VP of People and Operations

Join Project Bread as the Vice President of People and Operations and combat hunger in Massachusetts with an established organization that is both tackling the urgency of food insecurity caused by the COVID-19 crisis today, and developing lasting solutions to this issue for tomorrow.

Project Bread estimates that 38% of people in Massachusetts may be food insecure, which includes 1 in 6 children, a rate that has risen exponentially since the crisis. In addition to providing immediate relief to those who are hungry today, we also work to prevent and ultimately end hunger by prioritizing programs that are proven to break the cycle of poverty and advocating for systemic solutions.

Before the crisis, Project Bread was poised to implement a bold new strategic plan that would ensure our programs, people, operations, and revenue are high performing elements that together will prevent and end hunger in Massachusetts. A new position, the Vice President of People and Operations, will partner with the President, Erin McAleer, and the Vice Presidents of Programs and Policy and Communications and Development, to ensure Project Bread can both meet the organizational challenges of addressing this crisis and take its place as a change maker for food insecure Massachusetts residents and a thought leader in the anti-hunger movement.

The Role

This position is for an extraordinarily detail-oriented leader for whom no task is too big or too small. The Vice President of People & Operations will succeed when all operational functions—IT, HR, Finance, and Office Management—work together seamlessly to support the high standards and commitment to continuing quality improvement that mark Project Bread’s program and policy efforts. With the support of a small team of both staff and outsourced functions, the Vice President of People and Operations will have the opportunity to develop strategies and systems that make Project Bread’s work more efficient and effective for people in need.

The successful candidate will bring demonstrated success with previous organizational development initiatives, as well as experience in one or more functional areas, preferably Human Relations, but an operational generalist is welcome. We seek candidates with experience in nonprofit leadership during rapid organizational growth; a calm approach with a sense of humor and humility; and a commitment to making Massachusetts a leader in addressing food insecurity.

Responsibilities include:
Serving as a thought partner to the President and senior team in developing systems and policies, navigating internal challenges, and anticipating the resources and support needed for seamless operations.
Contributing to the development of Project Bread’s plans and programs as a strategic partner, focusing on the people and translating the organization’s goals to scale its impact and its commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into measurable plans and practices.
Assuming leadership for outsourced operational functions including Finance, HR, and IT; serving as the primary Project Bread liaison to each; and assessing and adjusting outsourcing to meet the growth and change currently underway and anticipated.
Overseeing the office condominium that Project Bread owns, collaborating with the management company to ensure a safe return to the office as appropriate, and long-term re-imagining the office environment to support an increased staff and more remote work.
As an organizational development leader, assessing Project Bread’s talent management efforts to ensure hiring strategies are strategic and timely, that staffing strategies support Project Bread’s strategic goals, and that every element of human resources reflects and extends the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
As the “glue” between Project Bread’s external face and its internal workings, ensuring that every member of the staff, including the President and the team members answering Hotline calls, has the tools they need to do their job well, whether that be a copy machine that works, reliable phone lines, or the development, from strategy to final execution, of an initiative to bring the best Information Technology solutions to bear on Project Bread’s critical work.
Partnering with Project Bread’s outsourced benefits and human resources consultants to ensure the organization continues to provide competitive benefits for its team, while making the interaction between team members and benefits providers a source of support.
Partnering with Project Bread’s outsourced finance consultant to ensure leadership has accurate, timely, and useful reports, well-run accounting and payroll, and the resources necessary to draft budgets, make projections, and use financial data to make strategic decisions both short and long-term.
Synthesizing the work to date and the implementation to come to make the strategic plan an effective tool for Project Bread to advance its operating model and better accomplish its mission.
Growing a culture, in collaboration with the President, that is employee-oriented, organized around quality and continuous improvement, and reflective of the values, particularly around diversity, equity, and inclusion, that mark Project Bread’s programs and advocacy.
Matching and exceeding the commitment of every Project Bread team member to do what needs to get done—from working the hours necessary, up to and on the day of the Walk for Hunger, for this critical event to succeed; to maintaining needed office supplies or resolving technology glitches; to respecting the fundamental human dignity of every person Project Bread serves.

Qualifications
There are innumerable ways to learn, grow, and excel professionally. We know people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We respect this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. We want to get to know you and the unique strengths you will bring to the work. That said, we are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate the majority of the qualifications and experiences listed below.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; MBA, SHRM certification, or related degree a plus.
• A minimum of 7-10 years of experience, most likely in a high-performing, rapidly growing non-profit organization.
• Demonstrated organizational development success in developing strategies for growth and systems for consistency and quality, perhaps as the leader of human resources or people strategy.
• Comfort with and facility for reviewing balance sheets, considering charts of accounts, and implementing strategies that are financially sound and fiscally responsible.
• A highly fluent consumer of technology who can lead selection and implementation of technology solutions that economically and effectively support the Project Bread team.
• A successful track record in setting priorities as well as keen analytic, organizational and problem-solving skills which support and enable sound decision making.
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• A multitasker who thrives on wearing multiple hats in a fast-paced environment, while knowing when to jump in and when to delegate.
• Enduring commitment to initiatives to reshape societal inequity and make basic human rights, such as food security, available to all.
• Authentic integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of Project Bread, including affirmative work on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• A sense of humor goes a long way!

Compensation and Benefits
Project Bread offers a competitive salary and terrific benefits. These include Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO and Dental, Flexible Spending Accounts, Life and Long-Term Disability, and contributions to T passes and health club membership. Unlimited Paid Time Off. All employees are currently working remotely, and will not return to the office until it is safe to do so.
Project Bread is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, height, weight, or marital status in employment or the provision of services. Knowing its importance to the success of our work, Project Bread is committed to diversity and inclusion, and we aspire to build a diverse staff team and community, including groups that are traditionally underrepresented among our sector leadership. Please indicate if you would like to request special accommodations during the interview process.

To Apply

Carolyn O’Brien Consulting, LLC is supporting Project Bread on this search. Please email a detailed resume and thoughtful cover letter, with a link to your LinkedIn profile to ProjectBread@carolynobrien.org. All files should be in pdf and named (Your Last Name) Resume and (Your Last Name) Cover. All applications will be gratefully received, acknowledged, and reviewed.

More About Project Bread – The Walk for Hunger
Project Bread – The Walk for Hunger is a leading statewide organization committed to ending hunger for Massachusetts residents of all ages. In collaboration with key partners, we deploy a two-pronged approach to achieve this goal:
• Provide immediate relief to those who are hungry today
• Eradicate the systemic causes of hunger
Project Bread is a vibrant organization with a deep commitment to creating positive social change. We work in a fast-paced environment that values learning and an entrepreneurial approach. Knowing its importance to the success of our work, Project Bread is committed to diversity and inclusion, and we aspire to build a diverse staff team and community, including groups that are traditionally underrepresented among our sector leadership. We strongly encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.