Senior Manager, Upward Mobility

CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK•Washington, DC

2d•$86,300 - $116,800•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager of Upward Mobility manages and grows the Capital Area Food Bank’s 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 intends to serve twice as many students over the next three years, and this role is central to that growth. The position combines rigorous program management with partnership development and resource cultivation, working with college and university leaders, employers, public-sector stakeholders, the Development team, community partners, and the Deputy Chief. It also designs and tests innovative student food-access models while preserving program impact. The Senior Manager is responsible for partnerships and resource development, innovation and scale, thought leadership, program management and oversight, and team leadership. The role manages partner relationships and program outcomes, oversees program design and implementation, grants, reporting, evaluation, and student supports, and supervises and develops a Specialist. The Senior Manager also represents CAFB through conference presentations and publications, monitors field trends, and communicates recommendations and results to internal and external audiences, including senior leadership and the Board.

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 and 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 planning 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 ranging from frontline staff to executives and Board members.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, including the ability to develop polished analyses and presentations.
Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the 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.
Demonstrated ability to identify overlapping interests and workstreams and bring internal and external teams together.
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.
Experience identifying public-sector grant opportunities in workforce development or higher education.

Responsibilities

Serve as primary relationship manager for college and university partners, understanding their priorities and working through institutional processes to advance shared goals.
Keep stakeholders engaged, share program impact data, and celebrate partnership successes.
Engage educational institutions to deepen their investment through operational budgets, foundations, 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 support student success.
Participate in discussions among employers, educational institutions, and public agencies, and prepare for and help lead strategic conversations with senior decisionmakers.
Design and test innovative student food-access models that preserve impact and use CAFB’s economies of scale.
Develop strategic frameworks, business cases, goals, milestones, and recommendations to guide new and existing initiatives and support the goal of serving twice as many students within three years.
Analyze program performance and recommend refinement, investment, scaling, or discontinuation; guide portfolio growth and institutionalization through sustainable funding, operating practices, and demonstrated outcomes.
Own program evaluation, including developing evaluation strategies, leading data collection, analyzing findings, and assessing effectiveness, outcomes, and potential for scale.
Represent CAFB at conferences and in coalitions, author publications based on program data and evaluation, and monitor trends in higher education basic needs and workforce development.
Manage the design and implementation of programming 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 aligned with priorities set by the Deputy Chief and organizational leadership.
Develop, negotiate, and coordinate execution of partner MOUs; 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 briefings and presentations communicating progress and results to leadership, the Board, partners, and funders.
Supervise and develop the 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.