Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is the leading local hunger-relief organization in the state with locations in Milwaukee and Appleton. Founded in 1982 by the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is a local and independent member of the Feeding America network. Driven by our mission to solve hunger, we are bringing more people together around the table to collaboratively address the root causes of hunger. Together with our network partners, we serve nearly half a million food-insecure people across 35 counties in eastern Wisconsin each year.
JOB PURPOSE:
The Food Sourcing Manager is responsible for increasing the volume of free food and food obtained at a low cost by building and maintaining strong relationships across the community, enhancing Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin’s food sourcing and distribution program. This position is directly responsible for researching, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding new and current relationships with farmers, wholesalers, manufacturers, distributors and food service companies. This position requires strong communication skills to conduct meetings and presentations, as well as connecting with current, lapsed, and prospective food donors, vendors, and organizational partners. The Food Sourcing Manager will take initiative, work strategically, and leverage industry relationships to cultivate and grow the sourcing of donated food supplies from throughout the supply chain.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Maintain a portfolio of 125 – 150 major individual donors and prospects by proactively creating and implementing strategies for the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors
- Collaboratively create new methodology and procurement strategies focusing on expanding donor acquisition of large-scale produce and perishable suppliers such as growers, packers, and shippers.
- Establish and maintain relationships within the food industry and position FAEW as the partner of choice.
- Collaborate with cross-functional Inventory Team regarding opportunities and donation details to ensure food donations are properly vetted and provide sufficient value to the community. Act as a liaison between internal team and donors for consistent high-quality outcomes.
- Responsible for food donor recruitment and management, including regular travel and calls across our 35-county footprint to current and potential donors to explain donation processes, benefits, and opportunities.
- Solicit and source donated food products, supplies, and transportation in alignment with the organization’s goals, preferences and principles.
- In collaboration with the Sr. Development Managers, support fundraising efforts by identifying opportunities where financial contributions may complement food donations.
- Maintain accurate food donor records and interpersonal stewardship plans.
- Participate in food and fundraising activities, including major internal and external events that involve food donors.
- Generate statistical reports to analyze food donation trends, communicate poundage goals and needs to donors and report back to internal teams.
- Create a pipeline of unique opportunities for supply partnerships.
- Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams regarding incoming product, internal and external needs, and donor recognition/stewardship.
- Join and actively participate in food-focused networking groups.
- Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Commitment to understand and support FAEW’s mission, vision and effective actions to promote food security and its causes.
- Respect for the people FAEW serves.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or equivalent experience, preferred.
- Five or more years of demonstrated success in purchasing and/or sales, with a background in the food industry, required.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to represent the organization professionally and create positive relationships
- Ability to speak and present in front of individuals, groups, or to media.
- Complete understanding of fund raising, CRM, and/or database software.
- Excellent organizational, critical thinking, analytical, decision making, and interpersonal skills.
- Computer literacy: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and databases.
- Ability to persuade, negotiate, and convince donors to make contributions to the organization.
- Ability to work at a fast pace and handle multiple projects simultaneously.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
- A positive, team-oriented mindset with a “can-do” approach to supporting the organization, demonstrating cross-functional collaboration and a focus on developing solutions.
- Ability to work safely following FAEW safety procedures.
- Demonstrate the ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be open-minded of differing opinions and views.
- Valid Driver’s license, proof of insurance and transportation to support work activities.
- Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and/or hear, and/or use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand, and/or walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds while moving files or small packages. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
Work is performed in an office environment and in community. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual encounter while performing the essential functions of this position.
FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE:
A flexible work schedule at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin (FAEW) benefits both the organization and employees by promoting work-life balance, enhancing productivity, and ensuring team coverage, ultimately leading to a more motivated and efficient workforce, to the extent possible. FAEW may offer this option to employees when it benefits both the organization and the employee. However, our FAEW campuses serve as a critical hub for collaboration and, while we want to embrace flexibility, the need to be in the office or out in the field and working on projects or networking through natural camaraderie, will be expected. This position does have the capacity to engage in a flexible work schedule.
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. FAEW prohibits discrimination against any applicant or employee on the basis of age, race, color, creed, religion, disability, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, arrest or conviction record, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.