Executive Director

The Kearsarge Food Hub (KFH), located in central New Hampshire in what is known as the Kearsarge Region, is a nonprofit that envisions a resilient and connected community where everyone is empowered to access healthy food, where local farmers are supported and the land is nourished, and where all people share a common sense of place.

Our mission is to reinvigorate our community within a restorative local food system by cultivating food sovereignty, growing engaged learners, and nurturing community.

We believe that by effecting change in our food system, we have the power to enliven our shared humanity and meet the most pressing challenges of our time — from hunger to environmental devastation to loneliness.

To meaningfully address these issues, we operate multiple integrated programs including Sweet Beet Farm, Market & Café, alongside our Education, Food Security, and Community Building programs.

Position Overview

The Executive Director (ED) leads KFH in fulfilling its mission and ensuring the organization remains efficient, vibrant, and deeply relevant to the community it serves. As a strategic leader, the ED navigates periods of change with confidence and compassion, and excels at empowering the strong leadership team of the organization.

The Executive Director is responsible for eight Essential Functions, each encompassing a set of core duties and responsibilities that advance this mission.

Essential Functions

• • Strategic Leadership: Develop, implement, and monitor strategic goals that align with KFH’s mission and vision.
  • Organizational & Fiscal Management: Ensure the financial sustainability and operational health of the organization through sound planning, oversight, and accountability.
  • Operational Oversight: Oversee day-to-day operations of our multi-industry programs to ensure they are efficient, effective, mission-aligned, and responsive to the needs of stakeholders.
  • Community Engagement: Cultivate and sustain strong relationships with community members, partners, and volunteers to deepen engagement with KFH's mission.
  • Governance & Team Leadership: Serve as the liaison to the Board of Directors and work closely with the Board chair to ensure that the Board is effective in fulfilling its duties. Oversee, lead, and support the Leadership Team. This position oversees approximately 4-6 full time equivalent employees.
  • Human Resources & Culture: Nurture a healthy, inclusive, and values-driven organizational culture. Oversee human resources functions including hiring, performance management, professional development, and compliance with employment laws and policies. Foster a workplace environment that values equity, accountability, and staff well-being.
  • Advocacy: Represent KFH in policy conversations and advocacy efforts related to local food systems, equity, and sustainability.
  • Fundraising & Development: Provide strategic leadership for fundraising efforts in collaboration with a part-time Development Director. The ED will focus on donor engagement, relationship building, and aligning fundraising activities with the organization’s mission and strategic goals.

Qualifications

To perform this role successfully, an individual must be able to carry out each essential function effectively. The requirements below reflect the knowledge, skills, and values that support success in this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Mission Alignment and Core Values

We seek a candidate who resonates with the vision and mission of the Kearsarge Food Hub and demonstrates alignment with the following values:

• • Inclusive Engagement: We center equity by amplifying access, belonging, and shared power for all neighbors, striving to ensure that all voices are able to shape our work and benefit from it.
  • Collaborative Stewardship: We care for our land, people, and resources by nurturing mutual partnerships, building resilient systems, and committing to long-term impact. We tend to our shared future with integrity and interdependence.
  • Conscientious Innovation: We imagine — and bring into being — bold, necessary change rooted in lived experience, community insight, and thoughtful reflection. Our creativity is grounded in relevance and responsibility.
  • Joyful Renewal: We embrace joy as a source of energy, connection, and cultural rejuvenation — making space to delight in the fruits of our labor and honoring celebration as an essential part of collective flourishing!

Education and Experience

• • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
  • At least four years of relevant leadership experience in nonprofit management, food systems, community development, or a related field.
  • Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.

Team and Culture Building

• • Demonstrated ability to build engaged, collaborative, and high-performing teams.
  • Skilled at aligning team culture with organizational values and mission-driven work.
  • Experience supporting professional development, providing constructive feedback, and fostering a culture of accountability and trust.

Communication and Analytical Skills

• • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and media engagement.
  • Ability to analyze and present complex information clearly, including financial and legal documents.
  • Experience writing grants, strategic plans, or public-facing content is a plus.

Financial and Operational Skills

• • Proficiency in budgeting, financial reporting, and nonprofit financial management.
  • Ability to interpret key financial documents such as profit & loss statements, balance sheets, and revenue projections.
  • Familiarity with Google Workspace, Slack, QuickBooks and CRM/donor management platforms preferred.

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

• • Ability to perform tasks involving movement, including occasional lifting (up to 25 lbs), standing, and light physical activity.
  • Willingness to work across varied environments, including office, farm, market, cafe, and community settings.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided as needed.

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three references to team@kearsargefoodhub.org. While we are accepting applications on a rolling basis, the start date for this position is October 13th.

Statement of Non-Discrimination:

Kearsarge Food Hub believes that one of the great strengths of community is the rich diversity of its residents in race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, age, height, weight, physical or mental disability, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. Kearsarge Food Hub affirms publicly its moral and legal commitment to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination in employment and its practices.