Executive Director for Slow Food USA

Position: Executive Director
Organization: Slow Food USA
Location: Brooklyn, NY

Summary:
Slow Food USA seeks a highly skilled and passionate strategist and manager to serve as Executive Director of this national organization that celebrates America’s diverse food cultures and advocates on behalf of the people, places and species that sustain them. The Executive Director will lead an organization that is part of a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members in over 150 countries, and is committed to supporting good, clean, and fair food.

The Executive Director will harness the power of our volunteers creating social change on the ground in more than 200 chapters throughout the US, collaborate with and learn from our colleagues in Slow Food International, and lead national staff based in Brooklyn to provide strategic vision and execution that reflects the Slow Food mission and culture and delivers measurable results. This is a full-time position located in Brooklyn, New York.

Strong candidates will bring exceptional people and organizational management skills, a proven track record of raising funds, and an authentic passion for food in general and specifically for Slow Food USA’s work and vision around supporting good, clean, and fair food:

Good:
For Slow Food, the idea of good means enjoying delicious food created with care from healthy plants and animals. The pleasures of good food can also help to build community and celebrate cultural, regional and biological diversity.

Clean:
When we talk about clean food, we are talking about nutritious food that is as good for the planet as it is for our bodies. It is grown and harvested with methods that have a positive impact on our local ecosystems and promotes biodiversity.

Fair:
We believe that food is a universal right. Food that is fair should be accessible to all, regardless of income, and produced by people who are treated with dignity and justly compensated for their labor.

In June of 2012, Slow Food USA announced that it had received its largest grant to date. Specifically, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation awarded a $1.2M grant over three years targeted towards addressing inequities in the food system by raising awareness internally and externally, building relationships with diverse communities and establishing partnerships with organizations in this area of work.

Responsibilities:
The Executive Director will be responsible for the following areas:

Organizational Leadership

• Provide day-to-day leadership and management of 12-15 staff in the Brooklyn office and a network of high-level volunteer leaders across the country
• Provide inspiration, leadership and guidance to the members with an eye towards nurturing their engagement and growing their number
• Lead SFUSA’s delegation and representation in the governing bodies of Slow Food International, in accordance with the statutes of SFUSA and Slow Food International.
• Oversee the design, promotion, delivery and quality of SFUSA’s programs
• Provide oversight over all financial activities and requirements
• Ensure inclusive, transparent, and regular communication with staff and broader network around organizational updates and priorities
• Manage and strengthen staff hiring and training processes that lead to deep engagement and accountability as well as personal and professional growth at all levels of the organization
• Continually engage and strengthen connections with Slow Food Chapters and volunteers around the country by ensuring that regional and local leadership are guided and motivated by the organization’s mission, informed about national programs and initiatives, and supported in their work
• Develop and strengthen an organizational culture that reflects Slow Food values and encourages the growth of a collegial, positive, and team-oriented culture

Strategy 

• Collaborate closely with Board of Directors to continually hone and execute a vision and plan of action for increased impact, long-term growth, and sustainability
• Lead the effective execution of SFUSA’s strategies and plans, with an eye toward measurable results
• Ensure that SFUSA’s mission and vision are fully articulated and shared by a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
• Provide strategic leadership for Slow Food USA’s members, who number 18,000 organized in 200 chapters led by 1,200 leaders across the country, ensuring that membership benefits are clear and compelling and encourage growth of the network

Fundraising and External Relations

• Drive the overall fundraising strategy, developing and executing strategies that ensure a sustainable and diverse funding stream and appropriately leverage existing expertise on the fundraising team
• Serve as the face of SFUSA globally, nationally, and regionally; speaking, writing, and advocating on behalf of the mission and vision
• Ensure that SFUSA’s mission and programs are consistently and positively presented to a range of external stakeholders through internal communications and media coverage
• Be capable of building partnerships with other organizations (international, national, regional and/or local) in, and related to, the food movement

Board of Directors 

• Collaborate with the Board to ensure execution of organizational strategy
• Work as a partner with Board leadership to continually strengthen governance practices
• Develop and present recommendations to the Board for annual work plans and budgets
• Provide regular updates to the Board on the status of program operations and finances
• Work with the Board to identify, cultivate and enlist new members, use the strengths of each member effectively, and provide orientation to new members.

Qualifications:
Strong candidates will offer the following skills and experiences:

• A genuine passion for food and a belief in the link between the pleasure of food and a commitment to community and the environment
• At least 7 years of experience as a leader in a complex, multifaceted social change organization
• A track record of high-level strategic planning and decision-making
• Proven track record of fundraising success with both public and private funds
• Strong operational and financial management skills, including experience building and implementing organizational structures and systems that result in clear processes and results
• Excellent people management skills, including the ability to directly supervise, coach, and evaluate senior level staff
• The ability to be an inspirational leader who can bring a diverse audience together around a vision and common goals
• Exceptional relationship building and management skills, both internally, with colleagues and volunteers, and externally, with funders and other strategic partners
• Experience working closely with a Board of Directors on governance, organizational development, strategic planning, and fundraising initiatives
• Previous experience working internationally and/or language skills a benefit
• Additionally, strong candidates will also offer the following core personal characteristics and values:

• Deep cultural competency and the ability to build a common vision across a range of view points and perspectives
• A sense of maturity, humility, and professionalism
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including a capacity to listen well and inspire trust
• A belief in and passion for the power of grassroots activism

Compensation & Benefits:
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.

To Apply:
Slow Food USA has engaged Koya Leadership Partners to help in this hire. Please submit a compelling cover letter and resume to Molly Brennan via our online application portal: https://koya.refineapp.com//jobPosting/apply/565

Slow Food USA is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBT applicants.

About Slow Food USA:
Imagine a world where the food we eat is good for us, good for farmers and workers, and good for the planet. Slow Food USA is building that world by bringing people together through the common language of food. Through local projects, educational events and campaigns in 150 countries, Slow Food volunteers are promoting environmentally friendly food production, teaching children how to grow and prepare their food, and working to make real food accessible to all.

Slow Food USA is part of a global movement that believes everyone has the right to good, clean, and fair food. With over 250,000 supporters, 18,000 members and 200 chapters nationwide, the organization advocates for food and farming policy that is good for the public,
good for the planet, and good for farmers and workers. Visit www.slowfoodusa.org for more information.

Slow Food USA (www.slowfoodusa.org) operates underneath the Slow Food International (www.slowfood.com) umbrella.

About Koya Leadership Partners:
Koya Leadership Partners is a national retained search and consulting firm that works exclusively with non-profits and social enterprises. We deliver measurable results, finding exceptionally talented people who truly fit the unique culture of our client organizations. For more information about Koya Leadership Partners, visit www.koyapartners.com.