Chief Operating Officer

Community Food Bank of Central Alabama•Birmingham, AL

About The Position

The Chief Operating Officer provides executive leadership over core organizational operations, ensuring efficient, compliant, and scalable systems that support the mission of the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama. The COO oversees logistics, inventory, transportation, facilities, safety, food sourcing, and partner engagement, while driving operational excellence, risk management, and continuous improvement across the organization. As a key member of the Executive Team, the COO serves as a strategic partner to the CEO and provides operational insight and reporting to the Board of Directors, supporting informed decision-making and organizational oversight. The COO will ensure that the Food Bank maintains compliance with all applicable State and Federal laws and Feeding America guidelines. The COO acts as the organization’s director in the absence of the CEO. The COO demonstrates a deep commitment to social impact, ethical leadership, operational integrity, and respect for the dignity of those served. Models’ professionalism, accountability, and preparedness in all leadership responsibilities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
Minimum of five years of progressive leadership experience with demonstrated expertise in strategic planning and operational management
Experience in logistics, supply chain, warehousing, transportation, or large-scale distribution required
Demonstrated experience with data collection, relationship building, reporting and program evaluation
Current SERV Safe Manager’s certification or ability to obtain within 3 months of hire.
Willingness to obtain a forklift certification
Valid driver’s license and good driving record.
Ability to travel throughout service area for meetings.
Commitment to understanding and supporting CFB’s mission and demonstrating compassion and an understanding of food insecurity.
Ability to work with diverse groups of people and maintain a positive attitude, including staff, donors, students, youth, seniors, and developmentally challenged volunteers.
Ability to work independently and exercise discretion, judgment and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day leadership and management to the organization that mirrors the mission and core values of the Food Bank.
Foster a success-oriented, accountable environment within the organization.
Create the structure and processes necessary to manage the department’s current activities and its projected growth, and communicate this through reporting to the Directors, CEO and Board of Directors.
Translate organizational strategy into measurable operational goals, establishing performance metrics and accountability structures to support sustainable growth.
Direct and implement short-term and long-range plans for Operations, Food Sourcing, Volunteer Activity, Partner Engagement, and Facilities based on broad organizational goals and growth objectives.
Evaluate the results of department operations and programs regularly and report these results to the CEO and the Executive Team.
Promote communication and adequate information flow within each of the teams in the department, across the department and the entire organization.
Ensure that all functional activities are carried out in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and laws governing business operations.
Assist the CEO in organizational strategic planning, coordinating policies, procedures, and reports and communicating these to the Board of Directors.
Work with Feeding America to maintain all aspects of the Partner Food Bank Agreement and participate in Feeding America strategic initiatives to strengthen our network.
Work with Feeding Alabama to advance statewide initiatives, including advocacy, shared resources and equitable distribution.
Develop and implement plans for the operational infrastructure of systems, processes, and personnel designed to accommodate the objectives of the organization.
Maintain the organization’s heavy equipment, fleet and related software.
Coordinate efforts for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) for inventory and financial reporting.
Work with the CEO to coordinate data sharing, quarterly progress reports (QPR) and network activity report (NAR) with Feeding America.
Oversee food sourcing, inventory controls, and supply chain systems to ensure food safety, availability, and efficient and equitable distribution aligned with partner needs.
Every two years, create and execute a food sourcing plan; assist in the service area assessment; and work with CEO to form an operational response plan based on community needs.