Director of Economic Mobility

Job Description

Job Description

St. Louis Area Foodbank (SLAFB)

JOB DESCRIPTION

Director of Economic Mobility

Immediate Supervisor: Vice President of Community Impact and Innovation

Employees Supervised: Economic Mobility Team

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Position Summary

The Director of Economic Mobility will lead the St. Louis Area Foodbank's Economic Mobility Strategy, an innovative initiative designed to decrease long-term reliance on food assistance by expanding access to upward economic mobility and financial stability through occupational training, workforce partnerships, financial literacy, and wraparound support. This leadership role oversees strategy development, program design and implementation, partnership cultivation, staff management, and outcomes evaluation to ensure individuals can access quality employment, achieve financial well-being, and experience long-term economic stability.

The Director will collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams, community partners, employers, and funders to transform food access sites into launch pads for long-term stability and opportunity. In doing so, the Director will lead a high-performing Economic Mobility team that advances the Foodbank's mission across the bi-state region.

Impact of the Role

The Director of Economic Mobility plays a critical role in advancing the Foodbank's next phase of strategic evolution – deepening our focus on economic empowerment and long-term stability across the bi-state region. By integrating food assistance with career training, financial tools, and wraparound services, this role directly advances the mission to support long-term independence, reduce food insecurity, and strengthen communities across the bi-state region.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Program Development

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve the Economic Mobility Strategy.
• Design and efficiently manage integrated pathways from food insecurity to stable employment, incorporating training, financial empowerment, and wraparound support services.
• Establish annual program goals, success metrics, and reporting structures aligned with strategic organizational priorities.
• Lead the design and execution of training cohorts, financial literacy programs, and job readiness initiatives.
• Supervise, coach, and develop Economic Mobility team members, fostering accountability, collaboration, and mission alignment while championing our core values (Evolve, People-Centric, Integrity, and Courage).

1. Occupational Training & Workforce Initiatives

• Establish and oversee career pathway programs in high-demand fields such as healthcare, logistics, skilled trades, Information Technology (IT), hospitality, food service, or renewable energy.
• Expand short-term credentialing opportunities such as forklift operation, Information Technology (IT) support, healthcare-related or skilled trades credentials, and other industry-recognized certifications.
• Develop apprenticeship and internship pathways through partnerships with trade schools and employers.
• Ensure job readiness workshops including resume development, interviewing skills, and workplace professionalism are accessible, effective, and aligned with employer expectations.

1. Financial Literacy & Wealth-Building Programming

• Oversee the creation and delivery of financial education workshops, coaching, and digital tools in partnership with industry experts and community leaders.
• Expand access to banking, savings, and credit-building products through partnerships with credit unions and community finance organizations, leveraging best-in-class resources and programming from community partners.
• Implement programs supporting budgeting, debt management, credit repair, homeownership readiness, and long-term financial planning.

1. Wraparound Support & Participant Success

• Collaborate with community partners to determine effective and efficient opportunities to implement transportation, childcare, digital access, and case management supports that reduce barriers to participation.
• Ensure participants receive ongoing food assistance during training and job transitions.
• Build and oversee a comprehensive case management system that tracks goals, monitors outcomes, and connects participants to external resources including but not limited to mental health, housing, and legal services.

1. Partnerships & Community Collaboration

• Serve as a liaison to workforce development boards, training institutions, colleges, nonprofits, employers, and financial partners that align with programmatic needs and outcomes.
• Strengthen existing partnerships and forge new alliances with agencies including St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE), Missouri Job Centers, St. Louis Community College, Ranken Technical College, and top businesses that align with occupational training and workforce development.
• Coordinate with partner organizations to align curricula, secure training slots, develop pipelines to employment, and conduct joint outreach.

1. Delivery Models & Innovation

• Oversee community-based delivery models such as community learning hubs, mobile training units, and virtual coaching platforms.
• Lead the creation of economic mobility hubs inside food pantries and distribution sites.
• Build and scale cohort-based learning models to foster peer support, retention, and successful completion.

1. Evaluation, Metrics & Reporting

• Create platforms to track and analyze short-, medium-, and long-term program outcomes, including:
• Training enrollment and credential attainment
• Employment outcomes and wage progression
• Credit score improvement and banking access
• Reduced reliance on food assistance
• Provide clear, data-driven program updates to leadership, funders, and community stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with all grant requirements, especially Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Food Projects.

1. Funding, Grants & Sustainability

• Identify, pursue, and manage grants, sponsorships, and funding opportunities to support the Economic Mobility Strategy.
• Cultivate partnerships that support program costs through training-to-hire investments or corporate sponsorships.
• Explore and partner with Foodbank leaders to scale foodbank-operated social enterprises such as logistics, catering, or packaging programs.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Workforce Development, Social Work, Public Administration, Education, Business, or related field (master's degree preferred).
• Seven (7) or more years of experience in workforce development, financial empowerment, nonprofit leadership, economic mobility, or related programs.
• Demonstrated success personally developing, launching, and scaling large, community-based initiatives and managing cross-sector partnerships.
• Five (5) or more years of progressive leadership experience overseeing teams, budgets, grant-funded initiatives, and measurable program performance and outcomes.
• Strong relationship-building skills with employers, educational institutions, funders, and community agencies.
• Knowledge of regional labor markets, workforce training models, and wraparound service systems.
• Ability to work collaboratively in diverse communities and communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Passion for creating long-term solutions to food insecurity and poverty.
• Demonstrated experience designing, launching, and overseeing strategic programs that achieve measurable, long-term positive outcomes for participants.
• Experience designing and scaling workforce and economic mobility initiatives in collaboration with community partners preferred.
• Must successfully pass pre-employment drug screening and criminal background checks.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Planning & Execution
• Partnership Development
• Program Design and Management
• Workforce & Economic Development Knowledge
• Financial Literacy Expertise
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Staff Leadership & Team Building
• Grant Writing & Fund Management
• Communication & Public Speaking
• Social Responsibility, Inclusion & Community Engagement

Work Environment

• Monday – Friday onsite at the SLAFB facility and in the community as needed.

• On-site work environment with frequent travel to partner sites, training locations, and community hubs. Hybrid option is available up to two (2) days per week after successful completion of the first ninety (90) days and in accordance with the Foodbank's Remote Work Policy.
• Special events and other projects related to this position may require occasional evening and/or weekend hours and work.

The impact you will make...

Building a stronger bi-state region by nourishing people, empowering communities, and transforming systems.

At the St. Louis Area Foodbank, we are working to create a nutritionally secure Missouri and Illinois where no one goes to bed hungry. With the dedicated partnership of over 600 hunger relief programs and local agencies - including soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and residential programs - we are responding to hunger in communities across 26 counties in Missouri and Illinois by distributing food to more than 400,000 people every year.

Since opening in 1975, and with this community's tremendous support and generosity, the St. Louis Area Foodbank has grown to become our region's largest food distribution charity dedicated to feeding those in need. Together, we are feeding people and working to address the root causes of hunger for a lasting impact every day.

What we can offer you...

Beyond a great mission, dedicated team members and an incredible opportunity to truly make a difference in our community, you will be generously rewarded for your contributions including:

• Competitive pay commensurate with experience
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) plan
• 403b plan with amazing company match
• Comprehensive benefits (medical, dental, vision, and more!)

We work hard, play hard, and change lives - so apply to join our Foodbank Family!

Social Responsibility Statement

You are welcome at the St. Louis Area Foodbank (SLAFB) for who you are. At the SLAFB, we strive to empower our team to embrace and celebrate who they are. We cultivate a fair work environment that fosters belonging and respects and values people with varied backgrounds, demographics, identities and disabilities. Doing so strengthens our organization, cultivates a culture where everyone feels valued and can bring their best selves to the SLAFB. This enables us to nourish people, empower communities, and transform systems. At the SLAFB, we cultivate a respectful and empowered workplace that embraces a broad range of lived experiences and viewpoints. We are committed to building a team that reflects the neighbors and communities we serve in the bi-state region to enhance engagement and connectivity with all key stakeholders.

This job description does not list all the duties of the job. Performance of other duties may be requested. Evaluations will be in part based upon performance of the tasks listed in this job description. St. Louis Area Foodbank has the right to revise this job description at any time. The job description is not a contract for employment.

Created February 2026