Denver Food Rescue
Job Description: Executive Director
Hours: Full-time, exempt
SUMMARY:
The Executive Director provides overall leadership and management to support
the vision and mission of Denver Food Rescue. The organization works across
the Denver Metro Area, has an operating cash budget of over $600,000, a staff
of 5 dedicated professionals, and a volunteer force of nearly 200.
Duties include working with the Board of Directors to establish the vision and
strategic direction of Denver Food Rescue, working with Denver Food Rescue
directors to achieve goals, and overseeing the financial management of the
organization. The Executive Director also ensures quality programming, cost‐
effective management of Denver Food Rescue operations, and excellent internal
and external communications. The Executive Director serves as the chief
liaison with community groups, developing effective partnerships throughout
the Denver Metro Area, Colorado, and the United States. More information:
OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE:
The perfect candidate is someone who embodies Denver Food Rescue’s core
values, believes fully in our mission of increasing access to healthy food in
a culturally appropriate way, and can speak from lived experience about the
issues we seek to address. Denver Food Rescue is an organization made not of
“stuff,” but of people. The next Executive Director should be someone who
values authentic relationships, connects deeply to others, and listens
intentionally. We are looking for a leader who will stand up against
injustice, and create a work environment in which healing of historical
oppressions can occur. The Executive Director will also be organized, and
effective, prioritizing goals and passionately innovating new ideas. The world
has not yet solved the problems we seek to address, and the next Executive
Director of Denver Food Rescue is someone energized by that fact.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Leadership: Provide vision and overall leadership for Denver Food Rescue, in
collaboration with the Board of Directors
Lead the execution of the operations and strategic planning processes of the
Board of Directors, ensuring that benchmarks are established for measuring
success
Work with Denver Food Rescue Directors (staff) to develop and implement
strategies in support of Denver Food Rescue’s vision, mission, goals and
values, including annual operations plans
Maintain and support the collaborative culture and cooperative nature of the
organization
Develop a high profile for Denver Food Rescue within its various local,
regional, and national constituencies, including donors, government,
corporations, foundations, and other nonprofits
Develop strategic partnerships with relevant organizations to achieve Denver
Food Rescue’s goals
Advocate for the issues Denver Food Rescue addresses, including food access
and food security through community-based food production, distribution,
education, and economic opportunity
Interviewing, hiring and training Directors; planning; appraising performance;
rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving
problems
Fundraising: Oversee all fundraising efforts and ensure that financial goals
are met
Oversee the development and implementation of the organization’s fundraising
plan in collaboration with the Development Director
Ensure that the annual budget and special campaigns are funded through
appropriate sources and that the strategy is adjusted in the event of
shortfalls
Work in collaboration with the development staff and the Board to cultivate
relationships and solicit major gifts from individuals, corporations, and
foundations
Identify and develop sustainable sources of revenue for Denver Food Rescue,
including earned income from Denver Food Rescue’ food production, food
distribution, and education programs
Management: Oversee all operational and administrative aspects of Denver Food
Rescue
Recruit, select, motivate, develop, retain, and reward high quality and
capable Directors to function and respond to Denver Food Rescue’s priorities;
oversee the selection of other staff throughout the organization, especially
those in leadership roles
Provide direct supervision for the Directors (Operations, Program,
Development)
Develop the Directors’ ability to operate the organization as a coordinated
body
Oversee the budget, which includes an accurate, realistic forecasting of
revenues and expenses for implementing the annual implementation plan, based
on goals/objectives established in collaboration with the Board and Directors
Provide leadership for overall financial and human resource policies;
establish clearly defined processes and goals to assess, compensate and reward
staff
Create and encourage a collegial and participatory work environment within
Denver Food Rescue where trust, integrity, and open communication are valued;
motivate and inspire staff around the vision, mission, and core values of the
organization
Support and encourage employee development activities and opportunities
Work with Directors to coordinate the effective and efficient operation of all
areas of responsibility, processes and systems, functions and accountability
Programs: Provide overall leadership for identifying strategies that support
programming
Ensure that all programs are evaluated for strategic alignment and results
Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in all
programmatic areas of the organization to ensure Denver Food Rescue remains
relevant and focused on its mission
Lead the development of strategic partnerships to further the objectives of
the organization
Outreach and Communication: Present vision, mission and programs effectively
to stakeholders
Represent Denver Food Rescue routinely and professionally in all settings
including local, state and national events through speaking engagements,
serving on committees, and presentations
Listen, communicate, motivate, and build trust with diverse communities in the
Denver region
Serve as the primary spokesperson to the media and oversee public relations
Oversee Denver Food Rescue’s internal and external communications in
conjunction with the Directors to ensure effective, professional, and
consistent messaging to Denver Food Rescue’s various and distinct audiences
Board of Directors Relationship: Develop capacity of the resident-led Board of
Directors
Work with the Board to identify, recruit, orient, and retain a Board of
Directors comprised of leaders from the communities experiencing the issues we
exist to address
Engage Board members in identifying prospects, understanding the work of the
organization, and representing the Board/organization at various events
Provide or coordinate training for the Board of Directors on areas of need and
interest
Ensure that the Board’s operating policies/bylaws are implemented, reporting
variances to the Board as required, and assuring that Denver Food Rescue is in
compliance with all legal requirements
Provide information and recommendations to the Board for setting or revising
Denver Food Rescue’ vision, mission, goals, objectives, operating policies,
and strategic planning priorities as needed
Prepare reports for the Board to show progress against key metrics across the
organization
MISSION, GOALS:
Mission: Produce health equity with Denver neighborhoods.
Pillars:
Health equity: It is an injustice that people of color, low-income people, and
other groups are disproportionately at risk of certain preventable illnesses
Food security: Access to and knowledge of sufficient healthy, affordable food
is a tool for increasing health equity
Integration of feedback: Those who have experienced these challenges should
have the most power in deciding solutions
Programs:
More information about DFR programs can be found on the website, but a brief
statement of need for each program is below:
No Cost Grocery Programs - Free healthy food should be accessible in safe,
convenient places and provided without stigma by members of the community
Fruit and Vegetable Prescription - Healthy food should be available at
community hospitals to address diet-related health problems
Policy - Policy should be influenced that advances health equity
Employment - Health equity is not a food problem, it’s a poverty problem;
therefore, the solution needs to include work around wages
Fresh Food Connect - Local growers should be bolstered to help increase supply
of healthy food within low-income areas
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Bilingual in English/Spanish highly preferred
Demonstrated proven leadership success, including strong fundraising,
financial management, staff management and supervisory experience
Experience working with Board members, community partners,volunteers, and
stakeholders
Willingness to work flexible hours to support the work of the organization
KEY COMPETENCIES:
Qualified candidates must be able to demonstrate strengths in the following
areas:
Commitment to and understanding of Denver Food Rescue’s mission
Outstanding leadership skills, strategic thinking, and planning
Commitment to building an inclusive organization and working with a diverse
community
Strong interpersonal skills, ability to manage others and build teams
Proficiency in all aspects of fundraising, major gifts and donor cultivation
Strong networking, partnership and relationship‐building skills
Ability to handle multiple responsibilities, prioritize work, solve problems,
and operate under time and work volume pressure
Inspirational, innovative and dynamic energy with a ability to speak publicly
COMPENSATION:
Salary: $55,000
PTO: starting at 15 days , plus 4 hours per month of personal health time,
plus 9 holidays
Benefits: Variable health care compensation package
Driving reimbursement: $0.50 per mile
HOW TO APPLY:
Qualified, interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and 3-5
professional references to Board@denverfoodrescue.org
Denver Food Rescue is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage all people,
especially those who have experienced the issues we exist to address, to
apply.