Senior Manager, Upward Mobility

Capital Area Food Bank•Washington, DC

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager of Upward Mobility advances the Capital Area Food Bank’s mission by managing and expanding a portfolio of programs addressing food insecurity among college students and other populations pursuing economic mobility. The work aims to help students and workers move from food insecurity and low-wage jobs to food security and living-wage careers. CAFB plans to serve twice as many students over the next three years, and the Senior Manager will play a central role in achieving that growth while preserving program impact. The position combines rigorous program management with partnership and resource development. The Senior Manager manages relationships with college and university partners, employers, public-sector stakeholders, funders, and community organizations; develops institutional investment and funding opportunities; and designs and tests innovative student food-access models. The role also oversees program evaluation, data collection and analysis, grant management, reporting, and presentations to leadership, the Board, partners, funders, and public audiences. The Senior Manager represents CAFB in conferences and coalitions and contributes to the field through publications and monitoring emerging practices in higher education basic needs and workforce development. Working closely with the Deputy Chief, Development team, internal colleagues, and external partners, the Senior Manager oversees program design and implementation for college students, workforce development participants, and other populations facing food insecurity, including a small home-delivery pilot. The role supervises and develops a Specialist, who manages day-to-day operations. The position requires sound judgment, strategic and analytical ability, strong relationship-building, and the ability to coordinate complex initiatives across departments and organizational levels.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
At least 6 years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, workforce development, or a related field, working inside or alongside colleges, universities, workforce institutions, or employers.
At least 3 years of supervisory experience, with demonstrated ability to supervise, coach, and develop staff.
Working knowledge of public agencies and programs that fund workforce development or higher education.
Demonstrated track record of building partnerships that produce tangible results, such as grant awards, shared investment, or institutional commitments, and comfort making a compelling case for partnership.
Experience communicating and collaborating effectively with senior leaders, Boards, college and university leaders, public officials, employers, and other high-level stakeholders.
Exceptional program-management skills and attention to detail, including the ability to keep multiple partners and workstreams on track while thinking strategically several years ahead.
Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives from strategy through implementation and evaluation.
Experience with program evaluation, performance measurement, data analysis, or organizational research.
Advanced ability to gather, analyze, and synthesize quantitative and qualitative information and apply strategic frameworks and structured problem-solving to develop recommendations.
Excellent verbal, written, presentation, facilitation, and listening skills, including the ability to distill complex information for audiences from frontline staff to executive leadership and Board members.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, including producing polished analyses and presentations.
Strong organizational and time-management skills and ability to prioritize multiple initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to work independently, anticipate needs, take initiative, exercise sound judgment, and remain open to feedback and continued growth.
Professional presence and strong interpersonal judgment.
Demonstrated ability to identify overlapping interests and workstreams and bring internal and external teams together to coordinate efforts.
Strong commitment to CAFB’s mission.
Sensitivity and demonstrated ability to work effectively and professionally with diverse staff, populations, and communities.
Ability to navigate the DC metro area to underserved communities.
Ability to remain stationary for extended periods, operate a computer and standard office equipment, communicate effectively, move throughout the office as needed, and occasionally lift and carry materials weighing up to 20 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred.
Experience identifying public-sector grant opportunities in workforce development or higher education is a plus.

Responsibilities

Manage and grow CAFB’s Upward Mobility portfolio, with the goal of serving twice as many students within three years.
Serve as the primary relationship manager for college and university partners, understanding their priorities and working through institutional processes to advance shared goals.
Keep partner stakeholders engaged by sharing program-impact data and celebrating successes.
Cultivate increased institutional investment, including operational-budget support, college foundation support, and collaborative fundraising.
Identify private and public-sector funding opportunities and partner with Development on grant proposals, cultivation, and stewardship.
Build employer partnerships and explore mutually beneficial ways for employers to engage with and invest in student success.
Prepare for and help lead strategic conversations with senior institutional and public-sector decisionmakers.
Design and test innovative student food-access models that preserve impact and leverage CAFB’s economies of scale.
Develop strategic frameworks, business cases, goals, milestones, and recommendations for new and existing initiatives.
Analyze program performance and recommend refinement, continued investment, scaling, or discontinuation.
Institutionalize the program through sustainable funding, defined operating practices, and demonstrated outcomes.
Own program evaluation, including evaluation strategies, academic and program data collection, analysis, and assessment of effectiveness and potential for scale.
Represent CAFB at conferences and in coalitions on upward mobility and higher education basic needs.
Author white papers, briefs, and other publications based on program data and evaluation findings.
Monitor trends and emerging practices in higher education basic needs and workforce development and apply insights to CAFB strategy.
Manage design and implementation of programs for college students, workforce development participants, and other populations facing food insecurity, including a small home-delivery pilot.
Coordinate across teams to troubleshoot complex issues and keep programming on track.
Develop, negotiate, and coordinate execution of MOUs with partner organizations and ensure partners meet their commitments.
Advise partners on program design, implementation, evaluation, and best practices.
Oversee disbursement and tracking of student supports such as gift cards, ensuring accuracy, accountability, and compliance.
Oversee grant management, including restricted-grant project management, budgets and expenditures, records, coordination with Finance and Development, and timely funder communications.
Lead program reporting, quarterly reports, partner convenings, and the preparation of briefings, presentations, and recommendations for leadership, the Board, partners, and funders.
Supervise and develop a Specialist by setting priorities, delegating operational work, coaching, providing feedback, supporting professional growth, and ensuring accountability.
Lead or support other high-priority projects and special initiatives assigned by the Deputy Chief.
Navigate the DC metro area to underserved communities.