Community Nutrition Program Manager

Your Role in Our Mission

As a Community Nutrition Program Manager, you are responsible for the overall leadership, coordination, and successful delivery of Good Shepherd Food Bank’s community nutrition programs across Maine. You provide strategic and operational leadership for programs such as Cooking Matters and SNAP Outreach, ensuring they are planned, implemented, evaluated, and continuously improved to expand equitable access to nutrition education and healthy food resources.

You oversee program design and delivery through collaboration with community partners, volunteers, and internal teams, using data and feedback to strengthen program quality, improve efficiency, and increase community impact. Your work directly supports the Food Bank’s mission by strengthening community partnerships, expanding program reach, and ensuring high-quality nutrition programming for people across Maine.

In This Position, You Will

• Program Leadership & Management
• Lead the statewide delivery and performance of the Cooking Matters program.
• Develop and manage annual plans, including goals, timelines, metrics, and resources.
• Ensure execution aligns with program standards, grant requirements, and organizational priorities.
• Maintain performance, identify risks, and implement improvements.
• Advance program design using data, feedback, and community needs.
• Program Operations & Execution
• Plan and execute program activities, including classes, training, outreach events, and partner engagement.
• Maintain operational systems and workflows for consistent, scalable delivery.
• Oversee logistics, including materials, food procurement, scheduling, and site readiness.
• Deliver activities on time and to quality standards.
• Partnership Strategy & Community Engagement
• Serve as the primary contact for community partners.
• Build and sustain partnerships with food pantries, healthcare providers, schools, and community organizations.
• Develop partnerships to expand program reach and impact.
• Lead partner communication and resolve issues to maintain strong collaboration.
• Represent the program externally, strengthening visibility and alignment with community needs.
• Data, Evaluation & Performance Management
• Maintain systems for program tracking, data collection, and performance monitoring.
• Analyze data to assess effectiveness and inform decisions.
• Ensure accurate, timely reporting for organizational and funder requirements.
• Translate insights into program improvements.
• Volunteer Support & Program Implementation
• Cook program-specific volunteer training, scheduling, and support.
• Prepare volunteers to deliver high-quality program services.
• Maintain volunteer scheduling, communication, documentation, and compliance systems.
• Support volunteers during program delivery while keeping records and requirements up to date.
• Cross-Functional Partnership with Volunteer Engagement
• Partner with Volunteer Engagement on volunteer recruitment, onboarding, and retention.
• Cook a reliable volunteer pipeline aligned with program needs.
• Share insights to strengthen volunteer experience and effectiveness.
• Align program practices with organizational standards and systems.

Milestones

• In the First 60 Days, You Will:
• Learn, Assess, and Stabilize
• Build a strong understanding of the program, its partners, and daily operations.
• Review active plans, schedules, partnerships, and program activities.
• Identify immediate operational risks or gaps.
• Build relationships with key internal teams and community partners.
• Become familiar with volunteer coordination, reporting requirements, and performance metrics.
• Address priority operational needs and improve clarity in at least one area.
• In the First 90 Days, You Will:
• Organize, Align, and Improve
• Develop or refine annual program plans, goals, timelines, and metrics.
• Align activities with grant requirements and organizational priorities.
• Improve workflows, scheduling, and operational consistency.
• Establish reliable volunteer scheduling and forecasting.
• Strengthen partner relationships and use data to guide program improvements.
• In the First 6 Months, You Will:
• Own, Optimize, and Expand
• Lead program performance and operations.
• Strengthen systems that improve consistency and efficiency.
• Maintain reliable volunteer support.
• Expand and strengthen community partnerships.
• Use data to drive continuous improvement and reporting.
• In the First 12 Months, You Will:
• Strengthen, Scale, and Lead
• Lead annual planning, goal setting, and program growth.
• Evolve programs based on data, feedback, and community needs.
• Maintain scalable operational systems.
• Strengthen partnerships across the organization and community.
• Expand program reach and community impact.

As a Successful Candidate, You Have

• 3–5 years of experience in program management, community-based programming, or public health/nutrition initiatives.
• Experience managing complex programs with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience working with volunteers and community partnerships.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, including planning, tracking, and execution.
• Experience with data collection, reporting, and program evaluation.
• A commitment to advancing equitable access to food, nutrition education, and public benefits.

Physical and Other Requirements & Work Environment

This position combines remote, office-based, and community-based work and requires regular travel throughout Maine to support program sites, volunteers, community partners, and outreach activities. Occasional evening and weekend hours are required to support classes, trainings, outreach events, and other program activities.

The position requires extended periods of sitting, standing, and walking; frequent use of a computer and other office technology; and the ability to communicate effectively in person, virtually, and in writing. Responsibilities include reading and interpreting information, preparing reports and program materials, and coordinating activities across multiple locations. The position also requires the ability to transport program materials and supplies to community sites as needed.