POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
The United Way of Southeastern Connecticut is seeking to hire a Vice President to manage the Gemma E Moran United Way/Labor Food Center. This individual will work with various community based initiatives including, the New London County Food Policy Council (NLCFPC). This is an opportunity for a unique candidate to respond to the basic needs of both rural and urban individuals and families who are experiencing hunger and food insecurity. Reporting to the President and CEO of United Way, the Vice President will guide and lead the Food Center and its goal of ending hunger in the region. The new leader must work within the guidelines and requirements of a Partner Distribution Organization (PDO) of the Connecticut Food Bank. The new leader will take the organization to a new level of strategic results which are centered in a profound commitment to service and to ending hunger.
The United Way seeks a leader with a mature set of demonstrable core leadership competencies, which demonstrate collaborative skills, community vision, staff management ability, and program development skill. The unique combination of a United Way and a Food Center require the successful candidate to be skilled in integration and systems thinking. The new leader must have energy, and the ability to do community based strategic planning while managing client and community relations, and while working with many constituencies. The Vice President will partner with United Way staff located both at the Food Center and the United Way office in Gales Ferry as well as numerous volunteers to take resource development to a new level. The ability to work in a region with diverse constituents including multiple school systems and town governments is critical. Experience in the southeastern Connecticut region is desirable.
The United Way supports and staffs a Food Policy Council as a Shared Leadership Initiative. Supported by two talented VISTA workers, the NLCFPC has 40 members, 5 task forces, a founding and steering committee, and plans to publish an assessment of the New London County food system in the fall. This NLCFPC came about as a result of the strategic thinking of the former Vice President of the Food Center, Paul Jakoboski and the vision committee of the Food Center. Bolstered by a group of founding partners, including two local hospitals, Thames River Community Action Agency, United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, the Southeastern Mental Health Authority, FRESH New London, and a research physiologist, the Council has grown rapidly and includes a diverse membership including dieticians, researchers, school officials, and community leaders. The United Way President and CEO manages the integrated organization which includes United Way, the Gemma E. Moran United Way Labor Food Center, and support for the NLCFPC. William W. Backus Hospital provided an initial grant to the United Way to assist the organization in making government connections and finding grant opportunities. United Way provides in‐kind administrative support to the NLCFPC.
The Food Center has a dedicated staff and the new leader must inspire confidence through action and results. The position will require a deep commitment to ending hunger, respect for client and partner feeding organizations, and a track record of leadership. Knowledge of the food system is important and the ability to multi‐task is essential. The Food Center staff works with 95 feeding programs, multiple community collaborations, funders, and health and human service agencies. Experience with and respect for a union partnership is required; the Food Center began because of the work of Gemma E. Moran, United Way labor leader who at 88, still works with the organization. Organized labor has made the Food Center a focus of its community work and organizes most of the local food drives which add to the available food supply which has grown dramatically in recent years. Experience at managing and tracking volunteers is desired. Both United Way and its Food Center are “lean organizations” and leverage the energy and dedication of staff, union leaders, volunteers, and dedicated board members. Evaluation/research experience is desirable as is the ability to organize and effectively use of those resources. Understanding the nexus between community health and nutrition is required.
This position requires what a client once described as “patience and glue”: the ability to, as a servant leader, inspire and harness the energies and talents of many. It is a position for someone who has the ability to create long‐standing successful programs which have measurable and visible results. As we exist in a resource constrained environment, the organization has a long history of being creative and working closely with local businesses and volunteers to carry out its mission. United Way staff members understand the importance of the Food Center and for many years, have garnered support from its staff, including the United Way’s AFL‐CIO liaison, its Finance staff, its IT Director, and its marketing and communications department. The Food Center building in New London is owned by United Way which provides all of its product and liability insurance, equipment, and administrative support. The new leader must be able to effectively interact with a United Way task force which will review all of the requirements of the Food Center and its complex relationships with the Connecticut Food Bank, food drive providers, feeding sites and agencies, and the stipulations of providing USDA foods.
In recent years, the Food Center has become very focused on the nutritional density, frequency and quality of food provided. United Way VISTAs are working to develop a better understanding of the policies and procedures of the 95 feeding sites. Recently the Connecticut Food Bank has given the Food Center a grant of a mobile food van which will be received within a few months. With the van comes the responsibility of appropriately establishing its routes and activities so that more individuals in food deserts and without transportation can be served. The United Way Board has approved additional staff for the Food Center for the next fiscal year and the new leader will be expected to help shape roles and responsibilities and manage the deployment of staff resources and supports. The VISTA program which supports the Food Policy Council is expected to grow. The United Way CEO, working with partners, has written 3 grants for the Food Center to regional funders, and expects them to be successful.
The position has competitive pay and excellent benefits through the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut. Candidates are encouraged to become familiar with the websites of the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, the Connecticut Food Bank, and Feeding America. The Food Policy Council website is www.nlcfpc.org; and an iPhone application is available to facilitate the reading of current news articles posted to the NLCFPC website. We welcome applications from candidates who might have the attributes described in the attached position specification. Please review the attached comprehensive Position Specification document for full instructions for application and information for candidate review. Thank you for your interest.
HOW TO APPLY
United Way is a progressive equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. For immediate consideration, please send a cover letter and resume to: VPFoodCenterSearch@uwsect.org. Please put “Food Center Vice President” in the Subject line. Either a curriculum vitae or detailed resume is acceptable. All resumes will be treated with confidentiality. If selected for a telephone first stage interview, a list of search committee members will be provided. A candidate questionnaire may be required.
The deadline for submitting material is May 31, 2012. This will be a timely and efficient process. The new candidate is expected to be on board as soon after August 1 as possible.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
The Vice President position requires a college degree with a minimum of 10 years of experience in general management. A master’s degree and non‐profit experience is desired. The candidate can demonstrate any combination of education and experience that show a proven track record. A deep commitment to meeting the basic needs of people is desired. Experience with United Way is desirable but not required. Experience working with a board of directors is critical. Rural and urban perspective is also highly desirable.
Documents from United Way Announcement:
VP Position Announcement
VP Position Specifications
How to Apply
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