ABOUT DC CENTRAL KITCHEN:
DC Central Kitchen (DCCK) is an iconic nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation. Our approach provides hands-on culinary job training while creating living-wage jobs and bringing nutritious, dignified food where it is most needed in our city. We serve scratch-cooked farm-to-school meals in DC schools; deliver fresh, affordable produce to corner stores in neighborhoods without supermarkets; provide delicious catering; and operate fast-casual cafes. Above all else, we are committed to creating a more just, equitable, and inclusive community, both outside our doors and right here on our team. We strive to offer a safe environment to learn, discover and develop individual strengths, and pursue meaningful career pathways. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we recognize and work to address the lasting effects of historic injustices and systemic racism, and we strongly encourage people of color, women, LGBTQ people, returning citizens, and people who have experienced poverty or homelessness to apply to join our team.
DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION:
The Food is Medicine and Healthy Corners Department advances DCCK's efforts to increase access to healthy food through innovative programs, partnerships, and community-based solutions. As DCCK expands its engagement in the Food is Medicine field, the department serves as the organization's in-house source of expertise and technical assistance, helping to identify opportunities, cultivate partnerships, and support the development of nutrition-focused programming across the organization.
Our Healthy Corners program is the country's preeminent model for bringing healthful foods to small corner stores in communities with limited access to supermarkets and other robust retail food options. First launched in 2011, Healthy Corners now delivers affordable fruits and vegetables to 50 small corner stores, provides technical and infrastructure assistance to small business owners seeking to expand their healthy food sales, and operates a SNAP Match nutrition incentive program that empowers low-income shoppers to make healthy choices on limited budgets.
Through Healthy Corners and emerging Food is Medicine efforts, the department works across DCCK and with external partners to provide strategic leadership, subject matter expertise, and operational support for healthy food access and nutrition-focused programs. The department plays a key role in helping DCCK explore new partnerships, funding opportunities, and innovative approaches that connect more residents with healthy foods and supportive programs.
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
The Director of Food is Medicine and Healthy Corners will provide leadership for DC Central Kitchen's Food is Medicine engagement while leading the continued growth and development of the Healthy Corners program as a nationally acclaimed model for sustainable solutions to disparities in food access. By managing a team of dedicated professionals and working collaboratively across the organization, the Director will support more than 50 small business partners in becoming even more robust and reliable access points for fresh and healthful foods.
As DCCK expands its engagement in the Food is Medicine space, the Director will serve as the organization's internal resource and subject matter expert, partnering with other DCCK departments and ventures to navigate evolving policies and opportunities related to the healthcare field, federal benefit programs such as SNAP and WIC, and public sector partnerships with agencies such as DC Health. Through this work, the Director will help identify and advance opportunities that connect more residents with healthy foods and supportive programs while strengthening DCCK's role as a leader in innovative nutrition and food access solutions.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Serve as DCCK's internal resource and subject matter expert on Food is Medicine.
· Identify emerging opportunities, share best practices, connect DCCK with relevant networks and partners, and support compliance with applicable policies and program requirements as DCCK expands its engagement in the Food is Medicine field through initiatives such as an affordable produce market, partnerships with healthcare and public health stakeholders, and the integration of Food is Medicine concepts into Culinary Job Training (CJT) programming.
· Provide strategic leadership and direction for the Healthy Corners program, ensuring mission fidelity, programmatic progress, operational excellence, and compliance across all program areas.
· Oversee product sourcing and development; store owner recruitment, training, and relationship management; budget management; program evaluation and reporting; customer engagement; and SNAP nutrition incentive program administration.
· Serve as the senior relationship manager for key program partners, including DC Health, the DC WIC State Agency, the USDA Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, external evaluation partners, healthcare and public health stakeholders, and national networks focused on healthy food access, nutrition incentives, and best practice sharing.
· Work closely with the Chief Development Officer and Development & Communications team to support relevant donor and agency stewardship efforts, grant implementation, and marketing and communications efforts that support programmatic and organizational goals, including long-term sustainability for Healthy Corners produce incentives.
· Partner with relevant DCCK departments, including Finance, Development & Communications, Transportation, Culinary Operations, Procurement, Workforce Development, and Cafés & Retail Sales, to ensure seamless program operations, strong community engagement, effective cross-functional collaboration, and ongoing innovation.
· Support, in partnership with the Director of Cafés & Retail Sales, the development and implementation of Food is Medicine-related opportunities within DCCK's retail and market operations.
· Collaborate with the COO and other organizational leaders to leverage technology and data-driven solutions that improve program effectiveness, operational efficiency, and performance management, and utilize dashboards and other visualization tools to track progress, communicate impact, and support strategic decision-making.
· Serve as an external ambassador for DCCK's Healthy Corners and Food is Medicine efforts by cultivating relationships with peer organizations, participating in relevant studies, conferences, community coalitions, and working groups, and representing the organization through public presentations, speaking engagements, and other external communications as appropriate.
· Provide leadership support as required to maintain quality relationships with customers, respond to emerging organizational needs, and perform duties necessary to advance the vision, mission, and values of DC Central Kitchen.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
· Bachelor’s degree and at least 6 – 8 years of relevant experience OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience; 3 years of leadership experience in public health, nutrition, social entrepreneurship, community development or a related field
· Graduate-level degree in a relevant field (for example, Public Health, Public Policy, Nutrition, Business Administration, or a related discipline) is preferred.
· Direct experience with Food is Medicine programs, federal nutrition programs, nutrition incentive programs, or related public policy and community-based food access efforts
· Demonstrated intercultural competence and a commitment to the mission, models, and values of DC Central Kitchen, including demonstrated commitment to improving the health, wellness, and economic security of populations living in food deserts and traditionally underserved neighborhoods
· Robust experience managing diverse teams, motivating staff, and developing individual team members over time
· Adept at managing complex programs, grant deliverables, programmatic budgets, and robust evaluation projects
· Strong understanding of food access, food security, and food distribution issues and practices
· Experience in a produce retail environment such as in merchandising or sales (desired)
· Strong customer service skills (Personable, able to comfortably and pleasantly deal with a variety of people)
· Demonstrated proficiency using Microsoft Office Applications, Excel, Outlook, Publisher, Adobe Acrobat, as well as DCCK database management software.
· A pre-employment background check and drug screening are required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
· Capable of independent local travel and, as needed, limited travel outside the DC region for essential meetings and conferences.
· Ability to work limited nights and weekends in order to participate in community meetings, trainings and workshops, and public presentations.
· May occasionally move Audio/Visual and other office equipment or lightweight items weighing up to 25 pounds for various meeting and event needs. Some functions of this position may require moderate physical activity, including installing, transporting, positioning, or removing produce, produce-related, kitchen, or office equipment items, such as printers, computers, phones, and so on.
· Must be able to perform general physical activities that require considerable use of arms, legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials
· Must be able to bend, lean, reach and stoop without hindrance, possess fine motor skills, the ability to stand or walk for extended periods, and remain in a stationary position for at least 50% of the time.
· Must be able to work in an environment where exposure to unusual elements such as extreme temperatures, fumes, dirt, smoke, loud noise, and a variety of odors is common.
· This job description is subject to change at any time.
BENEFITS:
· Medical, vision, and dental insurance (DCCK pays 100% of employee premiums for individual coverage)
· Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care, and Parking)
· Paid Time Off (vacation, sick, and personal leave)
· 11 Company Paid Holidays
· Bonding Leave for new parents
· Commuter Benefits plan
· Matching 401(k) program
· Basic Life & Supplemental Life
· Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
· Wellness Reimbursement program
NOTE:
This document is an outline of the primary tasks assigned and may be changed at the discretion of management, formally or informally, either verbally or in writing. All team members are expected to assist DC Central Kitchen in achieving its goals even if such tasks are beyond the scope of this outline. The job description does not constitute an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
DC Central Kitchen is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and a Strengths-based organization.
Pay: $95,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
