Director, Central Brooklyn Food Co-op

About the Central Brooklyn Food Coop

The Central Brooklyn Food Coop (CBFC) was first organized in 2012 to ensure access to

affordable and fresh food for Black, long-term residents of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown

Heights and the surrounding Central Brooklyn area. By centering local Black leadership in the

improvement of local food options, CBFC reclaims the power of food to build a democratic

community institution that is welcoming, self-affirming, and cooperatively-led.

Towards this end, CBFC is working to establish a 100% working member-owned-and-operated

food store with membership open to all. Alongside our partners within the Central Brooklyn

Food Democracy Project, CBFC won a groundbreaking bid (Steps of Saratoga) with the City

of New York to open a retail location in Ocean Hill/Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn on the ground floor of a

mixed-use (commercial and residential units) development projected to open in early 2029.

Position Summary

CBFC is seeking a skilled and high functioning manager-organizer to work closely with the

CBFC leadership and membership to fulfill and execute their collective vision to open a retail

food cooperative. The CBFC Director will coordinate essential aspects of the initiative,

empower members, and facilitate partnerships with allied organizations and stakeholders.

This position is time-limited. It will last until the opening of the retail store, which will be a

minimum of two years. By serving as a bridge between current organizing efforts and the store

opening, this position offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting, transformative impact on

food justice and systems building, neighborhood economic development, and Black

self-determination.

Responsibilities

Membership Organizing and Team Building

Lead collaboration with coop leadership to schedule, convene and set agendas for board, committee, and membership meetings; staff and guide the development of high functioning member-led committees.

• Lead the recruitment, onboarding and training of cooperative members; maintain accurate CBFC membership roll and records.
• Guide members in taking on responsibilities, developing leadership skills and owning their power through participation in the CBFC.
• Lead the hiring of any additional staff and/or consultants; supervise and manage any additional staff and/or consultants including current strategic planning consultant and a bookkeeper.
• Support the planning of membership events and activities.

Financial Management and Fundraising

Work with the board, business strategy committee and fiscal consultants, within established fiscal management controls, to:

• Propose an organizational budget and guide adherence to it; monitor project expenses and ensure compliance with funding requirements.
• Manage accounts payable and receivable.
• Maintain accurate financial records.
• Manage relationships with fiscal sponsor and bookkeeping contractor.
• Leverage resources and financial opportunities for CBFC; lead grant writing and fundraising activities.

Operational and Project Management

• Manage the day-to-day operational functions with Board support and direction leading up to the opening of the food cooperative retail store; coordinate project activities, ensuring adherence to the established plan and timeline.
• Coordinate logistics for cooperative meetings, training sessions, and operational activities.
• Lead the development of operational procedures, policies, and guidelines in preparation for the opening of the food cooperative retail store.
• Participate in Steps of Saratoga (site for 2029 store opening) planning process;
• support CBFC leadership and members in the planning and implementation of the store design and construction.
• Coordinate an orderly hand-off of responsibilities and orderly transition to Food Co-op General Manager, when hired.

Strategic Planning

• Manage the relationship and contract with CBFC’s strategic planning consultant, blakQuity.
  • Participate in strategic planning and implementation team sessions; guide the fulfillment of milestones and deliverables based on the timeline established through the strategic planning process;
  • Collaborate with the CBFC Board, implementation team and CBFC general membership to set project goals, objectives, and key performance indicators (KPIs).

Reporting and Evaluation

• Prepare regular progress reports (activity documentation and project/goal tracking) and updates for internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead evaluation of activity effectiveness.
• Identify areas for improvement and recommend adjustments to project strategies and implementation.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in these roles or their equivalent:
• executive management and supervision;
• membership development and/or organizational base-building;
• Event and project coordination;
• fiscal management.
• Understanding of cooperative/solidarity economy models and philosophy.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with stakeholders.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with excellent time management skills.
• Proficiency in project management tools and software.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a volunteer-led environment.
• Commitment to Black liberation, social justice, equity, and the empowerment of racially and economically oppressed communities.
  • Preferred, but not required:
  • Familiarity with Central Brooklyn’'s historical, cultural, and socioeconomic context.
  • Familiarity with the building of food systems and cooperative economics.

Hiring Process and Work Environment

Work Culture and Expectations

Remote work with occasional in-person meetings; flexible 37.5 hour per week work schedule with ability to work weekdays, weeknights and/or weekends when necessary.

Supervision

This position will be supervised by the CBFC Board of Directors. The CBFC is a fiscally-sponsored and incorporated under New York State cooperative law.

Benefits include a $500 per month health stipend, a one-time $250 remote work stipend, and paid time off. Please note that this is a grant-funded role. We abide by EEOC laws.

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