Program Manager- Rethink Certified (Restaurant Fundraising and Engagement)

Overview

ROLE SUMMARY

The Program Manager, Rethink Certified, will cultivate relationships with restaurant partners inside and outside Rethink’s partner network, pursuing engagement opportunities that contribute to sustainable revenue streams for Rethink Certified. This role will work closely with the Senior Director of Programs to expand Rethink’s network of restaurant fundraising partners, scale in-kind meal donations, explore new restaurant partnership strategies for sustainable revenue generation, and execute engagement activities that deepen connectivity to Rethink’s mission and the impact of the partnership. The Program Manager will collaborate with teams across the organization to strategize, coordinate, and demonstrate the impact of these efforts while continually working toward organizational KPIs.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Restaurant Fundraising

• Cultivate interest among restaurant partners to implement strategies for generating sustainable revenue streams for Rethink Certified.
• Manage relationships with existing restaurant fundraising partners, inviting opportunities to scale and deepen their engagement.
• Pursue existing restaurant leads, implementing strategies to transition to an active fundraising status.
• Generate and maintain a prospect pipeline for varied fundraising types and restaurant models (full-service, fast-casual, catering, etc.), integrating low-hanging opportunities with longer-term partnership potential.
• Employ sales tactics such as cold-calling/emailing to generate interest.
• Provide excellent stewardship, leading outreach efforts and maintaining consistent and customized communication.
• Collaborate with our Engagement Team to develop marketing materials, tailoring as needed for each prospect.
• Customize presentations and proposals for each partnership pitch.
• Pitch new prospects, exploring the fundraising opportunity most suitable for each and the preferred POS implementation method.
• Coordinate with the restaurant manager on implementation and launch.
• Engage with the restaurant’s POS service providers for buildout, as needed.
• Provide branded materials and Q&A information for customer engagement.
• Schedule and lead onboarding protocols with site staff, introducing our fundraising model for the restaurant’s operations and POS system.
• Support restaurants with troubleshooting POS implementation and customer engagement.
• Collaborate with our finance team on billing and to ensure revenue is received.
• Collaborate with our data team on demonstrating impact for internal and external stakeholders.
• Align with our programs team to strategically allocate dollars earmarked for local community-based organizations

In-Kind Meal Donations

• Scale the number of restaurant partners providing in-kind meals for local community-based organizations.
• Develop an outreach plan and pitch for motivating participation, highlighting tax benefits and community impact.
• Assess restaurant capacity for providing in-kind meals, strive for a regular cadence, and reassess growth potential over the partnership’s duration.
• Engage within our programs team to:Identify community-based organizations to receive in-kind meals.
• Ensure backend database tracking.
• Onboard meal donors to the Rethink app.
• Maintain open lines of communication with donors to ensure the accuracy of meal counts.
• Invite and troubleshoot community feedback.
• Revisit the match as needed

Other Fundraising Strategies

• Support interested restaurants by hosting fundraising events and aligning with our executive office on planning and execution.
• Consider new opportunities for generating sustainable revenue streams through restaurant partnerships, engaging internal teams as appropriate.

Restaurant Engagement & Acknowledgement

• Collaborate with the Senior Director of Programs to develop a tiered engagement model that motivates restaurant participation in one or more sustainably generated revenue approaches.
• Craft opportunities to bring restaurants closer to Rethink’s mission and the impact of our partnership through marketing activations, in-house celebrations, tours of Rethink’s Sustainable Community Kitchen, and premier workshop and event access, among other activities.
• Collaborate with our engagement team on opportunities to feature participating restaurants on social media and publicize these partnerships’ impact.
• Coordinate with our network of Rethink Certified restaurants and community-based organizations to implement in-house family meal celebrations at partnering restaurants to deepen engagement and demonstrate impact.

Miscellaneous Job Duties

• Maintain updated records of contacts, communications, and engagements.
• Generate reports for internal and external stakeholders to demonstrate progress and impact.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Business, Management, Finance, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.
• 2-4 years of relevant experience in fundraising, business development, sales, consulting, or entrepreneurship with strong relationship management or customer service experience.
• Interacts confidently and respectfully with people at all levels inside and outside the organization.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to articulate clear, persuasive, and concise thoughts.
• Demonstrates a solutions-based approach and collaborative work style.
• Flexible and adaptive, effectively managing changing priorities and new opportunities.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills with strong attention to detail.
• High systems aptitude and comfort with learning new technologies; experience in Google Suite required; Salesforce or other CRM preferred.
• A quick learner eager to strengthen their understanding of Rethink’s work and join a dynamic, fast-paced team.
• A self-starter with a positive attitude, growth mindset, and the ability to autonomously manage cross-functional projects.
• Willing and able to travel within the New York metropolitan area for field visits.
• Genuinely embraces the mission and core values of Rethink Food.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE: Commitment to embodying our values of –

Inventiveness: At our core, we are relentlessly curious about solving problems. As our name suggests, we’re a team of creative thinkers, but we’re also hands-on doers, challenging norms with humility to find practical solutions that can create lasting change.

Vulnerability: Guided by an “always be better” mindset, we are a team that intentionally reflects on what we are doing well and where we need to improve. We hold ourselves and each other accountable, every day. No blame, no shame — we just want to be sure we’re always doing the right thing.

Thoughtfulness: Our vision for a nourished and thriving world starts with nourished and thriving individuals in each of our communities. Our work is centered on the needs of the people that bring our communities to life. We don’t pretend to have all of the answers. We are committed to listening and learning in order to identify and scale solutions that ensure stable and reliable access to healthy food for all so each and every community can thrive.

Kindness: At Rethink, we show up every day with empathy and compassion and believe everyone should be treated with dignity. Kindness goes a long way — we are all about just being kind

COMPENSATION

The annual salary range for this position is $60- $75k, depending on experience and education. We also offer a complete benefits package including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, PTO, paid holidays, two weeks per year for an organization-wide office closure to recharge, a retirement plan, free nutritious lunch at our Sustainable Community Kitchen and a progressive parental leave plan.

HOW TO APPLY

While a degree, certification, and work experience are a plus, we recognize that other life and work experiences may also prepare you for this role. Additionally, research has shown that women and people from underrepresented groups may not apply for jobs if they do not meet 100% of the job qualifications. Please know that no candidate has 100% of the listed job qualifications. Therefore, we encourage you to apply for this position if you believe you can complete the responsibilities.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. However, we have an immediate need to fill the position. Please submit your application online.

EEO STATEMENT

Rethink Food is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender (including gender identity or expression), pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, marital status, domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking victim status, ancestry, national origin, alienage or citizenship, age, disability, military or veteran status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristic, or other protected status. The organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer, drug-free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.