Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director Pharr, TX

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1 Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director Pharr, TX Ending hunger and promoting healthy living in South Texas 1

2 Largest Regional Charity in South Texas The Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley is the largest regional non-religious charity in south Texas, serving an average of 42,000 people every week. Founded as the Pharr Area Emergency Food Pantry during a devastating 1982 winter that forced many people out of work, the pantry incorporated as the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley just four years later to serve as a clearinghouse for smaller food pantries and on-site feeding organizations in the South Texas region. Today the Food Bank RGV is a vital lynchpin and champion for these organizations, delivering more than 45.5 million pounds of food through 268 agencies while providing a larger suite of integrated services to promote community health. The 43 rd largest food bank in the nation and the 5 th largest in Texas, the Food Bank RGV is a proud affiliate of the Feeding America and Feeding Texas networks. The need for the Food Bank RGV s work is significant: An astonishing 50% of children in the Rio Grande Valley go to bed hungry each night. An equally startling 25% of people in the Valley are food insecure. In addition to children, seniors on fixed incomes are some of the most vulnerable. Comprehensive Food Assistance To repair these community shortfalls, the Food Bank RGV operates five key programs that serve vulnerable populations in Hidalgo, Willacy, and Cameron Counties: Emergency Food: The Food Bank RGV s main program feeds food-insecure individuals and families 64% of whom have an annual income of less than $10,000. Community Supplemental Food Program (CSFP): CSFP helps nearly 6,000 seniors 65 and older with a bag of supplemental commodities. Operation Kid Pack: A child-friendly food backpack is distributed to elementary and middle school children who would otherwise go without food over weekends and school breaks. Kids Café: Provides free and prepared food and nutrition education to hungry children. Product Recovery: In a nation of plenty, billions of pounds of food goes to waste. The Feeding America network recovers and redistributes perfectly edible food that would otherwise go to landfills. 2

3 An Ambitious Community Service The Food Bank RGV sets a high standard of community service that distinguishes it in the food bank sector. More than simply distributing food, the Food Bank RGV elevates standards of food distribution to ensure that children, seniors, and families get wholesome meals that support long-term health and wellness. Its values are clear in its unusual commitment to fresh local produce: Produce Distribution The Food Bank RGV is one of very few food banks in the country to distribute fresh produce to its network of more than 268 partner agencies throughout south Texas. This distribution tackles and solves complex logistical challenges in order to redress one of the core challenges of people living with food insecurity: finding good food rather than settling for nutritionally empty products that have individual and social costs. Since 2012, the Food Bank RGV has operated from the old Valley Fruit Company plant in Pharr, TX. Logistics and Relationships Community Garden The Food Bank RGV s commitment to wholesome food inspires its Community Garden, which began as the Valley Garden Project in early Today it helps educate community members on how to grow and harvest their own fruit and vegetables to help minimize food insecurity. Pharrmers Market Surplus fruits and vegetables from the Community Garden are offered to the community at low prices at the Pharrmers Market, along with produce from local farmers and vendors, from fall to summer each year. The Community Garden and Pharrmers Market works in partnership with the Healthy Living Department to offer free Monthly Health Clinics at the Market, as well. To run its ambitious set of programs, the Food Bank RGV forges partnerships that foster an integrated community response to hunger and tackle multiple problems at once. Beyond the distributors who are its core partners, the Food Bank RGV works with many local stakeholders: Local Schools: The Food Bank RGV was awarded a school commodities contract in 2017 that will improve efficiency and food quality in over 10 southern Texas Counties Supermarkets and Restaurants: The food recovery program works with partners across the food industry to make unused food available to people who need to eat. Community Partners: As Hurricane Harvey hit the United States in 2017, the Food Bank RGV worked with the American Red Cross and county officials to make sure food and water were accessible to affected individuals and families. The Food Bank RGV s staff of 74 paid employees has tackled its ambitions for decades. As it moves forward with a new CEO, it aims to support staff with state-of-the-art operational systems that match its complex logistics and to build a culture of philanthropy among team members that supports continually expanded community outreach. 3

4 The Opportunity The Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley is seeking a Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director to lead what has become the largest regional charity in South Texas. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director directs the development, implementation, and evaluation of all aspects of the Food Bank RGV. As the leader, chief administrative officer, and public face of the Food Bank RGV, s/he is responsible for both the internal and external health of the organization, including oversight of personnel, budgets, and programs, as well as the management of relationships with donors, affiliates, and public officials. The Executive Director seeks in all of these dimensions to set a standard of exceptional community service that saves lives. The Executive Director s specific responsibilities include: Strategic and Operational Leadership Board Relations Partner with the Board of Directors to develop and update the Food Bank RGV s strategic goals and budgets, facilitating the adoption of ambitious and achievable targets for community impact and growth. Participate actively in conferences, meetings, and other professional development activities that support agency management and share relevant knowledge and skills with Board members. Support effective decision-making by apprising Board members in a timely fashion of all trends, resources, developments, and challenges that may impact the Food Bank RGV s short- and long-term activities and by identifying potential responses and solutions. Interpret and implement the Food Bank RGV bylaws, standards, and policies, periodically analyzing for effectiveness and suggesting revisions where appropriate. Identify, recruit, and actively engage Board members and other high-level volunteers in the work of the Food Bank RGV. Staff Leadership Clearly articulate the Food Bank RGV s mission to staff and serve as an outstanding role model for its effective execution. Establish organization-wide hiring priorities and ensure staff skills are aligned with assigned responsibilities and organizational goals. Attract and retain a talented team, promoting a positive work environment that fosters effective individual and organizational accomplishment. Direct the creation of appropriate onboarding procedures and opportunities for continued professional growth, with a focus on sustaining excellence, integrity, and an organization-wide embrace of change. Establish and enhance a system of employee evaluation that motivates, provides recognition and rewards for accomplishments, and ensures accountability for goals. Administer personnel policies and compensation packages as established by the Board of Directors. Financial Management Prepare annual income projections and an expense budget and present to the Board of Directors for review and approval. Provide regular financial reports to the Board, including an accounting of income/expenses, funds available, and the overall financial health of the organization. Manage funds according to policies established by the Board and approve cash, equipment, and facilities expenditures within budget parameters. 4

5 The Opportunity Follow current standards of financial accountability and implement policies to ensure adequate internal financial controls and a fiscally sound organization. Establish and maintain appropriate systems for the preservation of records. Program Management Develop and maintain a robust support system for Food Bank RGV members that encompasses training, technical assistance, monitoring, and facilitation of participation in network-wide activities. Assure the adoption of and faithful adherence to all healthy and safety standards in the inspection, handling, storage, and distribution of donated items. Continually evaluate and enhance operational procedures integral to Food Bank RGV s collection and distribution systems, including monitoring procedures for evaluating effectiveness. Identify technologies to improve Food Bank RGV s efficiency and effectiveness and promote their adoption throughout the organization. Oversee compliance with all grants and contracts, ensuring funds are used for activities as directed. Stakeholder and Public Relations Fundraising and Marketing Provide strategic vision for the Food Bank RGV s comprehensive fundraising activities; develop and present that vision to the Board in annual fundraising plans that are designed to increase contributed income and achieve strategic goals. Lead the identification of potential new sources of gifts, particularly from foundations and corporations; coordinate the engagement, cultivation, and solicitation of prospects through both one-on-one relationship-building and the submission of formal proposals. Serve as a primary relationship manager for major donors, providing attentive stewardship that promotes positive relationships and deepens commitment. Investigate and develop comprehensive strategies to increase in-kind donations of goods and services. Oversee integrated public education and media relations that heighten awareness of Food Bank RGV s mission and accomplishments and support fundraising efforts. Serve as the Food Bank RGV s chief spokesperson in appearances, interviews, and other public forums, becoming a recognized and compelling voice for efforts to reduce hunger. Community Outreach Serve as the Food Bank RGV s official liaison to Feeding America and Feeding Texas and the authorized representative at those organizations meetings. Develop and maintain working relationships with other community and governmental agencies whose work is related to the Food Bank RGV s mission and growth. Participate actively in relevant community organizations, civic institutions, and professional societies to take advantage of all opportunities to promote awareness of the Food Bank RGV. Oversee and engage in advocacy of policies and initiatives, at both the federal and state levels, that would help reduce hunger in Texas communities and across the country. 5

6 The Candidate The ideal Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director will be a confident leader with a sophisticated ability to mobilize people on behalf of a public service mission. The Executive Director will have a record of engaging diverse communities of stakeholders, including Board members, staff, donors, partners, and affiliates, inspiring and empowering them to achieve strategic initiatives in a growth environment. S/he will combine excellent leadership skills with a practiced eye for operational efficiency and effectiveness that supports an effective team. The Executive Director s specific qualifications include: Background 15 years of progressively responsible experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership role within non-profit organizations. Bachelor s degree is required; Master s degree or evidence of continued professional development is preferred. Skills and Experience Knowledge of principles and best practices of non-profit management, including familiarity with Board governance and ability to build productive working relationships with Board members. Record of anticipating opportunities and leading the development of operating plans that successfully align day-to-day activities with long-term strategic goals; experience overseeing operations in organizations with complex logistics (e.g., extensive supply/distribution chains, large volunteer networks, etc.) is desirable. Demonstrated ability to assess and oversee the implementation of comprehensive internal systems including HR policies and technologies that foster a sense of purpose and teamwork and elevate performance against established benchmarks. Significant experience serving as a public representative of an organization to a wide range of stakeholders, including donors, community groups and organizations, and news media. Record of pursuing creative revenue-generating initiatives and/or investments and of personally securing support and donations. Excellent communication skills in all registers, from formal writing to public speaking; communication skills in Spanish as well as English are useful. Knowledge of regional culture and philanthropic communities in South Texas is useful. Personal Characteristics and Leadership Style Comfort with change within organizations and sectors and tolerance for calculated risk in response to evolving opportunities. Exceptional interpersonal skills including diplomacy, sensitivity, and ability to listen that inspire confidence and trust among stakeholders and partners. Excellent initiative and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple competing priorities while maintaining standards of excellence. Driven by the importance of public service and committed to an unfailing standard of excellence worthy of a public mission. 6

7 To Apply Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director Pharr, TX Questions, résumés, and CVs should be sent to All first round interviews for this position will take place at Development Resources, inc. at 1820 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 702, Arlington, VA 22209, (703) , or via telephone/video conference. DRi is an executive search and development consulting firm that places senior executives and works with them to build talented staffs, develop bold strategic plans, and design powerful fundraising programs. The Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is seeking a diverse slate of qualified candidates for formal consideration. 7