Background
Founded in 2008, Greener Partners is a nonprofit organization with a $1 million budget. It is based in Philadelphia, PA and provides food education, fresh food access and urban gardening support to under-resourced communities throughout the Philadelphia region. Greener Partners is governed by a thirteen-member Board of Directors. Daily operations are maintained by eleven full-time paid staff members, one part-time paid staff member, and over 50 volunteers based in Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Delaware Counties.
Greener Partners’ Mission is to strengthen community health through urban farming, equitable fresh food access, and discovery-based learning. Greener Partners collaborates with schools, hospitals, and community organizations to address barriers to healthy eating through hands-on gardening, cooking, and food education, and through no-cost fruit and vegetable distributions. Since its founding in 2008, Greener Partners has integrated urban farming, fresh food, and good health for over 90,000 people in the Philadelphia region.
Greener Partners envisions a world with healthy and equitable communities, where nourishing fresh food is accessible to all. In 2023, the Greener Partners Strategic Plan Working Group conducted extensive research and interviews to develop a three-year strategic plan that aims to expand Greener Partners’ impact through 2026.
Executive Director Job Summary
Reporting to Greener Partners’ Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for leading and implementing the strategic vision and operational priorities of Greener Partners. Specifically, the Executive Director will ensure that Greener Partners’ fiscal, operations, programmatic, fundraising, marketing, communications, and human resource strategies are effectively and successfully implemented across all segments of the organization. The Executive Director will guide Greener Partners through periods of growth and refinement as the organization works to ensure equitable fresh food access, food education, and food sovereignty in the greater Philadelphia region.
Responsibilities
Strategic Vision and Leadership
Cultivate a strong and transparent working relationship with the Board of Directors; ensure open communication about the measurement of financial, programmatic, and impact performance against stated milestones and goals.
Help build a diverse and inclusive Board that is highly engaged and willing to leverage and secure resources; support the Board in being effective ambassadors for Greener Partners.
Provide inspirational leadership that fosters an organizational culture that is aligned with Greener Partners’ core values and the organization’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Statement.
Lead, coach, develop, and retain a high-performing senior management team.
In collaboration with the Board and staff, oversee the implementation of the organization’s strategic plan and ensure there are clear benchmarks of progress in achieving the plan.
Create strong alignment around Greener Partners’ strategic plan and annual goals, and work with senior management to develop appropriate work plans to execute the goals.
Establish and nurture strategic partnerships with key individuals, peer organizations, corporate supporters, and institutional and university leaders.
Be a visible and committed public champion and spokesperson for Greener Partners’ mission and work.
Development and Communications
Work with the Board and Development Director to formulate and execute a comprehensive development strategy.
Educate and ignite Board and staff around the development strategy and continually grow revenue from individual donors, foundations, government agencies, and corporations.
Ensure that fundraising streams remain diverse and well-balanced.
Work with the Board and Development Director to develop and lead the implementation of special fundraising campaigns that will advance Greener Partners’ impact in the region and the growth and sustainability of the organization.
Work with the Board and senior management team to formulate and deliver an effective communications strategy and annual plan; maintain a strong and highly visible external presence; through online, print and social media, implement an integrated strategy for engaging the public, donors, and community partners in the work of Greener Partners.
Programs and Internal Operations
Ensure on-going programmatic excellence and data-driven program evaluation.
Develop and implement effective systems to support and track the scaling of programs.
Maintain strong internal communications and promote a positive work environment that values transparency, respect, and collaboration.
Create a work environment that supports diversity, reciprocal learning, and an assets-based approach in the communities that Greener Partners serves.
Ensure that program partners’ perspectives are centered in Greener Partners’ program development and decision making.
Financial Management
Oversee the financial health of the organization, including developing and monitoring the annual budget and ensuring sound financial controls are in place.
Monitor program/departmental budgets and regularly review with senior management to ensure understanding of how each department is tracking, with corrective action if necessary.
Ensure the preparation of accurate, timely financial reports for the board, including cash reports and monthly P&L reports; explain budget deviations and make recommendations as needed.
Work with the Board to ensure the long-term financial strategy and viability of the organization’s strategic plan, business model, and various programs.
Ensure the development of sustainable, recurring earned revenue sources that contribute to the financial health of the organization.
Qualifications:
5+ years of senior nonprofit leadership experience in a similar-sized organization, or equivalent leadership experience.
Ability to provide leadership in executing Greener Partners’ strategic plan, including aligning with partners, overseeing operational implementation, and engaging in effective internal and external communication.
High level strategic thinking and planning; ability to envision and convey the organization’s strategic future to the staff, Board, volunteers and donors.
Strong organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills, including planning, prioritizing, time management, delegating, program development, and task facilitation.
Demonstrated experience in providing transparent and high integrity leadership.
Proven track record of strong fundraising skills, including the ability to work closely with the Development Director to successfully generate new revenue streams and improve financial results.
Excellent donor relations skills and understanding of the funding community.
Experience and skill in working with strategic partnerships and maintaining key relationships.
Demonstrated experience and work in racial equity and anti-racist/oppression analysis and practice.
Ability to effectively communicate the organization’s mission to donors, volunteers, and the overall community.
Demonstrated ability to lead and collaborate with staff, while maintaining an excellent workforce culture.
Previous success in establishing relationships with individuals and organizations of influence including funders, partner agencies and volunteers.
Strong financial management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, decision making and reporting.
Strong written and oral communication skills; strong public speaking ability.
Knowledge of and passion for promoting equitable food access and food sovereignty.
Access to reliable transportation and ability to travel to locations throughout the greater Philadelphia region to visit Greener Partners’ facilities and program sites, donors, and other stakeholders/supporters.
Expected to attend events and meetings as needed in the region and beyond.
Compensation and Benefits
This is a full-time, exempt position, with a hybrid working environment (flexibility to work remotely but expected to be in-person at Greener Partners’ facilities and program sites in the greater Philadelphia region as needed). Working environment: Large second floor common office space located at Calvary St. Augustine Episcopal Church, 814 N 41st St, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Salary range: $90,000 - $100,000, based on experience.
Benefits:
120 hours of paid time off (PTO) per year, including sick days, and vacation days, increasing to 160 hours of PTO per year at the 5th anniversary of date of hire.
Paid holiday week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
12 observed holidays plus 2 floating holidays (New Year's Day; Martin Luther King Day; President’s Day; Memorial Day; Juneteenth, Independence Day; Labor Day; Indigenous People’s Day; the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Thanksgiving; Christmas Day).
Discounted healthcare plan through Keystone Health Plan East and dental coverage through United Concordia, including employer contribution of up to $300 per month towards premiums (no subsidy for other healthcare plans if employee waives Greener Partners’ coverage).
SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with employer match of up to 3% of employee’s contribution amount.
$400 annually towards professional development.
$50 monthly towards cell phone reimbursement.
All offers of employment are subject to and contingent upon satisfactory completion of background checks as determined by Greener Partners.
To Apply
Greener Partners has retained Dunleavy & Associates as its partner for this search. In order to be considered, please submit your resume or CV, and a cover letter HERE.
EEO/AAP Statement
Greener Partners provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.