What are the responsibilities and job description for the Managing Director - Food is Medicine position at Capital Area Food Bank?
Description
About the organization:
Exciting things are happening at the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) as we continue our mission! We understand that achieving long-term food security requires more than just providing meals—it takes education, training, and collaboration. We're looking for passionate individuals with innovative ideas to help tackle the complex, interconnected challenges of food security, poverty, and equity. As we expand, we’re not only delivering food for today but also addressing the root causes of hunger by partnering with organizations that offer essential services like job training, healthcare, and education. Food has the power to transform lives and create lasting change. Learn more at
Description:
The Managing Director of Food is Medicine plays a pivotal role in developing and scaling the Food is Medicine (FIM) program, starting with securing deals and strategic partnerships with healthcare payors, Medicaid, and Medicare and evolving to operationalizing and leading the organization’s comprehensive business FIM portfolio. In the initial phase, the Managing Director will focus on building relationships with leaders at healthcare payors and securing revenue through reimbursement agreements and other models to support FIM services for their members. This work will be done in close collaboration with other FIM workstreams within the organization, including Provider Pilots, Advocacy, and Operations, ensuring alignment with the broader organizational strategy and goals.
As the role evolves, the Managing Director will take on broader leadership responsibilities, overseeing all aspects of the revenue based FIM program, including strategy, operations, and expansion. This will include managing cross-functional teams, leading program development, and ensuring that FIM initiatives are integrated seamlessly into the food bank’s broader mission and community impact. Additionally, this role will focus on ensuring the right systems, operations and staff capacity to fully integrate with care navigation groups and with insurance companies, as required. The Managing Director will drive the strategic direction of FIM, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to innovate, evaluate, and continuously scale and improve the program’s effectiveness.
Throughout this one-year, renewable contract pending achievement of goals, period, the Managing Director will be expected to build a sustainable and scalable FIM program, positioning the organization as a leader in the integration of food-based interventions into healthcare across the Greater Washington region and the nation. The Managing Director will also make recommendations on the appropriate structure to house future successful CAFB’s FIM initiatives.
Essential Functions:
Secure Payor Deals (60%)
First 6 Months:
Position Requirements:
We Offer: At Capital Area Food Bank, we understand that great people make a great organization. We value our people and offer employees a broad range of benefits including competitive compensation and benefits, free onsite parking, complimentary shuttle to metro, professional development, growth, and volunteer opportunities, fun work in a diverse environment.
Application Process:
Capital Area Food Bank welcomes and supports a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are committed to equal employment opportunities (EEO) for all applicants seeking employment and for all our employees. CAFB makes employment decisions based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, personal appearance, military status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political affiliation, educational status, unemployment status, place of residence or business, source of income, reproductive health decision making or any other characteristic protected by law. Additionally, harassment or discrimination based on these characteristics will not be tolerated at CAFB. To perform the essential functions of this position, reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities.
About the organization:
Exciting things are happening at the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) as we continue our mission! We understand that achieving long-term food security requires more than just providing meals—it takes education, training, and collaboration. We're looking for passionate individuals with innovative ideas to help tackle the complex, interconnected challenges of food security, poverty, and equity. As we expand, we’re not only delivering food for today but also addressing the root causes of hunger by partnering with organizations that offer essential services like job training, healthcare, and education. Food has the power to transform lives and create lasting change. Learn more at
Description:
The Managing Director of Food is Medicine plays a pivotal role in developing and scaling the Food is Medicine (FIM) program, starting with securing deals and strategic partnerships with healthcare payors, Medicaid, and Medicare and evolving to operationalizing and leading the organization’s comprehensive business FIM portfolio. In the initial phase, the Managing Director will focus on building relationships with leaders at healthcare payors and securing revenue through reimbursement agreements and other models to support FIM services for their members. This work will be done in close collaboration with other FIM workstreams within the organization, including Provider Pilots, Advocacy, and Operations, ensuring alignment with the broader organizational strategy and goals.
As the role evolves, the Managing Director will take on broader leadership responsibilities, overseeing all aspects of the revenue based FIM program, including strategy, operations, and expansion. This will include managing cross-functional teams, leading program development, and ensuring that FIM initiatives are integrated seamlessly into the food bank’s broader mission and community impact. Additionally, this role will focus on ensuring the right systems, operations and staff capacity to fully integrate with care navigation groups and with insurance companies, as required. The Managing Director will drive the strategic direction of FIM, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to innovate, evaluate, and continuously scale and improve the program’s effectiveness.
Throughout this one-year, renewable contract pending achievement of goals, period, the Managing Director will be expected to build a sustainable and scalable FIM program, positioning the organization as a leader in the integration of food-based interventions into healthcare across the Greater Washington region and the nation. The Managing Director will also make recommendations on the appropriate structure to house future successful CAFB’s FIM initiatives.
Essential Functions:
Secure Payor Deals (60%)
- Lead the development and execution of the Food is Medicine (FIM) program’s strategic plan, including securing healthcare payor partnerships to fund FIM services for their members.
- Build and maintain relationships with healthcare payors, including Medicaid MCOs, Medicare Advantage payors, Commercial payors, and other healthcare organizations to secure at least one deal within 6 months and another 1-3 deals within the second 6 months.
- Negotiate reimbursement agreements with healthcare payors, ensuring compliance with regulations and aligning funding models with organizational goals.
- Develop and deliver compelling presentations, proposals, and business cases that demonstrate the value and impact of Food is Medicine to healthcare stakeholders.
- Assess market opportunities, analyze target segments, and identify revenue generation strategies to scale the program.
- Develop and manage FIM program budgets, ensuring financial accountability and alignment with organizational goals.
- Develop and execute plans to ensure the organization is compliant with all relevant regulations and laws (e.g., HIPAA) prior to launch of relevant programs and pilots.
- Develop a FIM systems strategy, including external vendor relations and internal systems readiness, to ensure CAFB has the systems to execute FIM work
- Manage the hiring, training, and onboarding of new team members as the program expands, ensuring the right skills and resources are in place to drive program success.
- Oversee the day-to-day operations and management of the payor partnership pilots and programs, ensuring effective execution of pilots and full-scale program delivery.
- Establish and oversee reporting and evaluation structures for the FIM program, including key performance indicators (KPIs), health outcomes, cost savings, and member engagement metrics.
- Provide overall program leadership to ensure that the FIM strategy and execution are aligned across Provider Pilots, Operations, and Advocacy.
- Develop recommendations on future FIM structure (e.g., role of a new entity) and further systems efforts.
- Manage the formation of a Food is Medicine Advisory Board that will guide CAFB’s FIM strategy and provide strategic connections within the business community.
- Serve as the primary external spokesperson for the Food is Medicine program with insurance companies, advocating for the integration of food-based interventions into healthcare systems.
- Coordinate with the Director of Advocacy to develop and implement an advocacy strategy to influence policy and raise awareness about the impact of food-based health solutions at regional and national levels.
- Build partnerships with community organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions to promote the Food is Medicine initiative and share best practices.
- Represent the organization at conferences, thought leadership events, and in media opportunities to position the FIM program as a leader in the field.
- Research and stay informed about trends in the Food is Medicine field, including emerging models and best practices for integrating nutrition into healthcare.
- Lead the development of new program components or initiatives that enhance the program’s effectiveness, scalability, and impact on health outcomes.
- Contribute to the organization’s public presence by sharing innovative ideas, research findings, and results with stakeholders, both internally and externally.
First 6 Months:
- Build relationships with healthcare payors and secure at least one pilot reimbursement agreement.
- Develop initial program materials, proposals, and outcome metrics.
- Initiate path to HIPAA compliance as needed to prepare for initial pilots.
- Position CAFB as a “go to” partner in the FIM space
- Develop the business plan for the CAFB FIM work that sizes the market over the next five years and prioritizes key partnerships, scale overtime, operational and system requirements.
- Identify partners – beyond philanthropy – in impact investing or VC we can approach and interest.
- Secure additional payor partnerships, expanding FIM program reach to at least two payor-reimbursed pilots, ideally more
- Launch and manage the first FIM pilot program with a healthcare payor, focusing on health outcomes and cost savings.
- Monitor and evaluate pilot performance, making adjustments as needed.
- Secure additional payor partnerships, expanding FIM program reach to at least three payor-reimbursed pilots.
- Refine operational processes and tracking systems for broader program delivery.
- Lead the development of program budgets and implement data-driven evaluations of program success.
- Secure additional payor partnerships, expanding FIM program reach to at least four payor-reimbursed pilots.
- Turn at least one of the initial pilots into a fully-fledged, multi-year partnership with a path to scale.
- Lead the full-scale expansion of the FIM program, managing all aspects of strategy, operations, and partnerships
Position Requirements:
- 12 years of experience in healthcare, public health, or a related sector, with a strong track record of business development and securing healthcare contracts.
- Proven experience in negotiating with healthcare payors.
- 12 years managing cross-functional teams and leading large-scale initiatives.
- Experience with developing pitch decks, securing investment through multiple revenue models
- A strong commitment to the mission of the CAFB.
- Strong understanding of healthcare systems, including payors, providers, and the role of social determinants of health in patient outcomes.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas to diverse audiences.
- Strong analytical and data-driven mindset, with experience measuring program impact and return on investment (ROI).
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strategic partnerships, particularly with healthcare organizations and policymakers.
- Exceptional leadership skills, with experience in team development and mentoring.
- Ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and compliance requirements.
- Physical activities involve sitting for 80% of the workday.
- Rarely, the ability to travel to sites as needed throughout the metropolitan area.
- Normal business office, with frequent tight deadlines.
We Offer: At Capital Area Food Bank, we understand that great people make a great organization. We value our people and offer employees a broad range of benefits including competitive compensation and benefits, free onsite parking, complimentary shuttle to metro, professional development, growth, and volunteer opportunities, fun work in a diverse environment.
Application Process:
- Interested applicants must submit a cover letter and resume. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Capital Area Food Bank welcomes and supports a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are committed to equal employment opportunities (EEO) for all applicants seeking employment and for all our employees. CAFB makes employment decisions based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, personal appearance, military status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political affiliation, educational status, unemployment status, place of residence or business, source of income, reproductive health decision making or any other characteristic protected by law. Additionally, harassment or discrimination based on these characteristics will not be tolerated at CAFB. To perform the essential functions of this position, reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities.
