Chief Operating Officer

The Farmlink Project · United States · 2 wk ago

RemoteRemoteManagement$190k–$220k/yrFull-time

The Farmlink Project is a national nonprofit that connects farms with surplus produce to hunger-fighting charities, reducing food waste and carbon emissions while addressing food insecurity. Since 2020, Farmlink has moved over 500 million pounds of donated food, unlocking nearly $90 million in food value, without owning trucks or warehouses. The organization runs post-harvest and pre-harvest food recovery programs on a shared operational backbone, aiming to scale pre-harvest recovery to close the gap on the 30 billion pounds of on-farm surplus left unharvested each year.

About the role

The Chief Operating Officer will hold the full operational picture of Farmlink’s food recovery network, driving strategy and execution for both post-harvest and pre-harvest programs. This role involves owning the operating plan, supply chain, logistics, and earned revenue channels, as well as building data-driven systems to match surplus food with community partners. The COO will lead a cross-functional team, innovate to close cost gaps, and ensure scalable, impactful outcomes.

Responsibilities

Vision & Strategy:
- Own Farmlink’s operating plan, translating 2030 goals into annual targets, resourcing, and sequencing.
- Set strategy and oversee execution of food operations and logistics across post-harvest and pre-harvest, adapting to market dynamics.
- Serve as the CEO’s operational counterpart on org-wide decisions and strategy for the board and external stakeholders.
Operations & Continuous Improvement:
- Build and oversee the supply chain network of growers, food donors, shippers, carriers, and logistics partners.
- Own the strategy for national partner network growth, collaborating with the Senior Strategist of Food Recovery.
- Drive continuous improvement and operational innovation, piloting new approaches and adjusting course as needed.
Innovation:
- Close the cost gap between pre-harvest and post-harvest recoveries by testing packaging, harvest labor, and transport partnerships.
- Develop, test, and iterate earned revenue channels to generate mission-aligned revenue beyond philanthropy.
- Build capacity intelligence, including surplus risk tracking and food rescue databases, to match available food with receiving organizations.
Leadership & Teamwork:
- Collaborate with the VP of Programs & Impact to ensure measurable mission delivery.
- Own the operating budget for the food rescue network, partnering with finance and program leaders on forecasting and expense management.
- Build and lead a high-performing, cross-functional team across food operations, logistics, technology, and innovation.

Requirements

Experience: Seasoned executive leader with a track record of scaling operational models and setting strategy.
Business Model: Career built in complex operational, supply chain, or logistics environments, with exposure to perishable goods, freight, packaging, distribution, and vendor economics.
Partnerships & Deal Making: Strong negotiator and dealmaker, comfortable structuring agreements between farmers, partners, and agencies.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Analytical mindset that tracks KPIs and turns data into clear decisions.
Culture: Low-ego, high-EQ leader who fosters collaboration and shared success.
Remote-First: Comfortable running an asset-light, fully remote, and dispersed operation.
Location: Based full-time in the USA, with up to 20% travel time.

Qualifications

Direct experience in food recovery or fresh produce movement is a plus but not required.
Entrepreneurial, resourceful, and fiscally responsible, with an ownership mentality.
Structured, organized, and process-driven, with a focus on scalability and continuous improvement.
Adaptable, comfortable with ambiguity, and willing to change course when data doesn’t support hypotheses.
Hands-on leader who thrives in fast-paced environments and leads by doing.

Benefits