ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES (include but are not limited to the following)

Reporting to the Sr. Director of Operations, the Sr. Director of Cultivate Hope will lead all food-related operations and have the following responsibilities:

1. Implement Matthew 25 mission of investing in healthy neighborhoods by overseeing all Cultivate Hope food programs, including Groundswell Café, Cultivate Hope Corner Store and the Urban Farm. Connect food programs to the larger goal of growing strong neighborhoods.

• Leadership Team Member who works with a group of 5-7 other leaders at Matthew 25 to develop and carry out the long-term strategic plan of the organization.
• Interface with the Matthew 25 Board of Directors and Cultivate Hope Board Committee on food-related programming, routinely providing thoughtful, well-crafted board reports and strategic decision making leadership.
• Life-long learner, seeking out best practices from other food-based social enterprises. 

2. Team Management

• Build and manage a collaborative, cohesive team focused on growing, sharing (through sales or donations), and educating people on the use of healthy foods.
• Develop, coach, evaluate and train staff, creating a team atmosphere that promotes camaraderie. 
• Plan and review financial and programmatic results and expectations with employees on a regular basis.
• Provide hands-on leadership through regularly working in each program area.

3. Financial management

• Develop and oversee all Cultivate Hope budgets.
• Ability to understand and analyze café, grocery store and produce grower revenue margins and strategies/tactics needed for financial sustainability.
• Balance financial success with maximizing pay-it-forward contributions and educational goals.
• Regularly hit revenue and educational targets each year.

4. Equipment and operations flow

• Work with team members to maintain quality equipment and to develop a budgeted plan for regular equipment replacement.
• Work with team members to implement standard operating procedures that allow for the scaling and replication of Cultivate Hope programs. Recommend process improvements for increased efficiencies.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES (include but are not limited to the following)

• Resonate with Matthew 25 Core Values of compassionate collaboration, reliable excellence, unwavering integrity, solutions driven and inspired to act
• Care about economically challenged people and neighborhoods.
• Desire and drive for your work to contribute to an inclusive and sustainable society.
• Commitment to the organization’s mission.

• Passion for food systems work; experience in the food industry. 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with professional demeanor.

• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations and documentation.

• Cheerful and outgoing personality.

• Highly motivated.

• Well-developed interpersonal skills.

• Ability to work in a fast paced, rapidly changing, and regulated environment.

• Maintain professional technical knowledge.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite Products and ability to learn new systems quickly.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE (include but are not limited to the following)

• A Bachelor’s degree with at least 3-5 years of experience in food service/industry management, or retail grocery store, or sustainable farming, or equivalent education and/or experience.
• Ability to coordinate the details of multiple projects simultaneously.  Must thrive in a fast-paced environment with a diversity of areas of responsibility.
• Previous leadership experience required.