Job OverviewThe Associate Director, Network Relations provides strategic, operational, and people leadership for City Harvest's Network Relations function. This role oversees a team of four Network Relations Managers responsible for managing agency relationships across the emergency food network. The Associate Director is accountable for the consistency, effectiveness, and scalability of how City Harvest partners with agencies to distribute food in ways that are equitable, efficient, compliant, and responsive to community need.
This position possesses advanced professional expertise in network engagement, operational coordination, and stakeholder management. The Associate Director leads programs, initiatives, and operational plans of significant scope and complexity and regularly makes decisions under conditions of uncertainty. While managers focus on agency-level execution, this role focuses on department-wide performance, strategy, systems, and continuous improvement.
Roles and Responsibilities1. Departmental Leadership & Strategic Impact- Establish annual and mid-year priorities, goals, and operational plans for the Network Relations department in alignment with organizational strategy.
- Lead the development of network engagement policies and service standards governing agency relationships.
- Translate organizational objectives into clear departmental direction, performance expectations, and measurable outcomes.
2. People Leadership & Team Oversight- Directly manage and coach four Network Relations Managers, holding them accountable for portfolio performance, agency service quality, and compliance outcomes.
- Ensure consistent application of standards, processes, and decision-making frameworks across managers and portfolios.
- Build manager capability through coaching, feedback, and performance management; support talent development and succession planning.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning across the Network Relations team.
- Manage a portfolio of agency partners, understanding the needs of the agencies and strategically working with other colleagues and departments to ensure agencies are in compliance and receiving the food they want in the manner that is fitting for their operations
3. Operational Governance & Process Ownership- Oversee and continuously improve department-wide processes related to agency onboarding, service delivery, issue escalation, compliance monitoring, and feedback loops.
- Ensure all agency partners are in compliance with organizational requirements and standards.
- Recommend and implement changes to procedures and operating models that affect how agencies are served and supported.
- Assess and forecast departmental workloads, coverage models, and staffing needs to ensure sustained service quality and operational resilience.
- Ensure consistency and quality in how agency data, trends, and insights are captured and shared across the organization.
- Support the execution of distribution planning activities, including allocation coordination, inventory flow monitoring, and cross-departmental communication.
4. Cross-Functional Leadership & External Influence- Serve as a senior liaison between Network Relations, Distribution Planning, Supply Chain, Programs, and Data teams.
- Represent Network Relations in cross-functional forums, planning discussions, and organizational initiatives.
- May oversee and coordinate the work of external vendors or partners supporting network relations activities.
- Ensure agency perspectives and needs are systematically incorporated into organizational planning and decision-making.
Job Specifications:Knowledge, Skills & Expertise- Proficiency in project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com, Microsoft Planner).
- Proficiency in MS Office, especially SharePoint and Dynamics CRM.
- Strong supervisory and leadership skills.
- Recognized internal expert in one or more core areas of Network Relations, including agency engagement models, emergency food systems, or service delivery operations.
- Advanced understanding of how large-scale partner portfolios operate within complex, cross-functional environments.
- Strong strategic thinking, analytical, and systems-oriented problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrated ability to lead managers, influence across departments, and operate effectively under ambiguity.
- Excellent communication, coaching, and stakeholder-management skills.
Experience & Education- Experience: Minimum of 4+ years of progressive leadership experience, including direct management of people and responsibility for complex operational or partner-facing functions.
- Education: A high school diploma or equivalent is preferred; additional education or professional training considered based on experience.
Working Conditions- Requires regular engagement with internal teams and external partners.
- Some flexibility in schedule may be required to address operational or network needs.
- Will involve occasional travel throughout NYC.
