection of logistics, technology, and social impact.Strong analytical, planning, and project management skills with a passion for continuous improvement.Track record in creating and reinforcing a culture of inclusion, high performance, and positive team culture that is embedded in operations and strategy.Deep belief in Food Connect’s mission and a commitment to equity and justice.Emotional intelligence, team coaching ability, and collaborative spirit that complements a high-vision, product- and mission-oriented CEO.Paid Time Off: 10 vacation days + 5 sick days + 1 birthday leave + 1 work anniversary leave12 Paid Holidays per year401k benefits planResearch indicates that women and people of color often hesitate to apply for jobs unless they meet all qualifications. At Food Connect, we value diversity and inclusivity. If you're excited about these roles but don't meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply—you might be the perfect fitGet the latest updates on food rescue efforts, community impact, and ways to get involvedFirst Name *Last Name *Email Address *Which of our partner communities are you in? * #J-18808-Ljbffr