Company Overview
The Cambridge Self Help Food Bank envisions a compassionate, equitable community where everyone is nourished. We are dedicated to building health and belonging through food, education and advocacy.
Cambridge Food Bank is looking for a Director of Operations who thrives in a complex, fast-moving environment and knows how to keep a lot of moving pieces moving in the same direction.
On any given day, you may be coordinating food purchasing and inventory, troubleshooting an issue in the warehouse, supporting a manager, working through a facility problem, reviewing program performance, dealing with a supplier, improving a process, or responding to something nobody anticipated when the day began.
And sometimes the plan will change ten times before lunch.
Reporting to the CEO and serving as a key member of the leadership team, the Director of Operations is responsible for ensuring the day-to-day operational pieces of Cambridge Food Bank work.
The Role
The Director of Operations provides leadership and oversight across a significant portfolio that includes food access programs, food procurement and stewardship, operational systems, safety and compliance, and staff leadership.
This isn't a role where you simply oversee plans developed by someone else. You will be expected to see what needs to happen, develop the plan, make decisions, solve problems, and ensure the work gets done.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of Cambridge Food Bank and ensure operational activities support the organization's strategic priorities.
- Lead process improvement initiatives to optimize efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance service delivery.
- Provide oversight of food access programs, including the Community Pantry and Mobile Food Market.
- Ensure an adequate and appropriate supply of food to meet participant needs by monitoring inventory, forecasting demand and ordering food.
- Develop and maintain relationships with food suppliers, donors and community partners that support a reliable and diverse food supply.
- Monitor programs and operational activities to ensure adherence to policies, procedures and established standards.
- Establish performance objectives and monitor results to ensure programs and operational areas are achieving intended outcomes.
- Identify operational challenges before they become problems and develop practical solutions.
- Continuously review systems, processes and workflows and implement improvements that increase efficiency and effectiveness.
- Ensure agency databases, operational records and reporting systems are accurate and maintained.
- Ensure compliance with health and safety, food safety and other applicable operational requirements.
- Participate in operational budgeting, purchasing, forecasting and resource planning.
- Foster strong relationships with community partners, suppliers and other organizations.
- Identify relevant grant opportunities and lead the development and submission of strong funding proposals.
- Supervise and support direct-report staff by setting clear expectations, providing coaching and feedback, addressing performance issues and ensuring accountability.
- Work closely with the CEO and other members of the leadership team to respond to emerging needs and organizational priorities.
- Take a leadership role in responding to complex or escalated participant situations, including those involving mental health concerns, substance use or crisis, ensuring situations are managed with compassion, appropriate boundaries, sound judgment and a focus on the safety of participants, staff and volunteers.
We're looking for someone who can move comfortably between the big picture and the details.
You need to be able to think strategically about how our operations should work six months from now - while also being willing to deal with the operational problem that needs to be solved today.
You are someone who:
- Has at least five years of experience leading complex operations including program development and evaluation, food distribution within a nonprofit or community focused organization.
- Has a minimum of five years of progressive experience managing and leading a team, including responsibility for performance management, coaching and staff development.
- Has demonstrated success in grant writing, including identifying funding opportunities, developing proposals and securing grant funding.
- Is an exceptional organizer who can manage multiple competing priorities without losing sight of what matters most.
- Understands inventory, purchasing, procurement and resource planning.
- Can build strong relationships with suppliers, partners, staff and volunteers.
- Uses data and performance information to make decisions and improve operations.
- Looks for better ways of doing things rather than accepting "that's how we've always done it."
- Can remain calm and effective when priorities shift quickly.
- Understands that in a community organization, operational decisions ultimately need to translate into better service for participants.
There will be busy days, unexpected problems and competing priorities. This position requires someone who can determine what matters most, bring order to complexity, and make sure that while plans may change, the important things still get done.
Equity
The Cambridge Food Bank is committed to employment equity. We encourage applications from individuals who reflect the diverse experiences of our community, including those with lived experience of food insecurity. We particularly welcome applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women, and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process upon request.
Pay: $75,000.00-$90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- On-site parking
- RRSP match
Experience:
- leadership: 5 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Class G Licence (required)
Work Location: In person