About Food Recovery Network

In less than four years Food Recovery Network has become the largest student movement against hunger in America, and the largest campus-based food recovery program in the country. We empower college students to recover surplus prepared food from their campus dining halls and donate it to local shelters, soup kitchens, and other hunger-fighting nonprofits in order to reduce waste, feed hungry people and fight climate change. Student volunteers recover and transport the surplus food on their campuses, and every chapter is led by a team of students that are supported by our national staff.

Since our founding in 2011 we have grown to 150 colleges and universities in 36 states across the country and have recovered over 800,000 pounds of food–640,000 meals that have gone to food-insecure people instead of landfills. FRN has quickly become a leading brand and voice in the growing field of food recovery. We have been featured on MSNBC, Upworthy, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other major publications.

Food Recovery Network’s national staff ignites the creation of new food recovery programs by organizing interested students on campuses and partnering with food businesses like restaurants, catering companies, and other providers. FRN supports its chapters by providing them with one-on-one support from staff that disseminate best practices, give trainings, plan conferences and distribute grants.

We are a young organization with a team of motivated and creative people that are putting higher education on track to be the first sector of the economy where food recovery is not the exception, but the norm. It is a fast-paced work environment with lots of opportunity for growth and innovation.

FRN has experienced rapid growth over the past three years, adding 12 full-time staff and increasing the size of our network and budget significantly every year. We have secured partnerships with all the major private food service companies on college campuses and have developed sustainable sources of funding.

Executive Director Position

We are looking for an Executive Director to oversee our rapidly expanding organization and take FRN to the next level. As FRN’s Founder leaves the role of Executive Director, FRN’s new leader will be responsible for crafting and setting priorities for the organization going forward, while maintaining the growth trajectory set by the Board and founding team.

The ED is responsible for managing all partnerships, financial development, fundraising, and hiring national staff from FRN’s national office located in College Park, MD. We are looking for an individual who is comfortable interacting with a variety of stakeholders–-students, staff, foundations and corporate executives. As we transition from a start-up into a non-profit with big ambitions, the Executive Director will need to have the skills to maintain the quality of FRN’s programming while growing at a rapid pace and continue to develop funding streams to make FRN sustainable in the long-run.

Specifics of Position

This is a full time, salaried position. To accommodate student and board member schedules, the ED will occasionally be required to work some evenings and weekends. The ED will also travel occasionally for conferences and meetings with partners. This position reports directly to the Board of Directors.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership

• Provide leadership in partnership with the Board of Directors on the strategic vision and operations of FRN, and work closely with the Board to ensure FRN is meeting its yearly targets for growth and impact

• Responsible for all staff, including hiring and attracting high-quality staff members as well as providing direction, leadership, training, evaluation and supervision

• Work closely with the senior leadership team and other staff to meet FRN’s ambitious goals

Strategic Thinking/Planning

• Work with the staff, board and other stakeholders to develop strategic plans

• Create and implement plans to further the mission of FRN

• Continue developing our leadership pipeline that provides training to students in FRN’s network, preparing them to create systems change in the food industry post-graduation

Fundraising and Fiscal Management

• Continue to develop new fundraising strategies that keep FRN financially sustainable

• Oversee the creation of new earned income streams

• Maintain and cultivate new relationships with potential funders, including scheduling initial meetings and site visits, as well as fulfilling all reporting requirements for grants

• Work with Board of Directors and Board of Advisors to develop relationships with individuals who are potential major FRN funders

• Work closely with FRN’s Director of Development to grow our donor base using our donor management system

• Fulfill all the legal and reporting requirements for a 501(c)(3), operating in the state of Maryland

Communication

• Implement and further develop a communication strategy that continues to grow FRN’s movement, including identifying, contacting, and scheduling interviews with the press

• Serve as the primary face of the Food Recovery Network brand and movement

• Represent FRN dynamically in the press and through public speaking engagements

• Find creative ways to highlight the FRN staff and students

• Lead by example to maintain FRN’s fun, warm and results-driven work culture

External Partnerships

•Work with the Director of Expansion to manage FRN’s existing partnerships with food service providers, and develop further strategic partnerships

• Cultivate relationships with other nonprofits in the industry to strengthen the food recovery field

What We Are Looking For:

Experience working in a fast-paced environment, either non-profit, for-profit or public sector
An entrepreneurial spirit
The ability to scale an organization’s impact
The ability to present a compelling vision that attracts other supporters
Experience managing a $200,000+ annual budget
Experience hiring and managing a staff
Background in student organizing or other experience working with student leaders
Proven ability to organize fundraising activities effectively, prioritize prospects and participate in high-level partnership discussions
Ability to generate earned income for a non-profit
The vision and planning prowess to create a strong alumni network of FRN graduates
Outstanding project management skills and the ability to multi-task with meticulous attention to detail
Strong strategic and innovative thinker
Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to lead and motivate a team
Honesty, patience, a sense of humor and the ability to contribute to a fun work culture
Goal orientation with a high level of energy, enthusiasm and dedication to FRN’s mission
A passion for, and knowledge of, food waste and the food system
Excellent written and oral communication skills

How to apply

To Apply:

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and an additional sheet containing three references, salary history, and any compensation requirements to hiring@foodrecoverynetwork.org.

Position will remain open until filled, but candidates should apply as soon as possible for best consideration.