VP, Food & Benefits Access

United Way of New York City•New York, NY

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Chief Impact Officer, the Vice President is responsible for strategic direction, management, and implementation of UWNYC’s Food and Benefits Access portfolio of legacy programs, collaborative efforts, and cross-sectoral initiatives. This includes foundational programs Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP), Nourish NY, Food Support Connections (FSC), and emerging food security initiatives including our food is medicine initiative “Connect2Food” and partnerships to increase access to the 11115 Medicaid Waiver. This position requires knowledge and experience in food systems and public health, as well as respect for community-based work and the emergency food network. Along with developing and managing FBA initiatives, the VP develops and manages strategic partnerships with government, funders, and other external stakeholders to drive system change. The VP is responsible for leading and managing the Food and Benefits Access team including UWNYC staff, temporary employees, and consultants. They will ensure the sound financial management of the unit ensuring budgets are within guidelines and in compliance with contracts. The VP participates in fundraising, resource development, and promotion of Food and Benefits Access initiatives with the support of Resource Development and the Marketing and Communications teams by informing messaging and serving as a key UWNYC spokesperson and thought leader.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Nutrition Science, Social Work, Public Health, Public Policy or a related field preferred.
Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible positions in public health, community nutrition, public benefits enrollment, or related social services field
Strategic program planning, management, and evaluation, including government grant administration and financial management
Facilitation and management of cross-sectoral initiatives
People management
In-depth knowledge of public health nutrition, social determinants of health, structural racism and other systemic barriers that contribute to food and financial insecurity.
Excellent writing, editing, verbal, and presentation skills
Innovative thinker, with a track record for translating strategic thinking into action plans and results
Experience using population and program data to inform strategic and programmatic decisions
Demonstrated experience building, leading, and mentoring a team, both internal and external
Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills
Superior management skills, including the ability to advocate for and manage to budget priorities
Presence and confidence to project credibility to community partners, the Board, ELT, and other strategic stakeholders
A passion for UWNYC’s mission, vision, and accomplishments
Equity Mindset
Network Mindset
Learning Mindset
Applies appropriate strategic logic to decisions and initiatives.
Identifies efforts that will have the greatest strategic impact.
Fosters a sense of teamwork, leverages differences, and facilitates the effective interaction and contribution of others to achieve goals.
Ensures the availability and development of the talent needed to meet current and future organizational goals.
Articulates and inspires commitment to a plan of action aligned with organizational mission and goals.
Gains the confidence and trust of others through principled leadership and sound business ethics.
Champions new ideas and initiatives and creates an environment that supports innovation.
Ensures the delivery of exceptional service and value to the communities we serve.
Successful Completion of a Background check

Responsibilities

In partnership with SVP for Community Impact, the VP of FBA sets strategic direction for FBA initiatives to ensure well-designed, implemented, and resourced programs and strategies.
The VP also plays a key strategic leadership role within the Community Impact department, cross-functionally with their internal peers in the Community Impact Department (Education Equity, Health Equity, and Justice and Opportunity) as well as Government Relations and Advocacy, Marketing & Communications and Resource Development.
The VP will also serve as an ambassador for FBA and UWNYC with external stakeholders and peers including the Policy Committee on NYC Hunger Resources, the Consortium, with community partners, and corporate, philanthropic, and government funders.
Lead scoping activities and conduct landscape analyses to identify gaps and opportunities, establishing clear priorities and a strategic roadmap for the Health Equity portfolio.
Craft and communicate a cohesive vision for FBA initiatives, leveraging UWNYC’s organizational strengths to address unmet needs in food and benefits access programming.
Build and manage high-impact partnerships with external stakeholders, including the Consortium, as well as corporate sponsors, government agencies, philanthropic institutions, academic entities, food systems and public health organizations, and policymakers, to advance shared goals.
Serve as chair and convene the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) Local Board and UWNYC’s Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Program (HPNAP) Advisory Committee, and represent UWNYC on the Policy Committee on NYC Hunger Resources.
Collaborate across UWNYC’s initiatives to address interconnected drivers of poverty, ensuring alignment with broader organizational goals to improve outcomes for families and children in communities facing systemic inequities.
Engage directly with community members and CBO leaders to elevate lived experiences, ensuring that food and benefits strategies are responsive, inclusive, and community-driven.
Position UWNYC as a thought leader by contributing to public conversations on emergency food and benefits, advocating for systemic change, and inspiring collective action to eliminate disparities in access.
The VP will collaborate with team leaders to design and implement programs and strategies to meet strategic unit goals and align with cross sector initiatives, including prioritizing support in under resourced neighborhoods.
The VP will provide visionary leadership in building and managing a high-performing team dedicated to advancing the goals of the FBA unit.
The VP will foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability, ensuring that the team is empowered to meet clear performance goals while delivering impactful programs.
The VP will also work closely with cross-functional teams, external partners, and consultants to ensure strategic alignment and seamless execution of FBA initiatives.
Guide an experienced, dynamic team in the execution of existing FBA program initiatives and imagining of expanded and new work areas.
The VP will ensure that team roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and aligned with both the unit’s and the organization’s broader objectives.
Collaborate with leaders across the organization to operationalize the vision of the FBA unit. The VP will foster collaboration across departments to maximize collective impact.
Cultivate strong relationships with external partners and consultants to conduct landscape analyses, identify strategic priorities, and support the development of innovative, high-impact programs.
Work with the Human Capital team to assess the skills needed to support the FBA unit’s goals, creating clear job descriptions and recruiting top talent.
The VP will also ensure the team has the resources and training necessary to excel in their roles and meet evolving needs.
Create a supportive and empowering environment where staff are aligned with the FBA unit’s objectives and equipped to execute clearly defined performance goals.
This will include ongoing support and professional development opportunities to help staff achieve excellence in their roles.
The VP will lead the development, implementation, and scaling of high-impact programs and strategies that advance the unit’s goals and align with cross-sector initiatives.
The VP will oversee a portfolio of initiatives designed to address access to food, shelter, and nutrition benefits, including access to emergency food and access to SNAP benefits, and leverage the strength of UWNYC’s networks to drive measurable outcomes.
Provide strategic direction for FBA portfolio of food access programs, including annual grant allocation processes, reporting and management forHunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP), Nourish NY, Food Support Connections, and Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP)
Aligning with the UWNYC strategic plan and broader political and social contexts, develop and adapt program delivery to enhance efficacy.
Develop program performance measures in line with UWNYC’s Results-Based Accountability (RBA) approach, funding requirements, and strategic goals, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Oversee the shared FeedNYC data system and development of new systems and tools to collect, analyze, and use data to guide program activities, evaluate outcomes, and inform decision-making.
Lead FBA in providing technical assistance and capacity-building support to emergency food providers and community-based organizations, equipping them with the tools and resources needed to deliver sustainable and effective programs.
Generate content for funder reports, strategic documents, and other communications to highlight program successes, challenges, and opportunities for growth.
Leverage lessons learned from existing programs to inform the design and implementation of new FBA initiatives, ensuring alignment with community needs and organizational priorities.
The VP of FBA will be expected to inspire the trust and confidence of others on the Community Impact team, in the organization, and from the Board and stakeholder organizations with whom the person interacts.
The position requires the ability to lead and collaborate with a diverse team of professionals, including direct reports, peers within the Department, cross-functionally, externally with collaboration partners, including members of the Policy Committee on NYC Hunger Resources, and with our community partners and community members.
Build strong relationships with internal teams, community partners, and external stakeholders by embodying UWNYC’s core values of Collaboration, Compassion, Integrity, Accountability, and Superior Performance.
Guide staff and stakeholders with a clear vision, ensuring alignment and commitment to achieving FBA goals.
The VP will lead by example, setting high standards for performance while maintaining an inclusive and transparent approach to leadership.
Consistently uphold and model the organization’s core values in all interactions, both internal and external, ensuring that these principles are reflected in the unit’s work and culture.
Lead and collaborate with diverse teams, including UWNYC staff and leadership, external consultants, community partners, and other stakeholders, fostering an environment of mutual respect, shared accountability, and strategic alignment.