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Nonprofit
Vice President of Programs
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Description
Ballard Food Bank’s mission is to bring food and hope to our neighbors because there can be enough for everyone. To achieve our mission, we provide access to nutritious foods through our grocery model food bank, Kindness Café, and Community Resource Hub, which encompasses financial resources, referral, and mail services that support self-sufficiency. We also advocate for food equity and justice. Our new home, which opened in October 2021, serves as a Hub for Hope as it brings together food, services, and community partners in a one-stop shop. The Ballard Food Bank actively strives to be an anti-racist organization and promotes the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in its work.
Position summary:
Ballard Food Bank is looking for a Vice President of Programs to lead our food access and community resource initiatives. Reporting to the Executive Director and serving on the Leadership Team, this new role oversees our programs including our Community Market, Home Delivery, Weekend Food for Kids, Kindness Café, and our Community Resource Hub.
Our VP of Programs will drive program strategy, impact evaluation, and team development, ensuring high-quality, equitable services that reflect our mission and values. This leader will foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and community-centered care.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership
- Lead the implementation of a holistic program strategy that aligns with our mission, strategic plan, and community need.
- Translate strategic plans into actionable program goals.
- Embed principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in all programs.
- Represent Ballard Food Bank with community and coalition partnerships to advocate for policies, programs, and systems that work to address the root causes of poverty and food insecurity.
- Partner with the VP of Development and Communications to shape fundraising strategies and engage new public and private funders.
- Cultivate strategic partnerships that expand access to food and community resources.
Program Oversight
- Oversee program budgets ensuring fiscal responsibility and effective stewardship of resources.
- Lead and align all program areas for maximum impact.
- Support Program Managers in team management, program development, and operations.
- Provide guidance on effective volunteer management, training, policies, and operations.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory and funding requirements.
Team Management
- Lead and coach Program teams, providing regular feedback to support their performance and growth.
- Design a scalable team structure that supports clarity, collaboration, and future expansion.
- Ensure hiring and management practices are consistent and aligned with BFB’s values.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement through goal-setting, feedback, evaluation, and shared learning.
Impact & Evaluation
- Develop and implement impact assessments to evaluate program success and inform strategic improvements.
- Use data to inform decisions, improve services, and communicate impact.
- Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders on grant reporting and funder engagement
Skills/Qualifications:
- Demonstrated commitment to BFB’s core values, with an equity-centered leadership approach.
- Strategic, accessible leadership style that builds trust across diverse teams and community partners.
- Ability to structure and scale teams for growth, fostering a culture of care, accountability, and collaboration.
- Significant experience leading nonprofit programs, with a track record of managing budgets, teams, and compliance.
- Vision and ability to elevate programs—designing, refining, and expanding services to meet evolving community needs.
- Background in social services or direct-service work, with familiarity in trauma-informed care and de-escalation practices.
- Ability to align program department goals with BFB’s strategic plan and organizational priorities.
- Skilled in managing contracts, grants, and reporting with strategic and operational insight.
- Strong judgment and cross-cultural competence in navigating a variety of situations.
- Proficiency in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Ukrainian, or Russian a plus
Equal Opportunity Employment: Ballard Food Bank is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to cultivate a staff team that reflects the rich diversity of our community. We value a team that is vibrant, inclusive and offers a place of belonging. Applicants representing the diversity of our communities including, people of color, people with disabilities, people with lived experience, and people of diverse sexual orientations and gender expressions are encouraged to apply.
Benefits
The starting range for this position is $135,000-155,000 per year. Ballard Food Bank provides a comprehensive benefits package including but not restricted to: Medical, dental and vision benefits; employer-matched Simple IRA; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
Level of Language Proficiency
Proficiency in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Ukrainian, or Russian a plus.
Location
How to Apply
How to apply:
Please answer the following questions then submit your responses, along with your resume and cover letter, to careers@ballardfoodbank.org with Vice President of Programs in the subject line. The position is open and posted until filled, with priority given to applications received prior to October 6th, 2025.
Please address the following questions within your cover letter:
- Please briefly outline the largest Program team you've led. Include the team’s scope and how you approached developing its structure and people.
- Below are Ballard Food Bank’s core values. Please share which of these values resonates with you the most and why.
- Access to food is a human right, as is access to housing, education, and healthcare. Lack of access to these fundamental rights is a direct result of systemic racism and other systemic injustices that lead to poverty.
- Every individual is worthy of respect, and we value each person’s dignity, worth, and lived experience.
- We commit to centering relationships and meeting people where they are in the moment.
- We strive to create a welcoming, intentionally inclusive environment.
- We seek to include perspectives, input, and guidance from the people we serve.
- Healthy, culturally appropriate food is critical to our community’s wellbeing.
- We are stewards of the land. We aim to minimize our environmental footprint, promote sustainability, and support local farmers and communities to grow their own food.
