Director of Programs

**Director of Programs**:
FoodShare is a food justice organization, advocating for the right to food and working to challenge the systemic barriers that keep people from accessing food. We support community-led food initiatives and work alongside those most impacted by poverty and food insecurity including Black and Indigenous people, people of colour, people with disabilities and those living on a low income.
Whether it is supporting urban farms, subsidizing local produce markets or coordinating community kitchens all of our work is about folks accessing food on their own terms. Our vision is a Toronto where everyone can feed themselves, their loved ones and their communities with dignity and joy.
We operate on a people-centered model that values fair compensation, policies that respect the well-being of the team, healthy boundaries and the contributions of our team members at all levels.
**Overview**:
The Director of Programs is primarily responsible for leading a team of dedicated program professionals, including managers and senior managers, through the coordination, support, evaluation, and administration of all aspects of FoodShare’s programs in communities, online, and in schools. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Programs is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, helping to shape the work culture, bolstering cross-departmental collaboration, maximizing opportunities among program areas and contributing to organizational policies and practices that foster an effective and collaborative workplace.
Secondary responsibilities include shared oversight and cross-team collaboration with food distribution and advocacy teams alongside Director, Operations, Director, Development & Communications and the Executive Director.
**Duties include (but are not limited to)**:
Leadership and Management
- Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to program managers and teams, overseeing the development of annual work plans, fundraising/revenue goals, and strategies for program activities; promoting an environment of respect, collaboration, creativity, accountability and high performance.
- Work with the Executive Director and the senior leadership team to ensure the development of programs are in alignment with the organization’s mission and values, strategic priorities, fiscal direction, and human resources policies.
- Serve on the senior leadership team: providing overarching support to FoodShare by identifying and developing organizational policies and culture that are aligned with FoodShare’s mission, vision and values.
- Provide shared oversight of FoodShare’s advocacy efforts with the Director of Development & Communications and Executive Director.
- Oversee program planning and evaluation processes that support staff teams toward achieving clear outcomes for all programs.
- Monitor and respond to budgets, resources, and program timelines.
- Promote and implement effective modes of communication throughout the program teams.
- Foster a positive team environment to support creativity, initiative, growth and prioritization of well-being at all levels of the organization.
- Contribute to the development and implementation oforganizational policies that enhance program delivery and operational efficiency
- Build relationships with and represent FoodShare to key partners such as funders, strategic collaborators, city-staff, and other supporters or partners as required.
- Report on program outcomes to funders, executive director and FoodShare board of directors.

Partnerships, Community Engagement & Advocacy
- Lead with the Executive Director and Director of Development and Communications to build and maintain strong relationships with key partners, collaborating organizations, government agencies, funders and other constituency groups using a community development approach.
- Prepare and coordinate grant submissions and funding requests in collaboration with the Director of Development and Communications, ensuring prompt and accurate reporting on program and organization-wide grants.
- Identify and develop informal and formal partnerships to support programs, including overseeing the development, review and execution of partnership agreements.
- With Director of Development and Communications: Oversee and facilitate coordination of activities between program teams, advocacy, and communications.
- Act as spokesperson for the organization with the media, funders, government agencies, relevant community groups and others on program and advocacy campaigns as directed.
- Participate in high-level committee tables that support FoodShare Toronto’s active program areas, in consultation with the Executive Director and senior leadership team.

**Required Qualifications, Knowledge, and Experience**:

- Legally authorized to work in Canada.
- 8+ years of progressive experience in program development, implementation, and evaluation, preferably in the nonprofit sector.
- 3+ years of experience in a senior