Job Opportunity: Executive Director

ABOUT FOOD STASH FOUNDATION

Food Stash Foundation is a registered Canadian charity founded in 2016 that prevents over 1.5 million pounds of good food from going to waste every year and provides dignified food access to thousands across Vancouver. Whether it is through our Rescued Food Box or Rescued Food Market programs, or through our partnerships with 45+ other local non-profit organizations, we are on a mission to reduce hunger, reduce our environmental footprint, and bring awareness to how our food choices impact our environment and our health. Food Stash is also proud to be a Living Wage Employer, a Good Food Organization Member and a 1% For The Planet Environmental Partner.

POSITION OVERVIEW

We’re hiring a full-time Executive Director who:

➔ Is a seasoned, inspiring leader in the nonprofit sector

➔ Has a strong financial and fundraising acumen and proven ability to diversify revenue streams

➔ Is well-connected in Vancouver and willing to leverage their networks

➔ Enjoys working in a highly collaborative team setting as well as directly with the community

➔ Cares about our environment and is passionate about reducing food waste and/or providing dignified food access

➔ Thrives in a fast-paced and grassroots work culture

Food Stash is approaching its 10th year of operations and has evolved into a stable and mature organization with effective systems, processes and programs, a healthy workplace culture, and a well-established reputation in the community and food recovery sector. While there will always be opportunities for incremental growth and continuous improvement, the right type of leader for this moment in Food Stash’s journey is someone who relishes stability and is excited to advocate for the organization’s continued success.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Food Stash Foundation. The Executive Director is the face of the organization, provides inspirational leadership, and ensures the organization continues to create meaningful impact for its staff and community. The Executive Director proactively partners with the Board at and between quarterly meetings to ensure strategic alignment and monitor priorities. Other key responsibilities include managing finances and human resources, partnership building, and advocacy.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Required Experience & Skills

• Effective, compelling, and proven senior leadership, HR, interpersonal, and communication skills
• Demonstrated experience inspiring teams and cultivating positive, trust-based workplace culture
• Demonstrated experience fundraising, managing nonprofit budgets, building projections, monitoring cash flow, and diversifying revenue streams
• Ability to public speak, advocate, network, advise, and engage the media with confidence
• Innovative and systems-level thinker
• Team player who isn’t afraid of and sees the value in rolling up their sleeves
• Familiarity with nonprofit governance and administration
• Appreciation for continuous improvement and process improvement
• Comfort with impact measurement and management
• Adept at leveraging cloud-based IT and communication tools like Google Suite, Slack, and Asana

Desired Additional Experience & Skills

• 5-7+ years’ professional experience in a similar leadership capacity in the nonprofit sector
• University or post-graduate degree in a relevant field
• Broad knowledge of food systems, commitment to food justice, and desire for systems change
• Experience working with vulnerable populations
• Experience and confidence with de-escalating conflict
• Valid BC Driver’s License, clean driving record, safe and responsible driving practices
• Ability to comfortably and repeatedly lift boxes of up to 50lbs Employment offers are conditional upon criminal record check.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES People & Culture (25%)

• Lead all human resource functions including the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, retention, mentorship, and termination of staff members in ways that reflect organizational values and are in accordance with Food Stash policies and employment standards
• Foster and nurture a healthy, collaborative, and inclusive organizational culture in alignment with Food Stash values to retain top talent and ensure a welcoming and attractive workplace
• Mentor, coach, and lead the team in a trust-based and accountability focused way
• Create and oversee professional development plans for staff members
• Ensure that Food Stash HR policies, compensation plans, and benefits keep up with changing employment standards and are competitive in the nonprofit sector in order to attract and retain top talent
• Lead internal goal-setting sessions and team retreats to foster camaraderie and a shared vision for the organization within the staff
• Lead the annual review of and adherence to the Employee Policy Manual and other workplace policies and procedures

Fundraising & Business Development (25%)

• Create & Implement a fundraising strategy that provides sustainability for the operational future of the organization
• Support the Development Manager with fundraising activities and managing a development strategy that ensures organizational and operational needs and goals are met
• Identify, evaluate, and implement strategies, initiatives, and partnerships that result in earned revenue and diversified revenue streams Explore and innovate creative revenue streams that support the financial viability of the organization

Finance & Legal (20%)

• Prepare and manage the annual budget; ensure alignment of the organization’s activities with the approved annual budget with close oversight and regularly updated projections
• Manage all payments, cashflow, payroll, and bookkeeping activities
• Collaborate with the Treasurer and Accountant to ensure timely financial reporting on a monthly, quarterly, and year-end basis
• Manage all legal matters including insurance and business licence renewal and CRA, BC Societies and WorkSafe BC filings

Advocacy & External Relations (15%)

• Build upon and foster positive relationships with individuals, volunteers, partners, organizations, businesses, and various stakeholders in the community to expand Food Stash’s network and reputation in Vancouver and Canada
• Act as the face and spokesperson of the organization in media and advisory opportunities and pursue strategic relationships with community and political leaders
• Leverage your network and influence to enhance and further establish Food Stash as a thought leader in the sector
• Pursue and manage strategic partnerships and special projects that push Food Stash’s mission forward, align with strategic priorities, and create opportunities for more effective uses of limited resources
• Support advocacy efforts to push for long-term policy changes that would address the root causes of food waste and food insecurity
• Manage external consultants and contractors as needed
• Oversee and set the tone for external communications and annual impact reporting

Governance (10%)

• Liaise and collaborate with the Board of Directors to build engagement and set the strategic direction
• Participate with the Board in developing and refreshing the strategic plan on a regular basis
• Develop operational plans, incorporating goals and milestones that work towards the strategic direction of the organization
• Ensure the Board is kept fully informed on the condition of the organization and any important changes or updates affecting it, specifically on matters related to liability, organizational viability, and human resources
• Identify, evaluate, and mitigate risks to organization’s people, property, finances, and reputation
• Support administrative governance tasks such as scheduling meetings and preparing meeting materials

Programs & Operations (10%)

• Oversee and collaborate with Management staff in the strategy and execution of all aspects of day-to-day operations and programs including warehouse management, service agreements, food recovery services, adherence to fleet standards, and the provision of high-quality, dignified food access programs
• Ensure that all employees and stakeholders adhere to Health and Safety policies and procedures
• Lead the search for and negotiation of new space leases as required
• Lead annual GHG reporting processes and promote environmental sustainability efforts
• Apply program and project management skills to oversee, evaluate, and ensure effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of programs and initiatives
• Ensure that Food Stash values are upheld through its operations and programs
• Manage and administer all IT systems used including G Suite, Slack, and Asana

JOB DETAILS

• Type: Permanent, Full-time
• Schedule: 37.5 hours, Monday-Friday; occasional evening and weekend work for one-off events
• Location & Work Environment: Food Stash office and warehouse (290 E 1st Ave). Our warehouse can be busy and noisy at times. Our office space is open concept and can include distractions. A hybrid/work-from-home option is available for part of the job responsibilities.
• Expected start date: As soon as possible

COMPENSATION

• Food Stash is a Living Wage Employer as defined by Living Wage for Families BC. All wages are at or above the stated Living Wage for Metro Vancouver. The annual salary range for this role is $90,000 - $120,000 (paid semi-monthly) depending upon experience.
• Extended health and dental benefits after a 3-month probationary period
• 4 weeks vacation
• Birthday off, quarterly wellness days, half-day Fridays in the summer, annual 1-week summer closure

WORKPLACE CULTURE

At Food Stash, we work hard to create a physically and psychologically safe workplace. We value physical and mental health equally. Physical safety is a top priority when operating our vehicles and working in our warehouse. Physical and mental wellness are valued through training and initiatives like quarterly wellness days, birthdays off, half-day Fridays in the summer and team socials, as well as flexible work arrangements when possible. We are a small, cohesive team; we support each other and always collaborate, regardless of our roles. We encourage new employees to share what supports or adjustments could help them thrive in the workplace, but sharing is always optional. For example, we each have a ‘Manual of Me’ where we can articulate our individual preferences for how we feel most supported and appreciated, and other helpful tips for working together.

APPLY

Food Stash is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment. We identify knowledge and understanding gaps on the team and seek out training and educational opportunities as needed to ensure we understand who we serve and the context in which we serve them.

We welcome and value the contributions of individuals who identify as members of an equity-deserving or marginalized community, and encourage applications from BIPOC, women and gender-diverse people, people with disabilities, people in the LGBTQ2SIA+ community, and people with lived experience of poverty and/or food insecurity. Please let us know if you require any assistance with your application and/or adjustments to the interview process. Candidates selected for interviews will be sent a pre-interview guide that explains what to expect at each interview.

If this sounds like the role for you, please submit a single combined PDF with your resume and cover letter to hiring@foodstash.ca with the subject line “Executive Director - [Your Name]” no later than February 8, 2026.

Successful candidates will be contacted to schedule interviews following the application deadline.