Senior Director of Food Business Development

The Senior Director of Food Business Development is a key member of the CitySeed leadership team with oversight of programs and services that support food entrepreneurs and culinary professionals, and who will lead program development through a period of expansion. Programs and services include: shared commercial kitchen access; food business advising and coaching; food business and culinary training and education; and Sanctuary Kitchen. This role advances these initiatives’ social and economic impact, efficiency, and cohesion; supports planning and development of a new multi-use food facility at 162 James Street; oversees data management and analysis; manages program grants; participates in advocacy; and supports program fundraising. The Senior Director supervises three full-time and one part-time team members and reports to the Executive Director.

Responsibilities

Program Leadership

• Develop and execute strategic development of food business incubation programs and Sanctuary Kitchen
• Guide planning and development of CitySeed’s new multi-use food facility at 162 James Street
• Cultivate and maintain relationships and partnerships with government, businesses, and community organizations – and identify and build new relationships by leveraging existing networks and with proactive outreach
• Identify and pursue strategic funding opportunities and collaborations to support program growth and sustainability
• Represent CitySeed at community and industry events, in committees and working groups, and at trade shows, associations, and conferences, in order to share resources and advance collaboration
• Guide and nurture mission-focused, collaborative, and accountable program implementation teams
• Design and implement systems for program data tracking and analysis, including annual program goals, KPIs, and work plans, and generate regular data reports
• Develop and monitor annual program budgets, ensuring fiscal responsibility and resource optimization, utilizing a triple-bottom-line approach
• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate staff, contractors, and interns and in accordance with CitySeed’s personnel policies
• Support staff wellness and retention via ongoing investment in skills and leadership development, as well as ensuring appropriate physical infrastructure, equipment, and technology

Food Business Incubation

• Supervise Food Business Incubation Manager and contractors in the planning, implementation, and impact measurement of wraparound support services, including: commercial kitchen management; webinars and workshops; pop-up food halls; one-on-one advising; food product sales pipelines; support for sourcing of local agricultural products; external resource compilation and sharing; food business mentorship; and regular surveys and analysis.
• Serve on planning team for development of multi-use food facility, with responsibility for expanding the network of food businesses utilizing CitySeed services and serving as in-house expert on commercial kitchen operations
• Build working relationships with other food business incubators regionally and nationally

Sanctuary Kitchen Food Service

• Supervise Sanctuary Kitchen Culinary and Program Managers, who oversee day-to-day operations: staffing and scheduling; menu updates and new product lines; sales and marketing; community outreach; inventory and supplies management; regulatory compliance; billing and accounting processes; and budgeting and budget monitoring
• Lead development, implementation, and monitoring of the business plan
• Track and analyze performance data, and design and implement data-informed adjustments to the business model and plan, operational practices, and strategy

Training and Education

• Supervise Director of Culinary Education and consultants to implement a range of training programs including: Food Business Fundamentals, Food Business Accelerator, the Sanctuary Kitchen Culinary Training Program, Food Safety Certification, and food business workshops series
• Guide staff to assess program design, strategy, and data; develop curricula, professional development, mentorship, hands-on learning, and job opportunities; design and implement data-informed program enhancements; and connect graduates with other CitySeed programs, services, and sales outlets
• Work collaboratively with external implementation partners, including reSET and Walden Mutual Bank

Other

• Oversee program grant implementation; lead drafting of narrative reports
• Provide direction to communications staff to guide program messaging and storytelling
• Support ongoing program and organizational fundraising
• Support city, state, and federal advocacy on issues that impact food entrepreneurs
• Participate in meetings and training sessions as required, or as mutually agreed with supervisor
• Perform additional duties as needed

Below are the qualifications required for success in this role. We recognize that experience and expertise come in many forms. If you have different experiences that you think make you a good fit, please apply so we can learn more about you.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in small business support and development, with 2+ years in leadership
• Knowledge of food and beverage markets, trends, and manufacturing requirements
• Strong team and project management abilities, with proven ability to take initiative, prioritize activities, and meet deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams, communicating clearly and effectively with diverse constituencies, negotiating, and building and establishing new relationships
• Experience with and demonstrated acumen for program data tracking, analysis, and reporting
• Ability to work in high-growth, dynamic, and hybrid environments
• Passion for strengthening local food systems and commitment to racial and economic justice

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Culinary, Food Science, or related field
• Food Safety Managers Certification
• Food sector experience such as kitchen management, food manufacturing, and/or commercial kitchen permitting and licensing
• Experience with private and public grants funding, monitoring, and reporting
• Knowledge of CT Department of Consumer Protection and City of New Haven Health

Department requirements for food and beverage businesses

• Understanding of Spanish and/or Arabic
• Familiarity with New Haven’s food system and food businesses