About The Global FoodBanking Network
The Global FoodBanking Network celebrates 19 years of nourishing the world’s hungry through uniting and advancing food banks.
The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) connects food banking organizations in more than 50 countries, dedicated to the goal of nourishing people and the planet together. GFN shares knowledge, unlocks partnerships, and provides catalytic funding to partner food banks to provide food and critical support where it’s needed most. In 2023, it increased food access for 41M people facing hunger. It is working towards a North Star goal of increasing food access for 50M people facing hunger by 2030. The global team is led by individuals who are passionate about alleviating hunger, mitigating climate change, and supporting community-led solutions.
Key to their work in the industry, GFN is guided by the following Core Values:
- Lead with inspiration – They inspire and enable action through their expertise, vision, and commitment to system change.
- Champion community-led solutions – They support community-led solutions as the best way to address food insecurity.
- Create sustainable impact – They add value and impact by developing innovative solutions in service of their mission.
- Honor our commitments – They are accountable to their members, themselves, and their mission.
- Center diversity, equity, and inclusion – They are committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in their workplace by recognizing the inherent power and privilege imbalances in their work.
- Learn and innovate – They approach their work with curiosity and continuously improve through collaboration, innovation, and learning.
In 2023, food banks increased distribution by an average of 25 percent, delivering about 654 million kilograms of food and grocery products, or the equivalent of 1.7 billion meals. Much of the expansion was from food banks in emerging and developing markets, where hunger rates tend to be higher. These countries accounted for almost 60 percent of total Network food distribution by volume in 2023.
The increased expansion of service over the last few years is largely driven by the high level of demand from disasters and the cost-of-living crisis. As has been true throughout GFN’s history, innovation is essential. GFN’s focus is on the key role food banks play in strengthening civil society globally and building resilient communities and stronger, more equitable food systems. GFN will continue to foster locally grown, community-driven innovative solutions to hunger and pool innovations globally.
The organization operates with a team of 48 employees and engages a globally diverse Board of Directors. The FY2025 budget is $18.8M. GFN does not receive funding from the US government.
For more information on The Global FoodBanking Network, please visit their website.
The Opportunity
GFN seeks an Executive Vice President, Programs (“EVP”) to spearhead all programming related work for the organization.
The EVP plays a pivotal role in advancing GFN’s mission to enhance global food security. Reporting to and in partnership with President & CEO Lisa Moon, the EVP sets short- and long-term strategic direction for the organization and is accountable for all programmatic strategic outcomes. They work cross-functionally to ensure the right resources are brought to bear in the programming work – including working with the development and communications teams to increase funding and awareness for the work of GFN and food banks worldwide. The EVP also plays a critical role in shaping a high-impact programming in an evolving, entrepreneurial nonprofit.
The strength of GFN is in its Network of 50+ food banking organizations worldwide. The programming team is responsible for nurturing relationships with this Network, ensuring it finds great value in participating in GFN. Furthermore, the programming team is responsible for ensuring that the global community of food banks convened by GFN is trusted by external stakeholders as being effective, impactful, and run in a way that is best-in-class.
In addition, the EVP identifies strategic opportunities and key levers in global markets to drive meaningful change. Through thoughtful analysis and innovative approaches, the EVP enables GFN to address complex challenges, catalyze new opportunities, and create sustainable solutions in hunger relief and food security efforts.
As a key member of the executive team, the EVP works closely with this team to develop long-term strategy for the organization and advance organizational health and performance. The EVP oversees a global team of 28 individuals including 5 direct reports.
This is an essential role in advancing food security in communities that are a strong fit for GFN’s food banking model, and in increasing the impact of food banks on hunger in communities where they already exist.
Direct responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Partnering with leadership to set outcome-based, cross-cutting organizational goals with a target of building a sustainable organization.
- Designing programs that support and advance Network food banks in a way that delivers impact and can be funded by external stakeholders.
- Increase financial investment in GFN and its programming through effective donor recruitment and engagement. This includes identifying potential donors, overseeing the drafting of proposals, soliciting funds, and building partnerships with donors to retain and expand their support; ensuring that program design, impact, and evaluation is laid out in a way that can be evaluated by potential donors.
- Effectively drive all aspects of programming implementation including developing work plans and budgets, improving internal processes, and assuring that program goals are met on fast-paced timelines in a way that serves the Network and reduces organizational risk.
- Defining and articulating a meaningful role GFN can play in modernizing food banks to be responsive to current trends and issues in hunger relief and longer-term food security.
- Building relationships with food banks in the GFN network to strengthen collaboration and impact. This includes fostering peer networks and recruiting new organizations to join the network.
- Managing, developing, and retaining a talented, global team; recruiting and building the team when necessary.
- Engaging with the broadest community of relevant constituents to drive cumulative impact, representing GFN at events, sharing current developments and feedback from those communities with the GFN network, and building a broad cross-section of influencers that can support GFN’s mission.
Candidate Profile
The Executive Vice President, Programs of The Global FoodBanking Network will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics, among others:
A Strategic Expert in Programs
Pulling from their extensive experience in programs work, the EVP will have the ability to build specific strategies focused on the achievement of GFN’s long-term goals within a global network model, positioning the organization’s programmatic services for the future. The EVP will possess a strong track record of evaluation with the ability to develop systems and metrics that help plan for the future and proactively shift programmatic goals as needed. The EVP will be a sound problem solver with excellent reasoning skills. They will be highly decisive, setting priorities collaboratively and effectively, delegating responsibilities, ensuring accountability, and effectively allocating resources to ensure results. An active listener, this leader has the ability to understand and deal with complexities with ease and creatively overcome obstacles to achieve goals.
An Operationally Productive and Culturally Competent Leader
The EVP will bring exceptional operational expertise and cultural awareness to their work, ensuring GFN’s programming is delivered effectively in diverse global contexts. Highly organized and detail-oriented, this leader will excel at developing budgets that make sense, creating efficient systems, and driving tactical execution to meet organizational objectives. They will be a steady presence even in situations of high pressure, demonstrating a consistent work ethic and an ability to produce high-quality results in a variety of settings. The EVP will possess a deep sensitivity to cultural differences and an innate ability to navigate complex international environments with respect and care. They will approach their work with humility and a collaborative mindset, ensuring that GFN’s programming aligns with the unique needs and nuances of each community served. By combining operational excellence with cultural competency, this leader will ensure that GFN’s impact is both meaningful and sustainable on a global scale.
A Collaborative Relationship Builder
The EVP will embody the spirit of GFN’s mission by serving as an inspiring, inclusive, and dynamic leader within the organization. They will have high personal and professional standards, and will lead with a spirit of service, transparency, and humility. This leader will have a high level of emotional intelligence with a demonstrated ability to quickly build trust and credibility with a diverse array of internal and external constituents. Moreover, this empathetic leader will have a deep understanding of the issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility and will infuse these concepts and values within GFN’s programming and across the organization. The EVP will be experienced at building effective teams, paying close attention to the needs of staff, Board members, donors, and partners. The EVP will have the character and integrity necessary to develop rapport with people of varying experiences, backgrounds, and philosophies.
A Passion for the Mission
The EVP will embody the values and mission of GFN and, as a result, will inspire and motivate others. They will thrive in an innovative, collaborative environment, with people who are passionate about their work and mission. One of their greatest skills is building and cultivating strong multi-cultural relationships. The EVP will have experience working with diverse populations in every sense of the word and will bring a critical lens to the organization’s role in modernizing food banks to be responsive to current trends and issues in hunger relief and longer-term food security. The EVP will be results-oriented and tirelessly committed to inspiring new and continuing partners to join the fight against global hunger and food waste. This leader will be driven by a deeply rooted passion for making a positive difference in the lives of others. They will have an eye consistently focused on the future and how to best adapt the organization to its changing environment. The EVP will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics and values — someone who can be trusted without reservation.
The successful candidate must have verbal and written English language fluency.
Compensation & Benefits
The anticipated annual salary range for this role is $200,000 - $218,000 and is commensurate with experience, plus a generous and competitive benefits package.
Location and Travel
This position is remote; however, GFN’s global headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois, USA and the EVP will be expected to keep hours consistent with the US Central time zone. National and international travel will be expected (one quarter to one third of the year); the successful candidate must hold a visa to be able to travel to the United States.
Contact
Koya Partners | DSG Global has been exclusively retained for this search, led by Molly Brennan and Sara Avendaño. To express interest, please submit your materials by filling out our Talent Profile. Any questions can be directed to the team via email at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.
Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
GFN is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics.