FoodCorps VP of Talent and Culture (close when filled)

VP of Talent and Culture

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VP of Talent and Culture

Who We Are:

FoodCorps believes every school should be a healthy school and every child – regardless of race, place or class – deserves to be well nourished and ready to learn. In underserved communities across the country, our AmeriCorps leaders teach students about healthy food through hands-on lessons, partner with farmers and food service workers to create nutritious and delicious school meals, and collaborate with communities to foster a long-term culture of health. Building on this foundation of direct impact, FoodCorps pursues systemic strategies that will benefit all of our nation’s 100,000 schools.

What We’re Looking For:

FoodCorps seeks an experienced and strategic human resources professional to join our Executive Team and lead our Talent and Culture Department at a period of significant organizational growth and change. As FoodCorps matures from a promising start-up to a field-leading social enterprise, the VP will shape and integrate FoodCorps’ approach to recruiting and development, goal-setting and performance management, equity and inclusion, employee experience, and workplace technology. With responsibility for the people functions that impact the 225+ emerging leaders in our AmeriCorps program and the 70+ members of our geographically distributed national staff, the VP and their team will build FoodCorps into a talent destination, cultivate a culture that empowers and develops our people, and accelerate our progress toward being a more just, inclusive, and equitable organization. The VP will report to the CEO and work closely with other members of the Executive Team to guide overall organizational growth and strategy.

This is a full-time position based in our Portland, Oregon office, and requires moderate travel.

Who You Are:

You are a highly skilled human resource leader with extensive experience developing people and teams, and a desire to set the tone for how management happens at FoodCorps through the use and dissemination of frameworks and practices, and by modeling transparency, feedback, and managerial courage. You bring the leadership skills to guide a large pool of staff through periods of change and ambiguity. You have a deep personal commitment and a confirmed professional record of advancing equity, diversity and inclusion. You are a strategic thinker who will be both a supportive and questioning colleague to members of your own team and the organization’s leadership. You build authentic and compassionate relationships with young people just starting out in their careers, and with staff and board members at all levels of seniority. You recognize the potential of FoodCorps as a leadership development organization, and are excited to play a key role in driving towards our most immediate goals and long-term vision for impact.

Primary Responsibilities:

Strategy and Department Leadership

  • Serve on the Executive team, representing the Talent & Culture Department, participating in strategic planning, and providing input on cross-department matters and CEO and Board decisions

  • Lead the Talent & Culture Department (currently a team of 10) with a focus on goal-setting and achievement, collaboration and integration across department functions, and advancement of FoodCorps’ human resource strategy, policy and practice. Grow and shape the team as strategic.

  • Mentor and develop the staff within the Talent & Culture Department, using a collaborative approach

  • Represent the organization and its leadership development work with eloquence and passion to both internal and external constituencies, including staff, service members, funders and partners

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

  • Accelerate the building of a more just organization, serving as a thought leader to the Executive team and Board, supervising the Director of Organizational Equity and Inclusion, and ensuring progress and accountability towards EDI goals

  • Ensure that all organizational initiatives and advancements are formulated and reviewed through an EDI lens

Talent Management

  • Ensure that FoodCorps remains competitive in recruiting and retaining excellent people to service member and staff positions, through strategic approaches to talent acquisition, a focus on employee empowerment, and a robust compensation strategy and benefits package

  • Lead or support onboarding and professional development programming that positions service members, alumni and staff for success in their current roles and individual futures

  • Serve as the management guru for the organization, creating a culture of effective and responsive management at all levels through strategic training, coaching, and support

  • Lead change management and internal communication efforts in an organization undergoing significant growth and evolution

  • Work across the organization to architect staffing plans and strengthen goal-setting, efficiency, process improvement, and performance

  • In consultation with HR staff and outside counsel, serve as the senior HR authority in complex personnel matters, terminations, and issues of employment law

Culture and Collaboration

  • Proactively foster an organizational culture that reflects FoodCorps’ values, empowers and retains great staff, and ensures a positive and impactful work experience for AmeriCorps members, office-based staff in New York and Portland, and field-based staff in 18+ states

  • Oversee the Director of IT & Collaboration and their team in the selection and adoption of technology systems, office spaces and work practices that maximize efficiency, quality and enjoyment

  • As the leader of a department that serves colleagues across the organization, maintain an excellent level of customer service to all constituencies

Required Skills and Experience

  • A minimum of 6 years of management experience with a demonstrated record of excellence, composure, maturity and insight as a manager and management leader

  • Hands-on experience in strategic planning and organizational development, with a history of success in cultivating organizational change and navigating ambiguity

  • Direct experience in and/or broad understanding of the core functions of human resources, talent recruitment and development, and proactive cultivation of organizational culture

  • High degree of cultural humility, appreciation of different work styles, and experience championing equity, diversity and inclusion priorities

  • Ability and confidence to represent an organization to internal and external stakeholders

  • Comfort with a fast-paced, technology-intensive work environment

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills

  • Impeccable ethical standards, high degree of self-reflection and commitment to continuous learning, and an ability to cultivate high-trust relationships

How to Apply:

Applications will be accepted until the ideal candidate is found. To be considered, submit your résumé, cover letter and salary requirements to FoodCorps through our career site.

FoodCorps pays salaries that are competitive with nonprofits of our budget size and geographic location, and offers generous vacation and medical benefits, 401(k) matching, professional development funds and a sabbatical policy. Our salary range for this position begins at $115,000 and extends upward based on experience.

People of color, people with disabilities, veterans and LGBTQ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. FoodCorps is committed to a diverse workplace and to supporting our staff with ongoing career development opportunities. FoodCorps, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its employment decisions. FoodCorps provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees as required by law. Applicants with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation at any point in the employment process.

Location: Portland, OR