Director of Operations, Vetri Foundation for Children

Posted by Vetri Foundation for Children on July 28, 2014

The Vetri Foundation for Children was established to help kids experience the connection between healthy eating and healthy living. Through food, education and social interaction, the VFFC works to give children the nutritional foundation they need to grow and thrive.

Founded in 2008 by Chef Marc Vetri and his business partner Jeff Benjamin, the Vetri Foundation has grown quickly, expanding its innovative Eatiquette lunch program to 10 Philadelphia area schools and 2 summer camps. We continue to grow and look to enhance the impact of our programming through education, hands-on experiences, care-giver engagement and expanded school partnerships.

For more information, please visit http://www.vetrifoundation.org

Position

The board and executive director (ED) of the Vetri Foundation for Children are looking for a mission-focused, seasoned, strategic, and process-minded leader with experience scaling an organization, leading a management team, and developing a performance culture among a group of diverse, talented individuals. The Director of Operations must be a leader who is able to help others at the Vetri Foundation deliver measurable, cost-effective results that make the vision a reality. Importantly, a successful Director of Operations will have the skills, sensitivity, and personal confidence to tap into the power that each member of the team brings to this mission. This individual must bring efficient and effective systems to increase the productivity of the organization, while retaining the creative spark that drives the Vetri Foundation concept.

Reporting to the executive director (ED), the Director of Operations will have both internal and external facing responsibilities, ranging from client and project management (business development, framing of key approaches, high-quality client delivery, written products) to administration (information technology, reporting, facilities), and human capital (HR/recruiting, mentoring, career progression). The Director of Operations will partner closely with the ED to chart the Vetri Foundation’s future growth and strategic response to an ever-increasing demand for the organization’s services. This individual should have a demonstrated ability to lead and build the capacities of a driven, bright, diverse team.

Responsibilities

Program Development, Management, and Client Relations/Management

• Work in partnership with the ED and board to implement a new strategic plan and create the processes and approaches to achieve it.
• Structure and lead teams to deliver outstanding client work.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships; exceptional relationship-builder.
• Represent the Vetri Foundation in industry-group conferences, professional associations, and other public venues.
• Share in knowledge dissemination, reporting, and communications.
• Coordinate the evaluation of key impact measures.
• Ensure that all programmatic partners renew their contracts.
• Oversee development of curriculum, tools and training that meet cost guidelines.

Organization

• Partner with the ED in essential internal leadership activities (human resources, administration, and organizational planning).
• Coordinate the annual operations plan and budget.
• Provide for all staff a strong day-to-day leadership presence. Mentoring, coaching; visible, approachable sounding board/resource.

Qualifications

• 10+ distinguished years in a senior management position in a nonprofit organization, foundation, or government agencies
• Solid educational background—undergraduate degree required; MBA or similar advanced degree highly desired.
• Expertise with Food Services and/or the National School Lunch program preferred.
• Track record delivering superior results, commanding respect, and assuming leadership roles.
• Success in roles requiring execution of multiple tasks while responding to multiple priorities.
• Proven ability to work with efficiency, flexibility, and good humor.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide array of people – junior and senior, for-profit and nonprofit, and from diverse backgrounds.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills are essential.
• Ability to exercise tact and diplomacy in organizational settings.
• Passionate about the Vetri Foundation’s mission and impact.
• Self-starter, self disciplined
• Spark, imagination, creativity.
• Remains focused in the face of pressure, delivers against timelines, not intimidated by tasks/time limitations.

Compensation

This is an outstanding opportunity for a highly motivated professional to assume a pivotal role in the evolution of a fast-growing, highly respected organization. We are seeking an individual of outstanding quality with a respected track record. The Vetri Foundation is prepared to offer a very attractive compensation package, including a competitive base salary as well as health, 401(k), and vacation benefits.

http://www.idealist.org/view/job/JGnGsTGbm2Jd/