Retail Rescue Manager

Second Harvest Heartland•Brooklyn Park, MN

5d•$77,355 - $85,283•Onsite

About The Position

The Retail Rescue Manager leads the operations of Second Harvest Heartland’s Retail Rescue program, reporting to the Vice President of Sourcing and Demand Planning. This role oversees a program responsible for approximately 48 million pounds of donated food annually across 41 counties. It ensures donations are safely sourced, allocated, transported, and recorded in alignment with Feeding America food safety requirements, donor and partner expectations, and Sourcing & Demand Planning goals. This position leads and supports a team of four Retail Rescue Specialists and strengthens program execution across more than 600 retail locations and approximately 170 agency partners. The role advances donor stewardship, supports agency partner success, resolves operational barriers, and coordinates cross-functional work to keep the program safe, reliable, compliant, and responsive. The role also supports food rescue efforts at two affiliated Wisconsin food banks by sharing Feeding America updates, facilitating connection points, and helping troubleshoot program tools and processes.

Requirements

Relevant experience may include work, education, transferable skills, volunteer experience, and military service.
Food safety certification or ability to obtain certification.
Experience in donation account management, partner relationship management, consultative sales, food sourcing, or a related area.
Strong customer service skills, including responsive, tactful, and professional communication by phone, in person, and in writing.
Ability to work effectively with a wide variety of people, partners, and communities.
Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and support a team toward shared goals.
Ability to set priorities, manage multiple responsibilities, and work independently.
Ability to establish and improve processes that help Second Harvest Heartland better serve donors and agency partners.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and related business systems; experience with Navision preferred.
Ability to use current technology to communicate, collaborate, build teams, and provide excellent customer service.
Ability to support cross-network partners through clear communication, coaching, troubleshooting technology, and shared learning opportunities.

Nice To Haves

Experience with retail donation programs and nonprofit operations preferred.

Responsibilities

Stay informed of current Feeding America requirements and 170(e)(3) regulatory standards related to Retail Rescue.
Ensure Retail Rescue Agency Partnership Agreements reflect current compliance requirements and maintain executed agreements with approximately 170 agency partners.
Analyze monthly Retail Rescue program performance and agency partner donation data, ensuring accurate reporting while identifying opportunities for operational improvements, increased donation flow, and enhanced partner engagement.
Lead training and compliance efforts related to safe food transport, temperature logging, and current Feeding America standards for retail rescue.
Communicate relevant Feeding America updates to internal teams, Retail Rescue Agency Partners, and affiliated Wisconsin food banks to support consistent understanding of program requirements.
Develop short-term solutions and long-range plans to increase Retail Rescue donation volume across 870 store-agency partnerships.
Oversee store-level engagement and solicitation efforts that support consistent donor participation and donation quality.
Monitor donor support needs across the service area to improve donation volume, quality, and consistency.
Implement stewardship approaches in coordination with Development and other relevant internal teams for local and national Feeding America donors.
Identify and address operational barriers that limit donation flow, donor participation, or partner execution.
Coordinate with the Transportation Manager to assess and support special Retail Rescue requests, including transportation capacity, scheduling, and operational feasibility.
Manage the Retail Rescue Agency Partnership Agreement lifecycle, including biennial revisions, partner signature collection, renewals, and terminations as needed.
Coordinate with Partner Operations and Retail Rescue Specialists to identify and onboard new Retail Rescue Agency Partners, developing implementation plans that address partner capacity, resource alignment, and onboarding needs.
Maintain the Retail Rescue Partnership Manual and related resources to support consistent communication of program expectations, escalation paths, and grievance procedures, promoting agency partner success and consistent coaching practices by Retail Rescue Specialists.
Ensure agency partners have access to required training and resources that support the safe transport of Retail Rescue donations across approximately 170 partner sites.
Partner with External Relations and Partner Operations to develop and deliver timely, clear, and accurate communications to Retail Rescue Agency Partners.
Provide direction, coaching, and accountability for Retail Rescue Specialists.
Set clear expectations, monitor progress, and support team members in meeting program requirements.
Maintain a team environment built on trust, two-way communication, and shared accountability.
Address performance strengths and concerns in a timely, fair, and constructive manner.
Identify development opportunities that support team effectiveness and continuity.
Apply organizational policies and procedures consistently, including reviews, compensation, paid time off, contracts, safety, administration, and budgets.
Support fairness and inclusion within team practices, partner interactions, and decision-making.
Serve as a resource to affiliated Wisconsin food banks by providing coaching, knowledge sharing, networking opportunities, and collaborative problem-solving related to Retail Rescue program execution.
Provide guidance and troubleshooting support for Feeding America Retail Rescue platforms, SharePoint resources, and related program tools.