Overview
Description
Senior Manager, Strategic Program Development and Operations
Organization Information
GrowNYC is a 51-year-old environmental nonprofit organization – helping more than 3 million New Yorkers by providing essential services and taking action to make NYC a livable city, one where every person can enjoy a healthier, more sustainable life.
Our Programs:
- Our network of Greenmarkets, Farmstands, Fresh Food Box sites and Greenmarket Co. ensures that all New Yorkers have access to the freshest, healthiest local food.
- We blanket the five boroughs with resources like textile and food scrap collection, Stop ‘N’ Swaps, as well as free training to make waste reduction easy for all.
- We build and support community and school gardens through volunteer days, technical assistance, training, grants and more. ƒ
- We provide 70,000 children each year with programs that provide meaningful interactions with the natural environment.
Note to applicants on COVID safety: GrowNYC is committed to stopping the spread of Covid-19. All new hires must be able to provide proof that they are at least two weeks post completion of a primary series of COVID vaccines (as defined by the CDC) before beginning work. Employees are also required to follow COVID safety protocols as the situation evolves, which may include daily health screenings, mask wearing, and other mitigation measures as deemed necessary by local conditions, mandates, and applicable guidelines.
Position Summary
For the past 45 years GrowNYC’s Food Access and Agriculture (FAA) Programs have developed innovative models to meet its two-part mission; regional farm viability and the equitable access for all New Yorkers to locally grown food. From our 80+ retail sites to our rapidly expanding wholesale department, we work with over 300 regional farmers and hundreds of communities throughout the 5 boroughs of New York City.
Reporting to the Assistant Director of Food Access Initiatives and Partnerships, the Senior Manager of Strategic Program Development and Operations will oversee programmatic development, business strategy, and overall operations for GrowNYC’s Farmstands and Fresh Food Box locations throughout the five boroughs. The role will lead current and future program development and growth to create financially sustainable social enterprise business models that advance access to high-quality, healthy, affordable food.
Requirements
Senior Manager of Strategic Program Development and Operations Responsibilities (include but are not limited to):
Operations and Administration
- Oversee overall logistics and operations for GrowNYC’s Farmstand and Fresh Food Box locations.
- Oversee the relationship with GrowNYC Wholesale team regarding product sourcing and demand, delivery logistics, schedules, and other operational details.
- Visit Fresh Food Box and Farmstand sites regularly to review operations and logistical protocols and provide back-up on-call support to Fresh Food Box and Farmstand Program Managers to address issues as they arise.
- Maintain relationships and communicate regularly with Farmstand and Fresh Food Box site partners, city agencies, and local stakeholders.
- Ensure that Farmstand and Fresh Food locations have proper licenses and certifications as required by GrowNYC policy and permits granted by city agencies.
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Program Management and Strategic Program Development
- Monitor and analyze individual Fresh Food Box and Farmstand site performance and metrics including sales, customer counts, customer satisfaction surveys, and routing efficiency to determine and ensure financial sustainability and growth potential.
- In collaboration with the Assistant Director, Food Access Initiatives and Partnerships and FAA leadership team guide the strategic direction for Farmstand and Fresh Food Box operations including identifying and approving new locations that are responsive to the community and address food access needs.
- Oversee the strategic development, expansion, and sustainability of partnership based Farmstand and Fresh Food Box programs.
- In coordination with the FAA leadership and the GrowNYC Wholesale team, work with community-based organizations on the development of Fresh Food Box and Farmstand sites including training, technical assistance, and developing a site sustainability plan.
- Develop and maintain program processes and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to standardize operational responsibilities for Fresh Food Box and Farmstand field staff, drive continuous quality improvement, and establish cross-training systems as relevant and applicable.
- Work with the Assistant Director, Operations to ensure efficiencies and parallel systems where possible across all GrowNYC retail sites.
- Manage the relationship with external consultant(s) to develop and launch an online ordering platform for Fresh Food Box program.
Staff Management and Supervision
- Oversee the supervision and management of Fresh Food Box and Farmstand Program Managers, Farmstand Administrative Specialist, and Food Access Programs Assistant, including individual performance, work plans, and conducting individual and team staff meetings.
- Work with Farmstand and Fresh Food Box Program Managers to develop and execute staffing plans and coordinate staffing coverage with the Greenmarket Administrative Operations team.
- Prepare and facilitate weekly operations meetings to coordinate communications and logistics amongst staff
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Budget Management
- Work with Assistant Director, Food Access Initiatives and Fresh Food Box and Farmstand Program Managers to create and periodically update the Fresh Food Box Program and Farmstand budgets, individual site budgets, equipment and supplies expense tracking, and staffing cost projections.
- Work with Assistant Director, Food Access Initiatives, and Fresh Food Box and Farmstand Program Managers to provide fiscally sound management of the programmatic budgets through responsible oversight and data-driven financial decision making
- Track sales, expenses, and margins for Fresh Food Box and Farmstands.
- Assist with and grow earned revenue strategies to build financial sustainability.
Stakeholder and Community Engagement
- Oversee existing and forge new collaborations with community-based nonprofit organizations, city and state agencies, community businesses, and other Fresh Food Box and Farmstand community partners.
- Maintain relationships and communicate regularly with Fresh Food Box and Farmstand site partners, city agencies, and local stakeholders.
Required Qualifications
- Knowledge of sustainable local agriculture/farming, food systems, food access, and/or food justice.
- Minimum of five (5) years of work experience in program development, business development and/or operations management, preferably in an agriculture or food-related field.
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience managing staff (preferably supervisory experience similar in scope to current Food Access field-based staffing) with a people-centered leadership style.
- Strong financial acumen and demonstrated experience with creating, managing, and monitoring budgets.
- Demonstrated experience with developing and evaluating performance metrics such as KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and/or OKRs (Objectives and Key Results).
- Skilled at building partnerships, both internally and externally, including the ability to create and maintain strong collaborative relationships with organizational partners.
- Excellent written and public speaking communication skills, with a desire and proven ability to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and knowledge levels.
- Strong commitment to a racially and socially just food system.
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced team environment.
- Highly organized with strong time management skills and a proactive results-driven orientation.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Drive.
- Strong analytical skills with advanced proficiency in MS Excel.
- Strong interpersonal skills and willingness to work with people from diverse backgrounds in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, including trans* and nonbinary, sexual orientation, class, and religion.
- Dispute mediation and conflict management skills.
- Creative problem-solver, able to troubleshoot and use good judgment to make on-the-spot decisions.
- Agile with the ability to focus on meeting emergent needs, and adaptable to continuous change.
- Willing to travel and work in all neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs of NYC.
- A valid driver’s license and willingness to drive or learn to drive a cargo van
- Comfortable working outdoors in all types of weather.
Ideal Qualifications
- Master’s Degree in relevant field
- Spanish language proficiency (ideal, but not required)
Physical Requirements
This position requires the ability to stand for up to 8 hours outdoors in all types of weather conditions and lifting heavy equipment and supplies, up to 50lbs.
Schedule
This is a full-time (35 -40 hours/week) position that requires occasional flexible hours including early mornings, evenings, and weekends.
Compensation
This exempt position pays $80,000 – $85,000 annually, and includes benefits (medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability, incentive savings plan, and paid time off).
Location
This is a hybrid role with a minimum of 2 days per week in our Manhattan office. In-person field-based work and off-site travel will be expected.