Company description In the US our right and connection to real food that nourishes people, communities and the environment are robbed by a pervasive and anonymous industrialized food system. By supporting local food changemakers who are building a regenerative and just food system, we can shift the food culture from the ground up.

Real Food Real Stories’ impact story coaching provides storytelling skills to food changemakers who dedicate their lives to building a more sustainable food system and who are innovating at the forefront of the movement. Our programs include a diverse range of voices and focus on those who are often underrepresented in conversations about sustainability and food: women, people of color, immigrants and LGBTQIA individuals. Our digital content continues to amplify these stories to more listeners and provide a platform for continued conversation around current food system challenges. Our work is relationship-centric, ranging from: 
 

• 1:1 storytelling coaching, 
• public live-storytelling gatherings,
• digital storytelling (+ monthly podcast),
• storytelling workshops, and
• ongoing support for our storytellers

RFRS is looking for a dynamic & thoughtful leader who is passionate about igniting cultural change in the food system. The Executive Director will drive the growth and strength of our programs by building effective partnerships with key stakeholders; build a diversified fundraising system including individual and corporate donors, and foundation support; lead the staff, Advisory Board, volunteers, community and supporters in raising revenues to sustain the current annual operations. RFRS’ next leader will be an individual of the highest integrity, a seasoned manager who is enthusiastic to fundraise, and a compelling advocate of sustainable food systems, storytelling and the RFRS mission. This exceptional opportunity is for an experienced, energetic, and ambitious rising leader to take a hands-on role in building the future of this community-based non-profit. Job description The Executive Director (ED) will oversee:

Organizational strategy and implementation, business development, fundraising initiatives, and donor cultivation. The ED will develop and oversee the strategy to bring the organization to a national audience, and build volunteer chapters throughout the nation. The ED will work closely with the Program Director and Communications Director to help lead the organization in this exciting new phase of growth.

The ideal candidate is deeply aligned with RFRS’ mission, steadfast, and can leverage past experience to help build a viable organization in a fast changing environment. They enjoy juggling very different projects needed by a small dynamic organization, and at times will roll up their sleeves to get the work done. This is a great opportunity for an entrepreneurial professional looking to apply skills in a highly collaborative, mission-driven environment to create a meaningful culture shift for the food system and organizational legacy.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership (40%)
 

• Connect, represent and advance RFRS’ vision, mission and strategies
• Together with the Advisory Board, lead the development of the next three-year strategic plan, while overseeing growth and diversification of relationships and funding
• Partner with the Advisory Board to shape strategic direction, improve organizational policies and systems
• Guide, motivate and develop RFRS staff members
• Manage the design, implementation, coordination, and evaluation for all RFRS administration, operations, and programming
• Drive growth and strength of the organization and its impact by improving, creating and implementing sustainable staffing structures, development and marketing systems and strategies, and evaluation systems; including evaluating areas for program improvement
• Build, lead and guide national chapters that are volunteer run, to increase the organization's impact and reach

Development and Communications (40%)
 

• Build and execute a development strategy to strengthen donor stewardship program, diversify funding streams, and reach long term financial sustainability
• Oversee and guide the organization’s brand and marketing strategy; support implementation as appropriate
• Drive and implement an annual development plan
• Represent RFRS at public events and stakeholder meetings, building awareness and connections to increase volunteer and funder engagement, including building relationships with community leaders

Increasing Operational Excellence (20%)
 

• Oversee financial matters, including tracking of expenses and accounts payable, and developing and monitoring budgets. Provide the Advisory Board with regular financial and organizational reports
• Serve as the accountable liaison to RFRS’s fiscal sponsor, Earth Island Institute, as contracted, on matters related to governance, finance, payroll and human resources, and risk management
• Oversee contracts and scope of work with vendors, consultants and volunteers
• Oversee organizational facilities and office technology

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
 

• Demonstrated commitment to supporting sustainable food systems and an understanding of the challenges we face as a global community in tackling these issues
• A general understanding and excitement for storytelling and the positive effects it can make on people and communities
• At least seven years of professional experience with five years demonstrated leadership experience in a non-profit organization
• Direct experience managing organizations and small teams
• Three to five years of fundraising experience, with an understanding of nonprofit development initiatives
• Willingness to engage with management and development of non-profit boards, including building board fundraising capacity and performance
• Willingness to participate in relationship-based fundraising; individual giving experience preferred
• Experience managing budgets and financial reporting
• Disposition for accountability to program excellence, fundraising targets, and collaboration using metrics-based standards
• Familiar with program development, expansion and evaluation; experience with social change programs and community development is a plus
• Experience supervising or managing staff and/or volunteers
• Expertise in non-profit or business management, or other relevant initiatives required, as demonstrated through advanced degrees, work experience, or a combination thereof
• Knowledge of national expansion strategies, with experience, a plus

ATTRIBUTES

• Strategic thinker with a visionary mindset and pragmatic approach
• Clear and effective communicator; confident and compelling speaker and presenter
• Able to engage effectively with multiple stakeholders including staff, advisory board, partners, volunteers, clients, and community members
• Enthusiastic about working as a member of a small, grassroots team committed to a sustainable and regenerative food system and a democratic process; a strong sense of collaboration, teamwork, growth
• Personal commitment to wellness and self-care
• Familiar with the Microsoft Office suite of products on a Mac based platform, HubSpot (or familiarity with working with CRM’s)

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

• Executive Director and is an employee of Earth Island Institute. The ED manages and receives counsel from an Advisory Board, and supervises four staff members: Program Director, Communications Director, Volunteer Director, and Digital Content Creator
• Working knowledge of and established relationships with Bay Area funders, Corporate entities and sustainable food organizations is a plus

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Employee is required to sit for extended periods of time and work on a computer. The position also requires extended phone conversations.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

RFRS does not have an office. All team members work remotely with weekly in-person team meetings in San Francisco and must be able to attend evening and weekend events throughout the Bay Area on a regular basis. The employee will be required to manage their workload with regular check-ins from team members via video chat calls, so the employee must be self-driven. Some local travel required. Compensation this position is : salaried, varies DOE, $80,000.00 - $85,000.00 Location job can be done remotely Application instructions Deadlineno deadline