General position description

The Executive Director (ED) is responsible for steering the organization and carrying out its mission. The ED is hired by and reports to Food Roots Board of Directors. While the Board is responsible for setting policy and providing strategic direction, it is not involved in making day-to-day operational decisions. One of the ED’s main roles is, therefore, to act as a liaison between the Board and the rest of the organization. The ED has full discretionary power to implement the policies and directives of the Board. The ED is also responsible to the Board for the organization's consistent achievement of its mission and financial objectives. The ED provides direct supervision of leadership and administrative team members, and works closely with contract bookkeepers.

Key Responsibilities

• Understands, practices and supports team members engagement with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and ensuring DEI work in all aspects of the organization.

• Ensures that Food Roots has a long-range strategy to achieve its mission, makes consistent and timely progress through program implementation, and ensures program related events meet predetermined and strategically aligned goals.

• Motivates and empowers program staff to successfully implement programs through mentorship, guidance, support and professional development.

• Provides fiscal oversight and management, maintaining sound control of all finances and financial procedures and assigns duties to the contract bookkeeper.

• Provides monthly financial and program reports to the board of directors, attend board meetings, support the recruitment of board members, and be the liaison between the board and staff.

• Develops organizational budgets as well as operating and program/project budgets with program managers.

• Leads regular fund development activities including grant writing, major donor stewardship, and develops creative and diverse fundraising strategies.
   

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience, including a demonstrable history of building thriving, engaged teams.

• Experience in nonprofit management, program development and human resources.

• Experience leading financially complex organizations with diverse income streams and a history of successfully raising substantial funds to meet fundraising goals.

• History of setting, driving, and implementing strategic plans at the organizational level.

• Outstanding communicator and relationship builder, both internally and externally.

• Track record of advancing equity, anti-racism, and inclusion.

• A high level of attention to detail and organizational skills.

• Background in community food systems and/or a related field strongly preferred.

• Experienced in working with Google Drive and data management software.

• Maintains a personal vehicle and valid drivers license - Some travel is required within our region and to other parts of the state to participate in food systems related trainings, conferences and other work-related events. Food Roots provides mileage reimbursement at the federal mileage reimbursement rate.