Associate Director of Food Sovereignty

Booker T Washington Community Service Center; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off

401(k) with employer contribution

Professional development

Commuter benefits

Life and disability insurance

Staff meals and snacks

Wellness benefit

Job summary

Booker T. Washington Community Service Center (BTWCSC) seeks an Associate Director of Food Justice and Sovereignty Programs to lead strategic food initiatives in San Francisco.

This role focuses on ensuring access to healthy, culturally appropriate foods, building partnerships with local farmers and chefs, and expanding community education and advocacy. The position reports to the Director of Programs and Impact and oversees daily meals, CSA boxes, and Friday Fresh markets, guiding program

Qualifications

• Degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• 4–5+ years in food, hospitality, or related programs; management preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership, budgeting, reporting, and coalition-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise the Food to Freedom team and ensure program excellence.
• Coordinate budgets, scheduling, reporting, and documentation for food programs.
• Drive strategic planning for a citywide food hub and local procurement initiatives.
• Oversee data collection, measurement, and reporting to inform decisions and grant compliance.
• Build partnerships with farmers, chefs, and community organizations for sustainability.
• Develop and implement policies around food use, waste reduction, and safety.

Skills

Food justice leadership

Budgeting

Staff supervision

Coalition-building

Data-driven programming

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Google Suite

MS Excel

Job description

Position Title: Associate Director, Food Justice and Sovereignty Programs

FLSA: Exempt, Full-Time

Pay Range: Starting at $125,000 to $135,000 annually with full benefits

Schedule: 40 hours/week | Monday - Friday, some nights and weekends

Location: 100% In-Person, on-site in San Francisco, CA

Mission

Booker T. Washington Community Service Center (BTWCSC) is one of the Bay Area’s oldest Black-led, Black-serving nonprofit organizations with a century of service to San Francisco. A beacon of Black joy and self-determination, we have nurtured over five generations of Black San Franciscans. We stand embedded as an anchor institution, fostering intergenerational bonds and working in solidarity with allied communities to reform and reimagine a more inclusive San Francisco. We prioritize serving the Black community and welcome all from cultures and ages 0-99 who walk through our door. We are one of the few urban spaces where anyone in the community can access comprehensive services, from a hot meal to childcare to academic support to senior services.

Summary

BTWCSC seeks a highly-strategic and experienced Associate Director of Food Justice and Sovereignty Programs to protect our community's right to healthy, culturally appropriate food produced sustainably. This role involves creating and implementing strategies to strengthen San Francisco food systems, such as leading BTWCSC’s self-sustaining food supply within the community to reduce dependency on external food sources, enhancing San Francisco and the District 5 neighborhoods’ nutritional well-being with access to fresh, and healthy foods; building meaningful economic partnerships with local farmers, chefs and producer communities, and promoting understanding of permaculture and skills like growing, harvesting, and preserving food. The Associate Director will also co-lead our vital citywide food system advocacy and community nutrition education work with coalition partners.

This senior role requires a seasoned leader with exceptional skills in administration, people management, systems building, partner relations, and advocacy. The Associate Director will also be responsible for the overall success of our robust community food procurement and distribution programs, including our daily community meals, CSA boxes, and weekly Friday Fresh markets, ensuring the timely and safe distribution of high-quality, nutritious food. Reporting to the Director of Programs and Impact, the AD of Food Justice and Sovereignty Programs will ensure equitable access to and distribution of food within the Fillmore/Western Addition and broader District 5 community, applying best practices in food safety, health, and nutrition and a participant-centered approach.

The Associate Director will also direct, coordinate, and collaborate with all staff and activities associated with all BTW food operations, education and engagement programs. By taking advantage of this opportunity, this role will contribute to the organization's mission of meeting community needs by providing efficient and effective program administration based on a data-driven approach that enhances BTWCSC's commitment to excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise the Food to Freedom Team. Use the organization’s vision, mission, servant leadership philosophy to coach staff towards a culture of excellence and service execution.
• Align and coordinate Food to Freedom staff and programs with broader organizational initiatives and BTWCSC’s strategic priorities.
• Serve as a conduit for clear and timely communication between leadership and frontline staff.
• Oversee administrative functions, including budgeting, scheduling, reporting, and documentation for all food-related programs.
• Contribute to strategic decision-making on staffing, structure, and program design to improve effectiveness and impact.
• Refine and implement BTW’s Food to Freedom 'Cultural Atlas' – a model mapping the relationships among the program’s activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts, and outlines the cultural and social change the Food to Freedom program aims to achieve.
• Work with the Executive Team towards BTW’s strategic planning around a Fillmore/Western Addition Food Hub model to pilot farm-direct, local purchasing and distribution.
• Research, assess and develop revenue generation and cost-saving opportunities with Food Operations staff to ensure program sustainability and growth.
• Oversee curricular and nutrition education program activities with Food Education and Engagement Staff to ensure alignment with BTW’s internal and external education work.
• Oversee larger operations of food programs, ensuring staff have the tools, technology, and resources necessary to deliver services efficiently and seamlessly.
• Working with the Managers of F2F Freedom Engagement and Education and Operations, oversee the development and implementation of operational systems and SOPs for program development, data collection and reporting, and distribution.
• Ensure all programs meet quality and impact goals as defined in BTWCSC’s measurement framework and strategic plan. This role will be responsible for maintaining a best-in-class model within the City of San Francisco.
• Collaborate with the Finance Team to ensure grant compliance, budget management, and adherence to reporting requirements.
• Collaborate with Executive and Development Teams on Food to Freedom program grants and fundraising initiatives for program sustainability.
• Provide high-level oversight of service provision and client experience that is dignified, culturally-congruent and trauma-informed.
• Oversee all aspects of food supply, including ordering, purchasing, collection, storage, rotation, and distribution in accordance with health and safety regulations, grant fidelity, and fiscal compliance.
• Oversee facility readiness, equipment maintenance, and compliance with state and local health codes.
• Oversee menu planning and culturally relevant food programming in partnership with mission-aligned chefs, farmers, producers, and nutrition professionals.
• Work with the Managers of F2F Freedom Engagement and Education and Operations to develop and implement policies around food use and disposal, integrating zero-waste and sustainability practices.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with agency partners, food justice organizations, policy coalitions, and other stakeholders.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on food access, equity, and justice issues, staying informed of emerging trends and policy developments.
• Work with BTW Marketing and Communications Team to create and present educational materials, presentations, and workshops on food justice, food insecurity, and sustainable systems for staff and community members.
• Represent BTWCSC and report back from engagement in local and regional coalitions, committees, and advocacy initiatives related to food systems and equity.
• Engage and mobilize community members and clients in strategic advocacy efforts that expand food access, security and health equity.
• Collaborate on special initiatives such as student garden projects and food education programs.
• Oversee the collection, analysis, and reporting of data on food program operations, outcomes, and community impact.
• Develop and maintain dashboards and reports for internal leadership, funders, and external stakeholders.
• Utilize data insights to inform decision-making, to make tangible improvements to service delivery, guide future programming, and deepen impact in a strategic manner.
• Develop and execute evaluation activities that measure the impact of food distribution on family stability, health, and food security.

Qualifications and Skills Required

• A college degree in culinary sciences, food systems, sustainability, nutrition, environmental science, public health, community development, social work or equivalent experience is required.
• 4 to 5+ years of experience in food, agricultural production, restaurant, grocery retail or hospitality experience in a fast-paced setting, preferably in a management position.
• Direct experience in community health, direct service and/or client management.
• 3+ years of demonstrated experience leading, coaching and collaborating with a team.
• Demonstrated experience in managing program and/or food budgets, monitoring expenditures, and ensuring fiscal responsibility and sustainability.
• Proven experience in sustainable and direct food sourcing, maintaining inventory and limiting waste.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the food and nutrition, inequities, social and cultural needs of underserved communities and the historical and contemporary impacts of racism and structural inequities.
• Demonstrated experience with providing racially and culturally-responsive services and programs for diverse populations, preferred.
• Lived experience with Black/African-American communities and/or communities of color and/or navigating housing insecurity and/or the justice system preferred.
• Strong advocacy and coalition-building skills, and experience mobilizing community engagement are preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with staff, clients, volunteers, community stakeholders, funders and government agencies.
• Demonstrates professionalism, socioemotional intelligence, and integrity.
• Excellent verbal, writing, and comprehension skills.
• Demonstrates strong project management skills and the keen ability to plan, implement, and execute.
• Ability to work with diversity and challenge, establishing and maintaining working relationships with producers, farmers, co-workers, volunteers, funding source representatives, board members, and other service providers.
• Ability to manage staff and contribute to strategic hiring decisions.
• Demonstrated excellence in organizational and systems planning and implementation.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills including flexibility and the ability to listen, negotiate and collaborate with various stakeholders.
• Proactive, organized, independent, motivated and detail oriented manager.
• Experience in successful people management and acute soft skills.
• Ability to work independently and be both creative and strategic when confronted with complex and multifaceted opportunities and challenges.
• A positive attitude, compassion, and strong team-oriented work ethic.
• Strong applicants must have the ability to be flexible and adapt to change.
• Google Suite, MS Excel and software proficiency required.

Certification, Licensure, Training

• Current CA Driver’s License, current auto insurance, and a clean driving record.
• Current CPR & First Aid Certificate (every two years after that)
• Food Safety - ServSafe certification.
• Current Immunizations (TB) (every two years after that)
• Clearance Child Mandated Reporting (can be completed upon hire)

Professional Expectations

• Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs for vulnerable populations
• Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions.
• Builds rapport and relates well to others.
• Makes sound judgments, and transfers learning from one situation to another.
• Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better member experience.
• Strives to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for clients.
• Pursues self-development that enhances job performance.
• Demonstrates an openness to change and seeks opportunities in the change process.

Physical Requirements

Daily contact with clients, staff, community members, outside organizations and individuals to plan, coordinate and deliver programs. Must be able to move 50 pounds safely. The job requires the ability to stand for extended periods, kneel, reach, bend, and lift objects. Physical requirements are also typical of those needed in an office environment. Common demands include lifting items, pushing and pulling carts, and working in varied temperatures, and occasionally working in refrigerated and outdoor areas.

Schedule

Monday - Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, some nights and weekends. Additional hours may be required for program activities including but not limited to, BTW staff events, evening and late-night duty, and staff meetings; a calendar will be provided.

Benefits

• 100% employer covered excellent health, dental, and vision benefits
• Paid time off, including 15 days paid vacation, plus paid holidays and Center breaks/closures
• Workers' compensation;
• Employee assistance program;
• Monthly wellness benefit after 90 days;
• Access to staff meals and snacks;
• Commuter benefits;
• Life and disability insurance
• 401(k) with employer contribution
• Professional development opportunities, including conferences, seminars, webinars, and training.

BTWCSC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion, or any other classification protected by law. According to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.