Vice President, Social Enterprise and Supply Chain Solutions
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
About the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
Since its founding in 1978, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee (‘Second Harvest’) has envisioned a community where no one is hungry by working to provide food to people facing hunger and advancing long-term hunger solutions.
Second Harvest receives donated and surplus food from grocery stores, farms, manufacturers, distributors, and individuals. This food is inspected, sorted, and prepared for distribution to partner agencies, including food pantries, congregate meal sites, shelters, childcare facilities, senior centers, group homes, and enrichment centers, at three facilities:
- The Second Harvest Foodbank of Middle Tennessee Headquarters in Nashville
- The Ray Smith Family Distribution in Camden
- The Nacarato Distribution Center in Smyrna
In its founding year, Second Harvest distributed 160,000 pounds of food to 75 member agencies. Since then, the organization has grown to one of the largest and most comprehensive food banks in the nation. In 2023, Second Harvest distributed more than 42 million pounds of food to nearly 420 partner agencies and provided more than 38 million meals throughout the 46-county service area of Middle and West Tennessee.
Project Preserve:
Throughout its 45-year history, Second Harvest has developed a breadth and depth of resources and programming. One of Second Harvest’s most innovative and successful programs is its social enterprise, Project Preserve. Project Preserve is committed to providing nutritious shelf-stable foods at the lowest cost to Second Harvest’s Partner Agencies and the Feeding America FoodBank Network. In addition to supplying food banks with the staples they need, Project Preserve also offers customizable options including direct, mixed loads and assembly, saving food banks time and money. Project Preserve leverages economies of scale and logistics expertise to provide a comprehensive co-op program that ultimately leverages net revenue gains to further the mission of the food bank serving a 46-county service area in Middle and West Tennessee.
With a track record of innovation and a deep commitment to advancing long-term hunger solutions, Second Harvest has earned a strong reputation on a national level, making the organization a trusted and beloved resource for communities across Middle and West Tennessee and beyond.
Looking Ahead
Building on its stellar reputation and a position of significant strength, Second Harvest is in the midst of a strategic planning process, which will be rolled out in May 2024. The plan will focus on evolving and strengthening existing programs and outcomes, with an expanded focus on addressing the root causes of hunger. Additionally, there will be a continued emphasis to build on Second Harvest’s legacy of innovation and growth, with the ultimate goal of maximizing impact.
At this exciting moment in its history, Second Harvest is seeking a dynamic, mission-driven executive to serve in the newly created role of Vice President, Social Enterprise and Supply Chain Solutions. The Vice President, Social Enterprise and Supply Chain Solutions oversees all aspects of the social enterprise, Project Preserve.
Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the Vice President, Social Enterprise and Supply Chain Solutions will serve as a key member of a high-performing, collaborative, and deeply dedicated leadership team. They manage two direct reports (Director, Supply Chain; Director, National Accounts), with a total team of eight.
Key Responsibilities:
Business Development, Partnerships, & Customer Engagement
- Cultivate development of new customers within the Feeding America network, growing market share within the network, and developing new partnerships with other 501(c)(3) organizations.
- Deliver excellent customer service. Leverage clear and prompt communication to navigate any situation to reach desired goals.
- Maintain a strong working relationship with the COO as it relates to all operational matters (inventory, logistics, etc.) for Project Preserve and Second Harvest, ensuring the highest levels of client service and satisfaction.
- Possess in-depth knowledge of the market, competitive positioning, and products.
- Function as primary liaison of Project Preserve Board of Directors Committee.
Strategic Vision & Leadership
- Contribute and work within Second Harvest’s mission, vision, values, and strategic goals. Participate in the formulation and execution of strategic plans alongside the President & CEO and members of the executive leadership team.
- Lead the strategic development, business process improvements, and management of all logistics and scheduling of Project Preserve food and packaging.
- Collaborate across operations to develop and implement strategies around the goals and objectives of the social enterprise to include warehousing, inventory control, and timely distribution of product.
- Oversee product acquisition strategies, margin requirements, customer service and satisfaction, as well as technology needs of Project Preserve.
- Direct and provide leadership to Project Preserve to ensure appropriate staffing and infrastructure are in place to effectively and efficiently achieve organizational goals and mission.
- Develop inventory planning and distribution strategies as Second Harvest considers expansion into new markets.
- Partner to optimize logistics networks and evaluate the impact of proposed logistics changes, such as routing, shipping modes, utilization, and carriers.
- Ensure procurement strategies, processes, and program executions are fully integrated to support internal business plans and objectives; actively collaborate with stakeholders to ensure that knowledge, relationships, and investments are effectively and efficiently leveraged.
- Establish processes and systems to more effectively meet the needs and strategic priorities of the Company.
Fiscal Responsibilities
- Establish monthly, quarterly, and annual sales targets. Update and revise plan to increase the department’s profitability and growth.
- Full P&L management and responsibility for Project Preserve ($61 million as of 2023). Manage expenses within the approved budget.
- Partner with the CFO to ensure systems and processes are in place to provide reliable and accurate financial results and a clean audit; includes budgetary control and oversight, system accuracy, internal and external reporting, and internal controls.
- Demonstrate excellent analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills; works to identify significant efficiencies and implements changes while avoiding disruption to daily activities.
- Monitor and communicate changes in transportation and shipping laws and regulations, assessing the financial impacts of regulatory changes.
- Develop, direct, and manage overall cost reduction targets and oversee execution of initiatives.
- Conduct spend analyses, analyzing supply markets, identifying sourcing value levers, executing competitive RFIs/RFPs, and leading supplier negotiations.
- Understand financial metrics, budgeting, and cost control to drive profitability.
- Partner with food bank operations to comply with requirements of Federal and other grants, e.g., procurement and reporting, to the extent they include social enterprise product.
Safety & Compliance
- Ensure that all organizational activities and operations are carried out in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and laws governing business operations. Responsible for compliance with Feeding America’s Guidelines for the acquisition and safe distribution of food.
- Drive continuous customer service improvements, including reduced interruptions and maintaining on-time deliveries.
- Manage procurement purchasing, contracts, negotiations, and vendor selection, including frameworks for vendor evaluation, engagement, and RFP ownership.
Candidate Profile
While it is understood that no candidate will offer every desired skill, quality, and characteristic, the following offers a detailed, aspirational view of the ideal candidate profile:
A Strategic & Entrepreneurial Leader with Business Development & Supply Chain Expertise
- Have sales and marketing expertise, with an understanding of how to successfully grow and scale an initiative or business line.
- Be a strategic and innovative thinker, with the willingness to be hands-on.
- Have an understanding of supply chain and operations; ideally brings expertise in food sourcing/manufacturing, food procurement, and/or supply chain planning, logistics, distribution, and transportation management.
A Growth-Oriented and Mission-Driven Leader
- Be able to develop and execute strategies that align with Second Harvest’s mission and overall business objectives.
- Be adaptable, with an ability to shift strategy and approach in response to changing market conditions and emerging industry trends.
- Have an ability to drive sales and revenue growth, while respecting and maintaining collaborative relationships with food banks and other partners. Have an ability to identify and form strong relationships with customers and partners in the interest of growing the business of Project Preserve.
- Be a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a commitment to creating a culture of belonging – both internally and externally.
A Skilled Collaborator & Communicator
- Be an emotionally intelligent team leader and collaborator with an ability to build and sustain strong relationships with internal team members, as well as vendors, suppliers, shippers, customers, and Feeding America partners.
- Demonstrate a strong customer service mentality – with an ability to serve and communicate with customers both internally and externally.
- Have an ability to be a strategic partner at all levels of the organization, helping to guide the evolution of Project Preserve and the organization as a whole.
A Commitment to the Mission
- Be a champion for ending hunger and providing services to those most in need.
- Have an understanding of, and deep appreciation for, the many diverse communities throughout Middle and West Tennessee.
- Embody the values of Second Harvest’s mission and team culture.
- Be a leader of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values; someone who can be trusted without reservation.
For more information, please download the Position Profile.
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