Head of Strategy & Business Operations

Organizational Overview 

‍Each year in the United States, billions of pounds of food go to waste. At the same time, over 35 million Americans experience food insecurity. The Farmlink Project is a non-profit organization that connects farms with surplus to food banks to feed people in need, reduce carbon emissions & empower the next generation of changemakers in the food system. The Farmlink Project is a virtual organization with ~20 employees. This is a fully remote position; we are accepting applicants in all U.S. time zones.

Job Summary

The Farmlink Project is looking for a seasoned Head of Strategy and Business Operations to lead general business operations and manage special projects. The Head of Strategy and Business Operations will report directly to the COO and manage general business functions, including Annual Planning and Quarterly OKRs, roadmaps and priorities for the organization, process and system improvement, People Operations strategy and implementation, and Farmlink’s community experience. Farmlink’s Head of Strategy and Business Operations will be a resourceful, proactive, values-centered leader; a systems thinker who is also a “hands-on” practitioner. The ideal candidate will have a background in strategy, operations, or management consulting and possess prior supervisory experience along with excellent organizational, communication, time management, problem-solving, and people skills. The Head of Strategy and Business Operations will own new projects and opportunities as they arise, ensuring swift resolution and efficiency across the organization.

Compensation

The starting salary range for this role is $90,000 - $120,000 with a competitive benefits package.  Exact compensation details will be commensurate with experience.

Responsibilities

Annual Planning and OKRs

• Lead the Annual Planning process and Quarterly OKRs across the organization alongside the COO, designing and implementing transparent and measurable goals to ensure alignment of priorities across the organization
• Work with the Executive Team to develop annual performance goals and roadmaps that cascade to individual team members and connect with the overall strategic plan
• Facilitate the development, communication, and evaluations of goals for departments on a quarterly basis
• Oversee and drive department strategic planning and problem solving, increasing efficiency and effectiveness across the organization

People Operations

• Manage our People Operations Advisors (Fractional HR firm) and partner to create, implement, and evaluate all HR policies, procedures, and systems
• Oversee key cultural initiatives and ensure collaboration with all department leaders
• Build and implement a Performance Review Process as well as other key people operations initiatives to enhance engagement of Farmlink staff
• Oversee and ensure smooth engagement for fellowships, alumni, and community programs, including ensuring processes for the Farmlink fellows, volunteers, interns, and contractors are following HR, compliance, and cultural best practices
• Manage the Fellowship Manager and external People Operations Advisors

General Strategy & Operations

• Identify opportunities to improve business efficiency and/or procedural gaps; make changes to improve the business
• Support special projects that are urgent and important
• Align cross-functional stakeholders in important initiatives and support teams in setting project goals
• Identify, select, and work with consultants (e.g. legal, financial, HR) to supplement expertise when necessary
• Manage and oversee relationships with our external legal counsel
• Create a team culture that motivates members to collaborate cross-functionally, understand and represent the needs of their stakeholders, and grow professionally while meeting team goals
• Project Management / Special Projects: Lead new and complex projects and initiatives as they arise, from redesigning processes, enhancing community experiences, and supporting the Executive Team on organizational goals
• Lead operational initiatives to drive greater efficiency, standardization, and consistency in business processes

Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree and 4-8 years experience in business operations, strategy and operations, management consulting, or an otherwise relevant role; MBA degree is a plus
• Strong problem solving skills, analytics mindset, communication (verbal and written), highly interpersonal, and excellent organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast paced, high volume work environment
• Proactive, can operationalize a vision, good at documentation, process oriented, thorough
• An ability to balance the needs of diverse stakeholders and understand their perspectives from both the 30,000-foot and on-the-ground views
• Exceptional project management skills, with a track record of setting objectives and developing backwards plans involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities
• Exceptional relationship and trust-building skills, both internally and externally, with the ability to build positive relationships at all organizational levels and with a diverse group of stakeholders to create alignment
• A track record of taking the initiative, taking on new challenges, and building a culture of learning on teams
• An organized and agile approach to work, with excellent prioritization skills, and an ability to balance multiple deliverables across multiple projects; track record of moving key initiatives from idea to delivery
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; willingness to dive into unfamiliar areas, adapt approaches as new information is learned, and incubate new ideas
• Supervisory experience required
• Knowledge and experience in People Operations and change management a plus

Commitment to a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Culture: 

We all have a stake in the food system. The Farmlink Project aspires to collaborate with a diverse network of individuals, communities, and organizations as we work towards a more equitable and food secure future. As a young organization founded by university students, we are strongly committed to diversifying our workforce and making Farmlink an inclusive space for all backgrounds. We recognize that this is a process demanding constant attention and growth; as an organization, we commit to educating ourselves and being better. Thus, we are recruiting for individuals who share our commitment to creating and embodying a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture. 

The Farmlink Project is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.