President & CEO

Opportunity In 2027, Ozarks Food Harvest will welcome its next leader as part of a planned succession for current President & CEO, Bart Brown, who has led the organization for 26 years. This is a unique opportunity for a dynamic and values‑aligned leader to guide a nationally respected food bank through its next chapter—building on four decades of impact while addressing the growing and evolving needs of communities across Missouri. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President & CEO will be responsible for Ozarks Food Harvest’s strategic vision, oversee its ~$50M annual budget (~$12M cash), and lead a dedicated team of 88 employees, including six direct reports (Director of Communications; Director of Development; Director of Finance & HR; Director of Full Circle Gardens; Director of Member Services; Director of Operations). Ozarks Food Harvest is fortunate to have a separately incorporated supporting organization, the Ozarks Food Harvest Foundation. The foundation (~$12M) exists to provide a perpetual income stream to Ozarks Food Harvest. The foundation has its own board of directors and governance. This opportunity will allow the CEO to work with foundation to grow its assets through planned giving and additional donor programs. The new President & CEO will join Ozarks Food Harvest at a time of strength and opportunity. With a strong financial position and operational foundation, a modern facility, a robust network of supporters, and a clear strategic framework in place, the organization is well‑positioned to deepen its impact. At the same time, the President & CEO will be charged with navigating a dynamic funding and policy landscape and advancing scalable, sustainable solutions to food insecurity. Responsibilities Strategic Leadership and Vision: Championing Ozarks Food Harvest’s mission and strategic priorities, setting and communicating a compelling vision for the future, and ensuring continued innovation, impact, and responsiveness to community needs. Organizational and Team Leadership: Leading, inspiring, and motivating a talented, mission‑driven staff and fostering a strong internal culture rooted in collaboration, equity, and accountability. Fundraising and External Relations: Serving as the organization’s primary ambassador; cultivating strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders including Feeding America and its affiliates, donors, corporate partners, community organizations, and others, effectively telling Ozarks Food Harvest’s story to inspire investment and partnership. Advocacy and Policy Engagement: Engaging with local, state, and national policymakers and coalitions to advance hunger‑related policy priorities and secure public support for food security solutions. Operational and Financial Management: Overseeing a large and complex nonprofit organization, ensuring long‑term financial sustainability and operational excellence. Reputation & Partnership Building: Advancing a more accurate and complete understanding of Ozarks Food Harvest’s mission, capabilities, and strategic direction. Strengthen and unify external messaging so community partners see Ozarks Food Harvest as a long‑term, values‑aligned ally in addressing hunger. Board Partnership and Governance: Building a strong partnership with the Board of Directors; ensuring strategic alignment, clear communication, and sound governance practices. Community Engagement: Demonstrating a deep commitment to those we serve, ensuring that Ozarks Food Harvest’s programs are grounded in the lived experiences of the communities served. Ideal Candidate Profile We look for an authentic, mission‑driven leader committed to Southwest Missouri. The candidate should bring humility, empathy, deep personal commitment to the mission and values, a strong commitment to the 28 counties served, a genuine passion for serving the region’s diverse communities, the ability to inspire confidence and connect with staff, donors, partners, and neighbors, strong listening skills, optimism, the ability to engage authentically across diverse communities, and the capacity to unify staff around a shared mission. Operational, Financial, and Organizational Leadership Brings strong operational skills for a complex, multi‑site nonprofit; demonstrates the ability to assess organizational structure, strengthen performance, steward resources responsibly; experienced in leading diverse teams; committed to staff development, balancing immediate operational needs with long‑term health; maintains clarity, accountability, and alignment across a distributed team. Relationship Builder & External Advocate Skilled in building trust‑based relationships across policymakers, donors, partners, agencies, and community leaders; capable of serving as a compelling external representative with strong communication, storytelling, and bipartisan policy engagement; able to elevate OFH’s voice and impact across Southwest Missouri; confident and energized by fundraising; fosters a culture of philanthropy. Strategic, Innovative, and Data‑Informed Thinker Envisions and advances innovative, community‑centered approaches to hunger relief; uses data to inform decisions and drive learning; navigates complexity across a diverse service area; demonstrates agility and adaptability through change. Preferred Qualifications & Leadership Attributes Food Bank Leadership Experience: 5+ years of leadership experience within food banking or affiliated hunger‑relief organizations. Advocacy & External Relations: Demonstrated success in advocacy efforts with established relationships across local, state and federal stakeholders, policymakers, and community partners. Community Commitment: Deep understanding of and commitment to southwest Missouri and the Ozarks region. Media & Public Presence: Proven ability to serve as a visible spokesperson; comfortable engaging across live, digital, and traditional media platforms. Financial Leadership: Demonstrated experience in budgeting oversight and the ability to interpret and manage nonprofit financial statements. Compensation Compensation for this role is expected to range from $150,000 to $210,000 commensurate with experience. This position also includes a comprehensive benefits package. EEO Statement At Ozarks Food Harvest, we’re passionate about making a difference in the lives of others – especially those who are food insecure. We believe everyone deserves enough to eat so they can lead a full and healthy life. Our mission has helped us build strong careers and a culture dedicated to working smart and efficiently. Ozarks Food Harvest is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace a philosophy that recognizes and values all. As a Feeding America member food bank, our goal is to attract, develop, retain, and promote a talented, diverse workforce in a culture where all employees contribute to their fullest potential. Additional Information This job description does not list all the duties of the position and is not a contract for employment. Employees may be required to perform other duties. Ozarks Food Harvest reserves the right to modify this job description at any time. Employment with Ozarks Food Harvest is at will and may be terminated by either the employee or the organization at any time, with or without cause or notice. #J-18808-Ljbffr