About Potluck

An award winning non-profit social enterprise and registered charity, the mission of Potluck Café Society which owns and operates Potluck Café and Catering Inc. is to transform lives by creating jobs with on-the-job training for people facing barriers to traditional employment and improving access to healthy food for people living in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES).

Potluck was founded in 2001 to help end the cycle of poverty in the Downtown Eastside community and address the needs of its most nutritionally vulnerable residents through solutions that promote employment and nutrition. Potluck works to create an inclusive and healthy neighbourhood through grassroots community economic development.

Potluck Café Society owns and operates Potluck Café & Catering to earn revenue to support our community programs and fundraising, donations and grants comprise the balance of our funding requirements. Potluck is widely regarded as a social enterprise leader in Vancouver and abroad. Learn more about Potluck at potluckcatering.org

The Opportunity – Executive Director

We are seeking a driven, innovative and highly entrepreneurial Executive Director to provide strong leadership to our team of 30 staff and 20 volunteers to take our organization to the next level. As Executive Director, together with an effective management team, you will manage a $1.3M annual operating budget to sustain and lead Potluck Café Society’s innovative community programs and oversee Potluck Café and Catering Inc.’s business operations.

Summary of Responsibilities:

• Bring fresh and entrepreneurial vision and ideas across the organization to increase both business and mission impact
• Ensure Potluck Café and Catering supports the mandate of the Potluck Café Society
• Oversee day-to-day operations of Potluck Café Society and Potluck Café and Catering
• Ensure financial sustainability of the organization
• Ensure mission impact of the organization in both the Society and the Catering business
• Drive revenue generation, fundraising and fund development
• Hire, train, delegate, supervise, evaluate, and release staff
• Build strong collaborations and working relationships with internal and external stakeholders – employees, board members, partners, funders, and corporations
• Act as primary spokesperson for the organization
• In conjunction with the Board, ensure the integrity of the Society’s charitable mandate and actively participate in strategic and long-term planning for Potluck

Qualifications:

• Hands-on leader with a minimum of 5 to 8 years leadership experience, preferably in social enterprise
• Interest in food security, creating employment for people facing barriers, and in the wellbeing of the existing DTES community
• Entrepreneurial with social enterprise or community economic development experience (or both) an asset
• Demonstrated knowledge of all facets of operating businesses and non-profits
• Demonstrated experience in building community impact programs
• Post-secondary qualification in business administration or equivalent, MBA is an asset
• Strong communication skills
• Fund development experience
• Collaborative with the ability to develop and maintain effective relationships
• Knowledge of community, political and socioeconomic issues, especially those affecting the DTES

Key Responsibilities:

In addition to providing overall leadership and vision for the organization, including identifying new opportunities for business growth and community impact while motivating staff and board, you will:

HR Management

• Interpret board policy decisions to staff
• Hire, supervise, evaluate, and release staff
• Train and motivate staff; organize and lead regular staff meetings
• Encourage team-building by facilitating open communication and positive working relationships with staff
• Set clear, results-oriented goals, with realistic and measurable outcomes
• Support goal achievement, and coach and monitor performance
• Lead and implement staff development opportunities to assist individuals in developing the necessary skills to be successful within the organization
• Observe and evaluate ongoing performance of management team and provide regular, appropriate, and constructive feedback
• Advise and participate in the HR committee

Financial Management

• Provide the board with regular statements of revenues and expenditures
• Ensure overall financial results, according to the board-approved budget
• Develop and present an annual budget for the Society, including revenue and expense forecasts that incorporate the Potluck Café and Catering Inc. annual business budget with Society budget
• Advise the finance and operations committee
• Implement the board’s policies for the allocation and distribution of resources
• Liaise with accountant/bookkeeper to ensure financial stability and reporting deadlines are met

Fund Development

• Identify and lead the implementation of new fund development initiatives
• Identify, seek new and manage existing funding sources, including corporate sponsorships, currently representing $500k of annual operating budget and ensure completion of funder reporting
• Lead grant application process and produce funder reports
• Develop and implement fundraising plan, including the development of a capital campaign to support expansion and initiating an annual donor program
• Work with the Board and fundraising committee members to implement creative fundraising initiatives

Governance

• With members of the Board, ensure the integrity of the Society’s charitable mandate and identify innovative ways to address socioeconomic issues affecting DTES residents
• Work with Board on organizational and fundraising strategy, strategic planning, organizational development, and business planning
• Identify and assess organizational risks and opportunities, and report weekly or monthly to Co-Chairs and Treasurer
• Inform the Board of relevant organizational activities, updates, and challenges, providing regular and reliable reports on the organization’s progress towards goals
• Assist with Board recruitment where necessary, using board-identified parameters

Strategic Planning

• With the Board of Directors, regularly participate in refining the organizational vision and mission
• Develop programs and services that work towards the vision, within the policy guidelines set by the Board
• Identify emerging issues that affect the organization
• Set specific organizational goals and outcomes, under the direction of the Board
• Communicate with key stakeholders to identify the changing needs and conditions of the community that is served by the organization

Community Program Management

• Identify and lead the implementation of new community program opportunities
• Facilitate the research, planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services
• Ensure programs and services meet the Board’s policy guidelines and priorities
• Supervise the implementation of the organization’s programs and services

Marketing/Communications / Public Relations

• Act as an ambassador for the organization and its programs in the community
• Promote community awareness of the organization’s mission and aims
• Identify and lead the implementation of new communications and PR opportunities
• Participate in networking, community and media relations activities on behalf of Potluck
• Build strong working relationships with others, both inside and outside the organization, and enlist their support for accomplishing tasks
  • Liaise with external communications volunteers as required
  • Facilitate and implement a communications plan that informs the community of the activities and direction of the organization

To apply:                    

Please email your Cover Letter & Resume to Potluck ED Search Committee at edsearch@potluckcatering.com on or before July 21, 2014. Potluck will continue to recruit for this position until we find a suitable candidate fit for our organization.

We thank you for your interest. We will acknowledge all applications. Interviews will be conducted during the recruitment period