Chief Executive Officer (Chicago / Hybrid)

The Opportunity

The CEO serves as the visible and inspirational leader of one of America’s largest charities inspired by our vision of an America where no one is hungry. Ensuring alignment with the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer leads the development and execution of Feeding America’s strategy focused on ensuring neighbors across the country have more pathways to sustained food and nutrition security.

The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for leading and building a team of approximately 390 employees capable of executing our strategy and fostering an open and supportive culture that puts people facing hunger at the center of our work. The Chief Executive Officer is the lead uniter and supporter of a broad network of stakeholders including neighbors struggling with food insecurity, donors, legislators and the Feeding America network of partner food banks, state associations, affiliate food banks and 60,000 agencies across the country.

The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for a $350 million budget which leverages a $5.15 billion organization.

Feeding America is partnering with Korn Ferry, the executive recruiting firm dedicated to mission‑driven search, on the search for our Chief Executive Officer. To review the Position Profile and / or apply, please visit the Korn Ferry site : https : / / jobs.candidate.kornferry.com / job / Korn-Ferry-Executive-Search-Chicago-Chief-Executive-Officer-Illinois / 248882007

Compensation

Here at Feeding America national organization, equality is central to our mission and is an integral part of our compensation policies and structures. As such, we maintain transparent salary ranges and clearly defined practices for how our team, including new hire salary offers, moves through these ranges. You can expect us to offer the best salary up front based on these clearly defined pay practices with little room for negotiation. We make exceptions for highly experienced (multiple years of at-level experience) new hires in accordance with our pay practices. Once hired, employees have the opportunity to progress through salary ranges via regular merit increases and step promotions.

Salary Range : $650,000 - $750,000 Based on Experience.

Benefits : A comprehensive list of benefits available to full-time employees can be found here.

Responsibilities

Provide Visible and Inspirational Leadership for Feeding America and the mission

Serve as the chief advocate for Feeding America and its nationwide network and function as a spokesperson and key influencer for Feeding America on a broad range of issues.

Demonstrate visionary leadership with the ability to clearly define a strong value proposition to the network, partners, media, donors, government and others.

Cast Vision, Develop Strategy, Oversee Operations, and Deliver Results

Translate Feeding America’s vision and mission into tangible strategic plans and cultural expectations.

Drive disciplined execution of strategy with accountability for performance, effective oversight, and consistent delivery of results.

Oversee the ongoing refinement and implementation of Feeding America’s 2030 strategy in alignment with the Strategic Framework developed in collaboration with neighbors and network partners.

Work with the Board of Directors and Executive Team to set long term and annual strategic and funding priorities with focused execution plans and measurable objectives. Oversee program evaluation and data analysis to track progress against defined outcomes for optimal impact and use of funds.

Maintain the financial integrity and operational excellence of the organization and assure that the staffing of the national organization is appropriate to accomplishing the annual and longer‑range goals of the organization.

Unite and Catalyze Stakeholders

Develop, strengthen and maintain strategic alliances and relationships with key stakeholders starting with neighbors and including key partners in government (policy makers / elected officials), corporations, community‑based organizations, non‑profits and academia.

Cultivate and strengthen relationships with the Feeding America network to drive alignment with core mission and values while recognizing the autonomy of a federated network. Maintain open, two‑way communication with the National Council (NAC) and leadership of partner food banks, affiliate food banks and partner state associations.

Drive the development of a broad, comprehensive fundraising strategy to include individuals, corporations and foundations. Cultivate meaningful personal relationships with major donors and be active in the solicitation process.

Maintain strong relationships with government agencies and food donors who provide critical resources to Feeding America in support of its mission.

Oversee efforts to develop greater brand awareness for Feeding America among existing constituencies as well as others who are not aware of the organization and its contributions to fight hunger in the U.S.

Build the Feeding America National Organization Team, Culture and Capabilities

Construct a streamlined organizational structure that attracts and encourages diverse and talented team members to achieve excellence. Assess and motivate talent to ensure Feeding America has the right person in the right job focused on the right things.

Establish an open, inclusive and accountable culture that is centered on people facing hunger. Develop and implement internal standards, policies, processes and structures that facilitate the success of all team members and the organization.

Create an empowered, energized work environment that encourages open expression of opinions and internal and external collaboration. Encourage innovation and risk taking while effectively managing overall risk.

Provide leadership for the staff and network members.

Partner and Collaborate with the Board of Directors

Serve as the primary link to the Board of Directors, providing them with advice and information related to the operations of the organization, as well as assistance in their development of policy and governance for the organization.

Establish effective two‑way communications, seeking input from Board members to leverage their specific experience and expertise.

Requirements

Deep and authentic passion for the mission; a fierce advocate for Feeding America and food security.

Minimum of 15 years of relevant and highest levels of executive leadership experience of large, complex, geographically dispersed organizations, such as for-profit corporations with complex stakeholder ecosystems or national nonprofits with federated structures, preferably in relevant sectors such as food systems, public health, social services, or large federated networks.

History of working effectively with diverse stakeholders to forge an organization's strategic plan; experience successfully aligning independent affiliates or subsidiaries behind a national strategy.

Track record of success executing upon strategy with urgency, timeliness and responsiveness to outline goals, establish metrics, meet benchmarks, deliver projects on budget, and drive results on an annual basis, including instilling a culture of performance and accountability.

Direct P&L or equivalent fiduciary accountability for a comparably scaled budget with national reach and impact.

Experienced in systems‑level change and policy influence, with credibility in government and philanthropy and a politically neutral or bipartisan approach; ideally track record of lobbying or movement building.

A track record of advancing the agenda of dynamic, evolving, organizations and balancing strategic vision with focus on day‑to‑day operational issues.

Successful experience as a spokesperson with a wide range of audiences including senior government officials, association and corporate leadership, donors, the media and the public at large.

Strong executive presence with the ability to not only inspire, motivate and excite various constituencies, but also engender trust, create followership and even build bridges across differences.

Demonstrated ability to motivate, empower and grow staff including recruiting, hiring and retaining top caliber professional talent.

High EQ, empathy, and courage - humble and approachable; an inclusive and accountable leader with a demonstrated commitment to creating open and supportive work environments.

Experience convening organizations reflecting broad and diverse stakeholders on issues of importance to Feeding America's mission and priorities and developing coordinated strategies with these stakeholders.

Track record of generating new sources of revenue and stewarding major funding relationships while managing the operating budget in a cost constrained environment.

Strong risk management experience.

Desired Competencies

Fosters an Enterprise Mindset :

Centers our neighbors, and lives into our shared value statement in working with network partners to have the desired mission impact. Acts as a champion of the enterprise by embracing FANO decision making and stewardship. Aligns department and team to enterprise decisions and priorities. Takes ownership for enterprise decisions and processes. Creates and communicates a clear shared vision for the future consistent with the values and mission of Feeding America. Promotes a neighbor‑centered strategy and maintains a balanced perspective between short‑ and long‑term priorities.

Leads with Accountability :

Translates organizational priorities into specific goals and holds self and others accountable for achieving desired outcomes. Interprets new challenges and finds solutions in response to changing circumstances, while encouraging innovation and learning from mistakes. Anchors actions and decisions in our values and mission while building trust and taking responsibility for difficult decisions. Expresses best independent thinking by leveraging data, functional experience, and Feeding America’s values to inform decisions. Once decisions are made, actively supports and communicates them, regardless of personal point of view.

Encourages an Open and Supportive Environment :

Seeks and values varied perspectives and consistently treats others with fairness, dignity, compassion, and respect. Keeps people at the center of what we do and directs resources to address disparities wherever they exist. Upholds ethical standards and demonstrates a commitment to doing what is consistent with our values. Prioritizes people and ensures they are supported and developed in their work through candid feedback, coaching, recognition, and a learning mindset. Promotes a healthy and engaging work environment where all staff can thrive.

Collaborates Internally and Externally :

Builds partnerships internally and externally and works collaboratively with stakeholders, the network, and neighbors to remove silos and gain multiple perspectives to meet shared objectives. Represents Feeding America positively highlighting our mission of ending hunger. Engages and communicates in ways that create brave spaces for collaboration and shared learning.

Communicates with Impact and Influence :

Communicates directly, clearly and with integrity, across all levels.

Feeding America’s goal is to attract, develop, retain, and promote a talented diverse workforce where all employees feel a sense of belonging and contribute to a culture that values differences, ideas, and experiences. We intentionally seek out diverse perspectives and skills on our teams, knowing that it makes us stronger as an organization and better equipped to serve our neighbors in need. We encourage all individuals, including those from historically under‑represented communities and individuals with lived experience of hunger, to apply.

Feeding America participates in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E‑Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E‑Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I‑9.

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