Executive Director for Food for Free in Cambridge, MA

Food For Free Committee, Inc.

Founded in 1981, Food For Free collects fresh food and distributes it within the local emergency food system where it can reach those in need. Through a combination of food rescue, farming, and transportation services, Food For Free gives human service agencies year-round access to fresh fruits and vegetables, while its home delivery program brings food directly to housebound seniors and people with disabilities.

Through its emphasis on fresh produce, Food For Free programs address not only short-term hunger, but also obesity, diet-related disease, and other long-term health effects of food insecurity and poor nutrition.

In addition, food rescue—also called salvage or gleaning—reduces food waste. In 2011, Food For Free’s Produce Rescue program distributed 1,020,000 pounds of food, and partnered with 78 food programs in Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville, Massachusetts serving approximately 25,000 people.

Food for Free’s Office is a 11 Inman Street in Cambridge, where it is a tenant of the Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee (CEOC). Although the two agencies are independent of each other, and are governed by separate Boards of Directors, they share facilities and share a mission to serve and empower low-income residents of Cambridge. For more information about Food For Free Committee, Inc., please visit www.foodforfree.org.

Executive Director Position

The Executive Director is responsible for the overall leadership, administration and management of the organization, working with a small staff, financial consultants, and the board of directors, to ensure that the mission and objectives of the organization are fulfilled. The Executive Director works collaboratively with the Board of Directors to develop policy and provide appropriate oversight of the organization, and with the staff to implement fundraising and day-to-day operations. Current staff includes a part-time development director responsible for raising money to fund the $400,000 annual budget and promoting the important work of the organization; an operations manager, the drivers and assistants who collect and deliver food, and a farm manager who oversees a seasonal organic farming operation. The Executive Director also represents the Committee at public functions and hearings, and in the media, serving as the face of Food For Free, and as an advocate in the ongoing fight against hunger.

The Executive Director ensures efficient and effective operation of the following programs:

· Produce Rescue and Delivery Program – Rescues fresh food that might otherwise go to waste and delivers to organizations that make up the emergency food network

· Transportation Partnership Program – picks up food from the Greater Boston Food Bank for Cambridge food programs that do not have their own transportation

· Home Delivery Program – brings food to low-income Cambridge residents who cannot access food pantries due to illness or disability

· Field of Greens – Food For Free’s own quarter-acre organic farming operation hosted by Lindentree Farm in Lincoln, Massachusetts.

The Executive Director is responsible for competent, accurate and proper financial management, ensuring adherence to the annual budget as established with the Board of Directors; overseeing the work of the independent bookkeeper, and working with the auditor to prepare all financial documents. The Executive Director also oversees the participation of volunteers, including recruitment, training and scheduling to maximize productivity of the organization.

Opportunities and Challenges

Due to the hard work of the staff and Directors, Food For Free is in a strong financial and operational position, and is developing strategy for the future. The Executive Director will work with the Board of Directors to set priorities for the organization, and create and execute a strategic plan.

The challenges are to manage the organization’s growth and to direct resources appropriately, and to build the Board of Directors and broaden the constituency for the organization.

Skills and Qualifications

· Commitment to FFF mission; familiarity with food/agricultural issues & operations as they relate to FFF

· Familiarity with nonprofit/human services environment and fundraising for nonprofits

· Budget management and financial skills

· Strong interpersonal skills and integrity; ability to engage confidently, communicate, and work productively with full range of stakeholders—food donors, recipient agencies, staff, CEOC, funding and governmental agencies, board, volunteers, donors, businesses, etc. Ability to establish deep and lasting relationships at all levels. Ability to project “face of agency.”

· Strong leadership & organizational management skills: motivate individuals to work hard for the team and for team members to work together

· Logistics management and ability to steer a small organization with “many moving parts”; show consistency and steadiness in fast-paced and changing environment

· “Logistics management” in a literal sense. FFF owns two trucks, and contracts with other firms that provide pickup and delivery of produce. Working with the Operations Manager, it is critical to the mission of FFF that pickups and deliveries be scheduled and completed, that FFF vehicles be maintained in safe working order, and that FFF be flexible in its food pickups and deliveries. Flexibility in operations may include adding new food suppliers, scheduling expanded deliveries, accommodating changing needs of established food suppliers and delivery sites, and providing logistical support to other hunger relief organizations.

· Good judgment, analysis, problem-solving and decision-making skills, particularly as they relate to obtaining and distributing food to meet the needs of FFF and managing/responding to market conditions

· Willingness to be flexible and assist in operational roles is often required in a small organization such as FFF to sustain timely services.

· Knowledge of community a plus, along with established connections to said community

How to Apply

Due to the pace of this search, candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, and applications will be reviewed as they are received. All applications received by April 16, 2012 will be reviewed by the selection committee.

To apply please send your resume and cover letter FoodForFreeEDSearch@gmail.com. Your cover letter should describe your interest and qualifications, your salary history, and where you learned of the position. Documents should be in either Word or PDF format and applications that do not include a cover letter will not be considered. In order to expedite the internal sorting and reviewing process, please type your name (Last, First) in the subject line of your email. All applications must be submitted via email.