Partner Network Director

Position Summary:

The Partner Network Director implements an integrated food access strategy across the Community Food Bank’s (CFB’s) five-county service area grounded in health equity, program compliance, and strong community partnerships. This position is responsible for leading food access programs and strategy, overseeing nutrition program compliance, strengthening partner network capacity, and integrating health and nutrition principles into sourcing, distribution, and program design. The Director partners with a network of food distribution partners, healthcare organizations, educational institutions, state and local governments, and tribal entities to co create and implement evidence based, policy compliant, community rooted strategies. This role works cross functionally with operations, procurement, development, and community impact teams to ensure organizational alignment and measurable community impact. Available for after hours or weekend work as needed to support partner network, events, or emergency response activities.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy and Organizational Alignment

• In alignment with CFB’s strategic plan, develop and implement data driven strategies to address critical barriers to healthy food access and gaps in service provision, working to balance specific community level needs and overall service area equity.
• Oversee program development, implementation, management, and evaluation for the Partner Network team. Develop and manage annual budget and resource allocation to ensure sustainability and impact.
• Establish formal mechanisms to incorporate partner feedback and neighbor lived experience into strategy development, program design, and evaluation.
• Strengthen data collection, reporting, and evaluation frameworks to support evidence based decision-making.
• Ensure strong cross department collaboration to align sourcing, allocation, and distribution practices with partner and community needs.
• Integrate health and nutrition lens into sourcing efforts, organizational policies, programs, and partnerships.
• Partner to identify funding opportunities, support grant proposals and reporting, and steward funder relationships connected to agency partnerships and food programs.

Leadership and Staff Development

• Supervise team members, providing leadership, coaching and performance evaluation. Builds leadership capacity within the team and develops succession planning strategies to ensure continuity of key programs and compliance functions.
• Model a collaborative, intentional, and values driven workplace culture to maximize staff performance and community impact.
• Lead change management efforts related to new systems, funding and food stream shifts, regulatory updates, and strategic pivots.
• Represent the organization and serves as a subject matter expert in regional, state, and national coalitions, task forces, and convenings related to food security, federal nutrition programs, and food systems change.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators related to reach, equity, nutrition, compliance, and partner capacity.

Partnerships & Network Capacity-Building

• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships that expand food access, strengthen community voice, and advance equitable food systems.
• Oversee coordinated capacity building, training, and technical assistance initiatives to strengthen partner network collaboration and effectiveness.
• Intentionally convene and communicate with food distribution partner agencies, healthcare partners, educational institutions, tribal entities, state agencies, and regional food banks to advance shared food security goals and initiatives.
• Collaborate with Policy team to leverage partner network’s collective power to advocate for local, state, and federal policy change that supports food security, food systems, and community wellbeing.
• Pilot innovative service models and projects in collaboration with partners.

Contract & Compliance Oversight

• Oversee state contract for federal nutrition programs (TEFAP, CSFP, CACFP, etc.) and ensures compliance with all contract regulations, including agency monitoring, training, reporting, and financial management in partnership with Operations and Finance.
• Develop, update, and ensure adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) across all departmental functions.
• Ensure audit readiness, monitoring visits, documentation standards, and corrective action processes are effectively managed.
• Oversee continuous improvement processes to strengthen compliance outcomes and operational efficiency across the partner network.
• Establish shared expectations and accountability standards with partner agencies.

Other Duties

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the staff member for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Eight (8) – Ten (10) years of experience overseeing programs in nonprofit, community health, public administration, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of experience leading teams and managing staff.
• Bachelor’s degree in public health, social services, public administration or a related field.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, etc.).
• Valid Arizona Driver’s License with a clean driving record; ability to travel to CFB locations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in public health, public administration, community health or a related field.
• Experience in nonprofit organization at staff leadership or Board levels.
• Experience in organizational development and management.
• Experience working at or partnering with a food bank(s).
• Bilingual English/Spanish.

Skills & Knowledge

• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Knowledge of federal and state food programs.
• Skills in developing and leading trainings.
• Strong communication and public speaking skills.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to make data-informed decisions.
• Facilitation and capacity building experience.
• Experience managing budgets and organizational resources.
• Ability to develop collaborative partnerships with community organizations and stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills across organizational levels.
• Ability to represent the organization effectively in partner, community, and public settings.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and implement initiatives across multiple counties.
• Experience in leading change management and strategy development.
• High level of interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations.
• Highly organized with a proven track record of efficiency and effectiveness.
• Comfort with ambiguity, and ability to drive sound decisions for team(s).
• Ability to travel across CFB’s five (5) county service area and to state, regional, and national conferences/meetings.
• Available for after hours or weekend work as needed to support partner network, events, or emergency response activities.
• Ability to work with people from diverse economic, social, and political backgrounds.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Systems Leadership
• Partnership & Network Capacity Building
• Program Compliance & Regulatory Oversight
• Data Driven Decision Making & Evaluation
• Leadership, Coaching & Change Management
• Community Rooted Communication & Advocacy

Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered if applicable and must be directly related to the functions and body of knowledge required to successfully perform the job.

Physical Requirements:

• Light Work – ability to exert 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

Expectations:

• CFB is dedicated to fostering a workplace where our Core Values of Dignity, Integrity, Collaboration, and Impact are actively demonstrated and supported in all aspects of our work.
• CFB works diligently to maintain a culture of fairness, responsibility, trustworthiness and teamwork to advance our mission: We change lives in the communities we serve by feeding the hungry today and building a healthy, hunger-free tomorrow.
• CFB is a drug and tobacco free work environment.
• CFB is committed to having a workforce that reflects diversity at all levels and is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment, and staff members are treated during employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.