Executive Director

Table to Table

Executive Director

Job Description

Table to Table, as the first and most successful fresh food rescue program in the State of New Jersey, is seeking a highly strategic, creative, entrepreneurial, and growth-driven leader with the management capabilities and fundraising prowess to become its next Executive Director.

Background:
Table to Table is a community-based fresh food rescue program that collects prepared and perishable food that would otherwise be wasted and delivers it to organizations that serve hungry people in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Passaic Counties in New Jersey.

Founded in 1999, Table to Table partners with about 200 donors (e.g., supermarkets, distributors, food delivery services, and restaurants) to recover food and deliver it, free of charge, to over 250 community organizations – including soup kitchens, homeless shelters, after-school programs, senior adult programs, and through fresh produce markets and distribution hubs. Table to Table operates a fleet of refrigerated trucks, and a newly launched App program, for the daily pick-up and delivery of enough fresh food to have provided over 38 million meals in 2021 for less than 10 cents per meal.

Food insecurity, a disproportionate problem in areas of northern NJ, was exacerbated by Covid-19. Now in its aftermath, high rates of inflation, cessation of benefits and employment issues suggest that food insecurity will remain higher than its 2019 low for a good portion of the next 10 years. In the 4 counties served by Table to Table, an average 14 percent of the households are food insecure and struggle to find enough food.

Table to Table takes no government money and relies solely on its own efforts to raise the funds needed for its 501(c)(3) nonprofit operation with the support of individuals, corporations, foundations and major fundraising events.

Located in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, Table to Table has a $2 million dollar operating budget. The charity is supported by a staff of 18 and an active, evolving, all-volunteer 12-member Board of Trustees.

Table to Table’s success is well recognized. They are proud to have maintained their Charity Navigator 4-Star rating for thirteen consecutive years, and rank as one of the highest human services programs in the entire state as 98 percent of funds raised go toward food deliveries. In addition, they have been acknowledged by the GuideStar Exchange as a Platinum Level Participant Agency – a highly prestigious rating for registered nonprofits in the country.

Position:
The Board of Trustees seeks a high-energy, accomplished professional as Executive Director to lead, manage, and raise philanthropic funds. Reporting to the Executive Committee, the successful candidate will be the public face of the organization, and will have a dynamic, can-do personality with a long list of accomplishments to their credit. They will be a skilled, talented executive with a proven record of successes in leading an organization, engaging and inspiring the community, and raising funds. Importantly, this person must be prepared to “do whatever it takes” to ensure the job gets done successfully. This will be accomplished through superior team-building and excellent relationship skills.

The Board seeks a new leader who not only embraces the history, past performance, and positive culture, but also expands on the organizational reach to meet the ever-increasing demand for hunger relief. The position requires a strong commitment to the role of community-based nonprofit organizations as agents of positive community change as well as an understanding of, and appreciation for, other key public and private partners who can offer additional resources to this work.

Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills are critical. The ED must be comfortable and tactful in communicating with the individuals who benefit from Table to Table’s work as well as with corporate executives, local business leaders, elected officials, public agency administrators, funders, and the community. They must be able to work closely with the Board and staff in a transparent, honest fashion that promotes inclusiveness, cooperation, and teamwork. In addition, they will be bright, diplomatic, analytical, creative, of the highest integrity, and possess sound judgment as well as a sense of humor, humility, and compassion.

Responsibilities:

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT:

• Ensure programmatic excellence, rigorous program evaluation and consistent quality of finance and administration, fundraising, communications and systems;
• Working closely with the Board of Trustees, set aggressive but achievable annual and long- term goals and objectives for the organization;
• Manage resources, staff, and logistics to ensure operational success;
• Embody and promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion both internally and externally;
• Balance objectives and resources both internally and externally to sustain, strengthen, and grow the organization;
• Identify potential risks and opportunities within the organization and its environment to promote and protect the interests of the organization;
• Provide policy, planning, and governance information to the Board, assist in the selection and evaluation of Board members and provide support for quarterly Board meetings;
• Prepare the annual budget and submit to the Board for review and approval;
• “Own” the fundraising budget and effectively present relevant information and updates to the Board of Trustees;
• Prudently manage resources to meet budgeted targets and make timely reports for the Board with tracking information and projections that would lead to effective decision- making;
• Guide the course of action with operations staff and challenge all staff and volunteers to exceed annual goals.

FUNDRAISING:

• Execute fundraising activities that are clear in their objectives, measurable in their impact, and reach a diverse audience;
• Supervise and work closely with the Development team to identify, cultivate, and bring new revenue sources into the organization;
• Employ a keenly developed level of interpersonal skills to enable the highest level of positive interaction with corporate contacts and sponsors;
• Manage all grant writing efforts by working closely with staff to research corporate, foundation, and individual funders that have an interest in supporting the mission. Assist in the preparation of grant proposals and oversee the tracking and requirements associated with grant allocations;
• Strengthen existing relationships with current corporate and foundation donors; identify prospective institutional funders and establish and cultivate relationships;
• Identify and cultivate new major individual donors and funders to achieve continued revenue growth; strengthen relationships with existing donors to further their commitment to the organization;
• Strengthen the web-based donor records system;
• Continue to grow a strong brand that positions Table to Table as Northern New Jersey’s premiere private human service organization and as a national hunger relief pioneer.

Qualifications:

• A minimum baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; advanced degree preferred.
• Strong management skills and team leadership experience, including the ability to manage and coach team members, while establishing individual accountability within a collaborative, goal-driven environment.
• An organized and strategic approach to management and development with at least 10 years of professional success in a complex, sophisticated, high-profile, business-driven nonprofit organization, including at least several years in a leadership position.
• A proven track record expanding and cultivating donor relationships long term, including the ability to personally solicit and close significant gifts and to empower others within the charity to do so as well.
• Outstanding communication skills – both verbal and written – with the ability to make passionate public presentations representing the organization and the compelling composition of final form documents as required to engage funding sources and “sell” the mission.
• A record of success in organizing and implementing diverse fundraising strategies, adhering to financial goals, analyzing and identifying problems, and formulating creative solutions.
• Ability to communicate effectively and influence and engage a wide range of individuals; must have a desire to work in a team-based, collaborative environment and be able to engage productively with the staff, Board of Trustees, and outside constituencies; ability to employ social networking and new media techniques to reach donors, and craft programs and materials to engage donors.
• Strong entrepreneurial spirit and ability to thrive in a small organization with limited resources.
• Committed to the values and mission of the organization; a caring leader with humility, modesty, honesty, grace, and integrity driven to help others with dedication, enthusiasm, and a high level of energy.
• A sophisticated, confident, intelligent, and articulate self-starter who is creative and entrepreneurial, yet collaborative and team-oriented; persuasive, persistent, diplomatic, discrete, and politically savvy.
• A strategic thinker and trustworthy colleague with impeccable judgment whose advice will be sought and respected.
• Energetic and willing to work hands-on in developing and executing a variety of organizational strategies from the day-to-day to the highly creative and unusual.
• An individual with strong leadership skills, including the capacity to inspire teamwork, build consensus, and motivate a wide variety of stakeholders; able to develop successful working relations with the Board of Trustees and high-end donors specifically.
• Poised under pressure; one who enjoys working on multiple projects in a changing environment.
• Flexible and well organized, with appropriate attention to details and the skills to plan, prioritize, and follow through.
• An individual who is familiar with the northern New Jersey area.

Expected compensation is in the $180,000 to $200,000 range.

All positions at Table to Table are filled without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, HIV/AIDS status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. All are encouraged to apply.

For more information about Table to Table, please visit their website at www.tabletotable.org

To Apply:

Table to Table has retained the services of Harris Rand Lusk to conduct this search. Inquiries, nominations and applications may be directed in confidence to:

Anne McCarthy, COO
Harris Rand Lusk
260 Madison Avenue, 15thFloor
New York, NY 10016

www.harrisrand.com

Please put “T2T ED” in the subject line of your emailed application.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $180,000.00 - $200,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Saddle Brook, NJ 07663: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Experience:

• Professional Leadership: 10 years (Preferred)
• Fundraising: 5 years (Preferred)
• Logistics: 3 years (Preferred)
• Nonprofit management: 5 years (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $180,000 - $200,000