Senior Director, Programs

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Spoonfuls keeps good food from going to waste. Through food recovery and distribution, education, and advocacy, we work to address the health, environmental, and economic impact that wasted food has on people and the planet. To learn more about our work, visit spoonfuls.org.

Under the supervision of the CEO and working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, the Senior Director, Programs will lead strategic program operations at Spoonfuls. This leadership position will be critical in managing and scaling the organization’s existing core food recovery program while also identifying and creating new opportunities that advance its mission. The Senior Program Director will work closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to ensure the successful execution of both short-term goals and long-term strategic objectives, and will help to operationalize other programmatic growth as laid out in the Strategic Plan, completed in 2022.

Duties and Responsibilities

Food Recovery Program Team Management

• Oversee Spoonfuls’ signature food recovery program across Massachusetts by managing the Food Recovery Program Team leadership; supervising day-to-day food recovery operations; and monitoring and supporting the development and implementation of efficient and improved processes and program model and delivery

• Suggest and oversee the Implementation of best practices for stakeholder management, partnership development, data collection, logistics and optimization, service delivery, and productivity, delegating tasks effectively and ensuring team leadership is clear on expectations and timelines for new practices to ensure scale of food recovery program and reach.

• Meet with the Food Recovery Program team regularly; maintain an understanding and working knowledge of current beneficiary waiting list, current vendor partners, current service area, current routes and logistics, and food recovery staff.

• Establish key performance indicators, broken down by weekly, monthly, daily targets etc. to track program progress and performance throughout the year and adjust program delivery as needed (i.e. Pounds rescued, people served, new partner relationships developed, etc.) to meet targets

• Conduct biannual reviews of program staff, working to encourage maximum retention, performance and dedication

Change Management

• Take the lead on planning the organization’s programmatic expansion activities outside of Massachusetts food recovery, including interstate expansion of the food recovery program, new investments and M&A opportunities, new program delivery fee-for-service models, and other programmatic initiatives detailed in the strategic plan

• Lead change management efforts across the program team and work collaboratively with other departments as Spoonfuls continues to grow, ensuring smooth transitions when project goals and outcomes impact program processes, systems, or teams.

• Lead the development and management of new initiatives to encourage better results from current and prospective partners, in order to continue to expand Spoonfuls’ geographic footprint of its signature food recovery program.

• Create and support a culture of continued education for all Program Team members, in close coordination with Director of Programs and Staff Managers

• In the midst of change and growth, establish and/or uphold policies that promote company culture, vision, and values

Strategic Planning and Leadership

• Contribute to setting organizational goals and programmatic objectives aligned with those goals and the organization’s vision for strategic growth; set specific targets for the program that serve to meet organizational goals

• Design and implement program strategies, plans and procedures to ensure the continued growth, stability and solvency of the department

• Act as a strategic partner and sounding board to the Senior Leadership Team, ensuring alignment between goals, strategies, and priorities, and activities on an ongoing basis.

• Provide highly skilled and collaborative decision-making and leadership expertise to ensure organizational and programmatic integrity, quality of program services, and progress towards organizational goals and vision.

• Provide visibility to the CEO on all programmatic initiatives, improvements, challenges, and wins.

Cross Departmental Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

• Works with the Development Team and with the Communications and Public Affairs team when needed to provide information for funders, contribute to grant proposals, support marketing and media initiatives, and engage stakeholders with Spoonfuls’ programs.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for external stakeholders inquiring about Spoonfuls’ programs; work with third parties on projects where deemed necessary, and serve as spokesperson for the organization, sharing the mission and vision of the org and its signature food recovery program.

• Work cross functionally to execute successful, regular events that our Beneficiary partners, vendor partners, and Spoonfuls’ staff members can engage in.

• Work closely with other departments (Admin, including HR, IT, and Finance) to ensure programmatic alignment with organizational goals.

• Foster a culture of collaboration between the program team and other departments to drive cohesive business strategies and lead and motivate cross-functional project teams.

Budget & Resource and Asset Management:

• Establish sustainable insurance controls and practices that set Spoonfuls up for success in the areas of safety, training, risk management, and loss prevention

• Work closely with the Food Recovery Program team leadership to responsibly manage organizational assets and risk mitigation across program team; lead activities and strategy for asset loss prevention, accident prevention and employee and fleet safety initiatives

• Manage the budgeting process annually for the department, driving initiatives to streamline systems, improve resource utilization, audit system and vendor costs and performance, and reduce costs where possible.

• Track expenses and monitor project budgets; ensure that program operations stay within budget and that resources are allocated the most effectively to support, and not hinder, programmatic impact

• Assist the finance and grants team with the development of project budgets as needed and ensure programmatic activities align with grant and program budgets; and contribute to grant reporting, particularly in the area of programmatic impact, as needed

Process Improvement and Performance Monitoring

• Conduct regular audits and evaluations of operational procedures to ensure continued compliance with industry regulations, health and safety standards, regulatory requirements regarding food and transportation safety, and internal policies.

• Conduct regular and periodic data reviews and evaluations of programs to evaluate program service and impact and ensure continuous improvement and learnings for future projects.

• Identify operational risks and implement mitigation strategies.

• Assist in handling crises that impact functions, including supply chain disruptions, production issues, or regulatory changes and develop contingency plans and manage organizational responses to unforeseen challenges with program delivery.

• Oversee the integration of software systems and support the adoption of new technologies that optimize operational workflows.

Qualifications & Skills
The ideal candidate will possess many, though perhaps not all, of the following skills, expertise areas, and competencies

• At least 10 years of leadership and team management experience, with a track record of leading or managing programmatic growth and expansion initiatives

• Experience with or in the food insecurity or nonprofit space, with a particular knowledge of or passion for our mission: to reduce food waste and feed people

• Excellent strategic leadership, change management, people management skills, and problem-solving skills,

• Excellent Project Management skills; the ability to manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

• A skilled communicator and team player; willing to deliver hard feedback while also encouraging and developing employee growth

• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of driving projects to successful completion while balancing stakeholder needs.

• Skilled in change management; strategic thinking; management and coaching; budgeting and fiscal responsibility, and holding others and self accountable

Hours:

Full-Time, Exempt: Must be available 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, though schedules may vary day to day. Spoonfuls operates with a hybrid work schedule, meaning employees must be in the office 3 days a week, and are able to work from home on the remaining days.

Benefits:

Spoonfuls provides health, vision, and dental insurance through our PEO partner, as well as generous PTO and holiday closures.

Physical Demands:

This is largely a sedentary role; however, some filing and materials management is required. This would require the ability to move files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary. In addition, members of the Program Admin team are expected to maintain a satisfactory driving record and be in DOT compliance in order to participate as needed in food recovery operations, including conducting ride-alongs, running or filling in on a route, moving the truck to assist with Spoonfuls’ events, and other duties that may be assigned.

Work Environment:

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. Some tasks outside the office may be required (attending meetings, attending events, shipping materials, etc.).