Learn more about this exciting opportunity
Key Role
This is a chance to join the Ottawa Food Bank at an important point in its development and contribute to decisions that will shape the organization’s impact in the years ahead.
Impactful Position
As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will have a voice in strategic decision-making and the ability to influence how the Programs and Planning function supports the organization’s direction as it continues to look beyond emergency food toward longer-term solutions to food insecurity.
Leadership Position
You will also have the opportunity to provide leadership and mentorship to a passionate and knowledgeable group of individuals.
Director, Programs and Planning @ Ottawa Food Bank
Company: Ottawa Food Bank
Position: Director, Programs and Planning
The Ottawa Food Bank is a leading Canadian registered charity and non-profit organization dedicated to providing healthy, accessible, and sustainable food for all. Established in 1984, the organization has grown to become a critical support system for the Nation’s Capital, working through a Network of Community Agencies to respond to food insecurity across Ottawa. As the Ottawa Food Bank sees firsthand how hunger affects the community and how it can become a barrier to success, it has become a strong advocate for a healthier, more food-secure city.
In recent years, the Ottawa Food Bank has broadened its focus beyond the supply of emergency food. Recognizing that food security is about addressing root causes, the organization is working to increase access to nutritious and culturally appropriate food while tackling systemic poverty. In addition to supporting access to adequate and nutritious food for all, the Ottawa Food Bank also advocates for policies to increase the availability of affordable housing, provide adequate income support, and increase funding for mental health services.
Today, the Ottawa Food Bank continues to evolve alongside the community it serves. As the organization works with its network to reimagine what food banks can look like in Ottawa, it is focused on responding to the diverse needs of the community and strengthening the system of support available to those experiencing food insecurity. The key to its ability to deliver on this mandate is its staff of 50 and team of volunteers, who offer over 21, 000 hours of their time annually. In addition, the Ottawa Food Bank is supported by the generosity of individuals and corporations in the communities it serves.
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Compensation: $114,594-$143,243
We use AI-powered tools (such as Fathom, Gemini, and Monica) to support certain administrative aspects of our recruitment process, such as interview note-taking, transcription, and summarization. These tools are used to improve efficiency and consistency. All AI-generated outputs are reviewed by a qualified recruiting professional, and all hiring decisions are made by humans. We do not use AI for selection purposes but do utilize AI powered search functions (Microsoft/Google) to help identify candidates on behalf of our clients.
Skills & Experience
Change Management
You approach change thoughtfully, taking the time to understand the environment, assess needs, and build on what is already working well.
Collaborative Leader
As a collaborative leader with a high degree of emotional intelligence, you are able to understand differing perspectives and build trust with the people around you.
Experience
You are an experienced leader who brings a combination of strategic thinking, strong people management, and the ability to translate direction into action.
Sound Judgement
You bring stability during periods of change and can work through ambiguity with sound judgement, staying focused on what matters most and maintaining momentum on key priorities without needing a rigid playbook.
Clear Communication
Clear communication and the ability to work effectively across different teams and stakeholder groups will be important in this role.
Active Listener
You listen actively, communicate with respect and integrity, and build strong relationships with the people around you.
Summary of the Role
The Director, Programs and Planning is a key leadership role within the Ottawa Food Bank, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and serving as a member of the Executive Leadership Team. In this capacity, you will lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for the initiatives, partnerships, and programs that strengthen the organization’s network and advance its response to food insecurity and broader community needs. At the heart of the role is providing guidance, support and strategic direction for how the Ottawa Food Bank works with its member agencies, ensuring these partnerships support both the effective distribution of food and broader efforts to improve outcomes for people experiencing food insecurity.
Working closely with the CEO and your peers on the Executive Leadership Team, you will translate organizational direction into action through operational planning, oversight of key initiatives, and thoughtful decision-making about where the department focuses its efforts. With full accountability for the department’s budget, you will ensure resources are managed effectively in support of its priorities. You will also work closely with Operations and Finance, participating in regular operational discussions to align food distribution modelling, inventory trends, and program budgets.
Now in the second year of its three-year strategic plan, the Ottawa Food Bank is moving from planning into implementation and testing. Using client intake data, community insight, and the perspectives of people with lived experience, you will assess progress and help determine where adjustments may be needed to key frameworks and initiatives, including agency catchment models, granting programs, and the Wraparound Supports Initiative. You will also help strengthen the systems and tools that support how the department manages information, tracks its work, and makes decisions, including leading the implementation of a new departmental CRM.
Internally, you will lead a department that is continuing to take shape, establishing clear accountabilities, supporting team development, and fostering cross-functional collaboration following a period of transition and staffing gaps. Externally, you will maintain and strengthen relationships with the network and key partners, including Ottawa Public Health, Ottawa Community Housing, and the City of Ottawa. As a key presence in strategic conversations involving partnership, risk, and future network direction, you will ensure organizational decisions reflect the realities of the communities being served.
Apply for this opportunity
Thank you for your application for this opportunity. Due to the high number of applications we receive, we will only be contacting those that are under consideration for the role.