Job Seekers

About MANNA Foodbank

MANNA Foodbank’s mission is to involve, educate, and unite people in the work of ending hunger in Western North Carolina. MANNA is the region’s leading nonprofit dedicated to ending food insecurity across the mountains of Western North Carolina. Serving a 16-county region and the Qualla Boundary, MANNA operates as the central food distribution hub for a network of more than 300 community partner agencies including pantries, shelters, schools, senior programs, and community organizations. In addition to supplying food to partners, the organization directly serves neighbors through innovative programs such as mobile markets, nutrition initiatives, and targeted outreach to rural and underserved communities. Known for its strong community trust and collaborative spirit, MANNA combines efficient logistics, strategic partnerships, and mission-driven leadership to ensure that families, children, seniors, and Veterans have reliable access to nutritious food. Through advocacy, education, and compassionate service, MANNA Foodbank works to not only meet immediate needs but also address the root causes of hunger and build a healthier, more resilient region.

MANNA embraces a philosophy that recognizes and values diversity by creating an environment of mutual respect, transparency, and sharing of different opinions and ideas. MANNA’s goal is to attract, develop, retain, and promote a talented and diverse workforce in a culture where all employees will contribute to their fullest potential. The celebration of inclusivity and diversity is essential to helping MANNA achieve its mission to involve, educate, and unite all people in the work of ending hunger in Western North Carolina.

Position Summary

The Chief Community Impact Officer (CCIO) serves as a key member of the executive leadership team and provides strategic leadership for MANNA Foodbank’s community impact initiatives, programs, and network partnerships across Western North Carolina. Reporting to the CEO, the CCIO leads the organization’s efforts to strengthen food access, deepen community partnerships, and advance innovative strategies that address both the immediate needs and systemic causes of hunger.

This role oversees MANNA’s community impact portfolio, including programs, agency relations, network strategy, benefits outreach, community markets, youth programs, health initiatives, and data-driven community insight efforts. The CCIO will play a central role in advancing MANNA’s strategic evolution toward a food-as-health public health model while ensuring that community voices, particularly those with lived experience of food insecurity, inform program design and delivery.

Working closely with senior leadership, community partners, healthcare systems, and public agencies, the CCIO will help position MANNA as a leading voice and convener in regional food security and public health efforts. The CCIO will also oversee a team of directors and program leaders while ensuring that community impact initiatives are aligned with MANNA’s strategic priorities, operational capacity, and commitment to equitable access to nutritious food.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as a senior leader and trusted advisor to the CEO and executive team on community impact strategy, program effectiveness, and long-term food security solutions.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive community impact strategy aligned with MANNA’s mission, strategic priorities, and regional needs.
• Contribute to organization-wide strategy, culture, and cross-department collaboration as a member of the senior leadership team.
• Position MANNA as a thought leader on hunger, poverty, food security, and public health initiatives across the region.
• Represent MANNA in public forums, coalition meetings, and community events to advance partnerships and strengthen community engagement.
• Lead organizational responses to community crises or disasters by coordinating program adaptation, resource deployment, and recovery strategies.

Network Strategy and Food Access

• Oversee the development and management of MANNA’s regional food access network, including agency partners, meal sites, schools, community markets, and pop-up markets.
• Identify gaps in food access and develop strategies that strengthen the capacity of partner organizations to address hunger across the service area.
• Advance integrated service models that connect food access with benefits outreach, health services, and community resources.
• Ensure that network strategies align with the “Food Today, Food Tomorrow, Food for a Lifetime” framework guiding MANNA’s long-term impact.

Community Partnerships and Program Development

• Provide leadership and oversight for all community impact programs, including Benefits Outreach, Community Health initiatives, and Mountain Community Insights.
• Develop innovative outreach strategies and service delivery models that expand access to food and supportive services for underserved populations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with nonprofit organizations, healthcare systems, government agencies, and community stakeholders.
• Collaborate with internal teams and partners to strengthen coordinated approaches to ending hunger in Western North Carolina.

Community Engagement and Evaluation

• Lead efforts to integrate community voice and lived experience into program design, evaluation, and advocacy strategies.
• Oversee data collection, analysis, and reporting to measure program effectiveness and demonstrate community impact.
• Implement metrics and evaluation frameworks that support strategic decision-making and continuous program improvement.
• Coordinate service area assessments across the region to identify emerging needs and prioritize interventions.

Government Relations and Policy Leadership

• Support and coordinate MANNA’s public policy and advocacy efforts related to federal nutrition programs and food security initiatives.
• Develop relationships with elected officials, government agencies, and policy partners to strengthen regional food security efforts.
• Utilize program outcomes and community data to inform policy advocacy and public awareness initiatives.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of program and partnership leaders responsible for community impact initiatives.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation across the community impact team.
• Promote professional development and leadership growth among staff while ensuring strong coordination across distributed teams and work sites.

Candidate Qualifications and Skills

• Minimum of 8–10 years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit program management, community development, public health, or a related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in public health, public administration, social work, nonprofit management, or a related field required; master’s degree preferred.
• Demonstrated success designing and implementing impactful community programs and initiatives.
• Experience building strategic partnerships with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, healthcare systems, and community stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of community-based service delivery, food security, public health, or social services environments.
• Proven leadership ability managing complex programs and high-performing teams.
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical skills, and ability to translate community data into actionable insights.
• Excellent communication, public speaking, and relationship-building skills.
• Passion for social justice, equity, and community-centered work.
• Experience with policy advocacy, community organizing, or government relations is preferred.
• Food banking or hunger relief experience is a plus.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated salary range for this position is $120,000 to $140,000 annually, commensurate with experience, qualifications, and alignment with organizational priorities. MANNA is also thrilled to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance, 401k with company matching up to 3%, short term and long-term disability insurance and generous paid time off.

POLICY ON PLACEMENT AND RECRUITING

The Batten Group and MANNA Foodbank are equal-opportunity employers committed to the principles of non-discrimination in the workplace. Candidates will not be discriminated against on the basis of age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, marital status, or any other basis that is prohibited by federal, state, or local law.