Senior Director of Partner Services and Support (Project Management)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
The Senior Director of Partner Services & Support is responsible for leading the support of all partners who activate Food Depository programs. The Senior Director leads the external relationship strategy with a focus on understanding food access needs of communities disproportionately impacted by food insecurity and poverty. The position supports all partner focus strategy for the organization's mission. This person will be knowledgeable of each partner, potential partners, community need and ensure high collaboration across the organization. Leading and developing staff, this role will focus on leadership and project management of equity centered programs, the adoption and implementation of new technologies and work processes, the cultivation of external relationships, and day-to-day management of the programs supported operated by partners. Essential to this role is the ability to collaborate effectively with internal departments including operations, inventory control, procurement, technology, and fundraising.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Build Transformational Partnerships:
· Design a partnership engagement strategy that builds on existing relationships, while cultivating new partnerships that taps into community voice and insights needed to reduce and ultimately end hunger. This will include collaboration with the Community Engagement team.
· Work with Senior Leadership to support the achievement of organizational goals and objectives. This includes interfacing with other organizations at appropriate levels.
· Communicate program strategy to a broad range of audiences including staff, partners, donors and other key audiences, adjusting message and content based on insights gained through deep individual listening and perceptive observation of group dynamics.
· Represent the Food Depository at conferences, coalition meetings, and with the media.
Knowledge Management:
· Develop the necessary systems, processes, and tools to better support the facilitation, collection, and sharing of knowledge that is generated by the Community Impact team.
· Provide informative reports and share organizational learning with a broad range of audiences.
Provide Team and Program Strategic Leadership:
· Recruit, lead, and develop a team to effectively implement key responsibilities and projects in alignment with organizational goals and strategies.
· Lead and optimize the strategies that support food access, focusing on the needs of individuals and communities disproportionately impacted by food insecurity
· Provide oversight on the Food Depository's customer service, training, and relationship building strategies with partners
· Provide oversight on compliance with monitoring bodies and audits with partners, such as with USDA or Feeding America
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· Include innovation, equity analysis, and community input in program design and execution
· Address program execution issues throughout the organization to enhance success initiatives for neighbors and partners.
· Provide strategic insights into technology projects designed to optimize neighbor and partner experience
· Optimize program processes, identify new opportunities, research and implement best practices, and drive continuous improvement.
· Collaborate with the team to promote program transformation, innovation, and accountability in line with the organization's strategic vision and values.
· Collaborate with all necessary functional areas to achieve the program goals, including operations, finance, fundraising, communications and volunteer services.
· Provide leadership in the development of inter-team communication and cohesiveness, sustaining culture and supporting staff during organizational growth and change.
· Supervise the planning, activating, and reporting on partnerships and grants, protecting and elevating the Food Depository mission through partnerships. Ensure that all Community Impact operations policies and procedures remain in alignment with Food Depository service delivery strategies, values, and excellent partnership goals.
Operational Management:
· Analyze and monitor end-to-end program operations to identify performance bottlenecks and their root causes, working cross-functionally with warehouse, transportation, and logistics functions.
· Collaborate with cross-functional teams—including warehouse supervisors, inventory control, procurement, and transportation managers—to ensure operational alignment with program goals.
· Collaborate closely with warehouse, inventory, and transportation leadership to ensure that partner agency needs are met with efficiency, equity, and consistency.
· Analyze the impact of logistics operations (e.g., product availability, delivery schedules, order accuracy) on partner agency satisfaction and program effectiveness.
· Champion improvements to the agency ordering and distribution experience by integrating feedback from partners with operational realities and constraints.
· Represent the voice of partners in operational planning discussions, advocating for systems and structures that enable partner success and equitable food access.
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OVERALL QUALIFICATIONS:
The Senior Director of Program Development will be thoroughly committed to the Food Depository's strategy and mission. All candidates should have demonstrated leadership, coaching, and relationship management experience and demonstrated strong success managing funder relationships.
QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE:
· Program Leadership and Management: This individual will have experience with a hands-on approach in leading a variety of initiatives, including developing new programming in alignment with organizational goals and strategies. The ideal candidate will have a track record of effectively leading performance-based and outcome-based programs and staff. They will have developed and operationalized strategies that have taken a program or organization to the next stage of growth.
· Team Building and Development: The successful candidate will have recruited, managed, and developed a strong team of staff, program/project managers, and professionals. This individual will serve as a “player/coach” to motivate and mentor their team
· Exceptional Communication and Influencing Skills: As a voice/advocate for the Food Depository, this individual will have strong written and verbal communication skills. They will be persuasive, credible, communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills. This individual must work collaboratively with internal as well as external partners and other organizations.
· Advanced degree preferred, with at least 8-10 years of management experience
· Experience with community-based program design including the use and application of logic models and the ability to leverage research to inform programs
· Experience with inventory management systems (such as Ceres) a plus
· Experience with Client Relationship Management tools (such as StratusLive) a plus
· Commitment to quality programs and excellence in organizational and project management with the ability to achieve strategic objectives, and manage a budget
· An individual who can handle a variety of constituencies, manage multiple tasks simultaneously and thrive in a complex environment with multiple priorities
· Understanding of the systemic issues that impact food insecurity.
· Strong analytical skills
EXPOSURE:
· Office and warehouse environment.
· Interacts with all staff, general public, governmental agencies, volunteers, member agencies and donors.
· Valid driver's license and ability to travel throughout Cook County.
Benefits:
• Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution
• Generous paid time off
• Parental leave
• On-site gym
• $3,000 annual employer-paid ThrivePass lifestyle and wellness benefit program
• $250 employee referral bonus
