Operation Blessing (OB) is dedicated to demonstrating God's love by alleviating human suffering in the U.S. and around the world. Through compassionate, efficient, and locally-focused programs, OB targets the specific needs of those they serve, in the U.S. and around the world, and provide a gateway for their partners to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ for those who are suffering and in need.
The Director of Hunger Relief Programs is a new position that will direct the development and execution of OB’s Hunger Relief programs in the U.S. that address the needs of people and communities suffering from hunger, to include clear and measurable impact with documented data, regarding beneficiaries, demographics and program services provided.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Operation Blessing (OB) was founded in 1978 by Pat Robertson as a humanitarian outreach program of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), when he was impressed by the Lord to embrace the scripture in Isaiah 58:7 (NIV), "Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?".
OB was originally set up to help struggling individuals and families by matching their needs for items such as clothing, appliances and vehicles to donated items from viewers of CBN's daily television program, The 700 Club. Coordinating with local churches and other organizations, OB expanded their matching funds program to also include food provisions and financial assistance to low-income families.
In 1990, the ministry began moving from individual assistance to helping fund outreach centers across the U.S. In turn, these OB outreach centers would provide a broad, community impact through their partnerships with local ministries, food pantries and shelters.
Today, domestically and internationally, OB continues to expand its mitigation efforts in the areas of disaster relief, medical aid, hunger relief and clean water.
In 1986, Operation Blessing International Relief and Development Corporation was officially incorporated as its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To this day, OB remains a controlled affiliate of the Christian Broadcasting Network, and relies solely on charitable contributions from the private and public sectors.
The organization is led by President & Director, Gordon Robertson, and his leadership team of Drew Friedrich, Chief Operating Officer; Jeff Westling, Chief of Staff; Ben Edwards, Vice President of International Operations; Steve O’Grady, Vice President of Operations & Logistics; and Ronda Sherman, Vice President of Philanthropy. They have a full-time staff of 115, 43 of whom are part of the Hunger Relief/Operations & Logistics Department. In FY2022, contributions will be just over $31 million, with an additional $45 million Gifts-in-Kind. The U.S. Hunger Program budget is approximately $8 million.
HOW THEY ACCOMPLISH THEIR MISSION
Operation Blessing accomplishes what it does, from an organizational and global mission perspective, by staying focused on its four core program pillars:
Hunger Relief
Clean Water
Disaster Relief
Medical Aid
OB’s distribution network of food, hygiene and durable goods in the U.S. currently exceeds 40 million pounds annually. They have distribution centers in Chesapeake, VA, Ocala, FL, Grand Prairie, TX, and Bristol, TN, which collectively amass over 285,000 square feet of storage capacity. Additionally, OBI’s transportation fleet has 16 tractors and 75 trailers that not only support domestic feeding programs, but are also an intricate facet of OBI’s ability to aggressively respond to natural and man-made domestic disasters. OB’s fleet of tractor-trailers delivers millions of pounds of food, drinks and more to our network of food pantries and churches across the country to help prevent hunger-related health problems and, ultimately, end hunger in America.
Through compassionate, efficient, and locally-focused programs, OB is able to target the specific needs of those they serve and provide a gateway for their partners to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus for those who are suffering and in need.
In the U.S., even many working families have a difficult time making ends meet. In addition, the unemployed, disabled, sick and elderly all too often go hungry. Their generous donors make possible the distribution of truckloads of food and drinks to local food pantries, churches and other partner organizations. Large corporations donate food, and OB sends out its fleet of Hunger Strike Force semi-trucks to get that food into the hands of those who need it most, helping put an end to hunger in America.
OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES
There is a total commitment by OB leadership and the entire team to serve as Jesus' hands and feet to those in need and to expand and grow the ministry within the four pillars to maximize the number of people served as a witness to Christ's love. The culture is best described as God-loving, forward-thinking, faith-walking, and inter-departmentally engaging and collaborative.
But as you can imagine, the needs far outstrip the available resources. Key opportunities and challenges that must continue to be addressed are:
Shift the hunger relief business line from a logistics and transportation organization to a hunger relief program architecture that relies upon the existing logistics and transportation framework for mission success.
Extensive program and project management expertise that can be directly applied to hunger relief program development and management. The new director will train, develop, guide, equip and enable the entire hunger relief program management and logistics teams to better adopt and leverage industry standard program and project management practices to enhance mission outcomes. This includes program/project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring & evaluation, and closeout with an emphasis on outcome measurements and impacts for recipients of OB's programs and services.
Expertise is needed in program opportunity planning, including teaching and conducting analyses of current and future market expansion opportunities that investigates community demographics, product availability, health risks, and hunger relief needs. Hunger relief program development, outcome-based reporting, and program/project design that supports fundraising and marketing requirements to maximize revenue-building opportunities.
Program management creativity that identifies opportunities for future growth with expertise to propose, initiate, plan, execute, monitor, evaluate, and report on successes while taking appropriate corrective actions to ensure multiple simultaneous hunger relief programs and projects operate effectively and efficiently.
The need in this new role is for an experienced program manager with a track record of developing, directing and executing multiple programs and projects simultaneously on a national or large-scale regional area. Someone with strong application-based success utilizing the Project Management Institute's international project management standards.
Experience with hunger relief programs is highly desired, but not essential, if the candidate has a high propensity to apply program management principles in order to become an expert in new programs. This is not a program director or program/project management trainee position. This servant-leader must be an expert program manager who can teach and execute proven program management principles while learning the unique components and characteristics of hunger relief programs.
Ideally, this new director would be:
(1) experienced in program development and execution,
(2) an inspirational leader,
(3) seasoned, mature and cool under pressure,
(4) relational—able to serve as the organization's face in public interactions, develop a strong community presence,
(5) effective in working with a diverse team of employees, partners, suppliers, and community leaders, and
(6) faithful to the organization's mission and goals, the communities and partners served, team members, and to our God who grants the vision and power to succeed.
POSITION PROFILE
TITLE: Director, Hunger Relief Programs
REPORTS TO: Chief of Staff
DIRECT REPORTS: Senior Manager, Local Feeding Programs; Project Manager, Local Feeding Program VA; Local Feeding Programs Supervisor VA; Local Feeding Programs Supervisor TN (future); Local Feeding Programs Supervisor TX (future); Local Feeding Programs Supervisor FL (future). NOTE: This Director will also lead a matrixed team of people from the procurement and disaster relief departments, coupled with the warehousing, logistics and transportation sections—under the VP for Ops and Logistics—in the accomplishment of all domestic hunger relief programs.
LOCATION: Remote (headquarters is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia)
JOB OBJECTIVE
Direct the development and execution of Hunger Relief programs in the U.S. that address the needs of people and communities suffering from hunger and result in clear and measurable impact.
DUTIES & TASKS
Work with Operation Blessing leadership team to establish a strategic vision and guiding philosophy that will inform short- and long-term goals of OB’s Hunger Relief programs.
Serve as a subject matter expert on the issues facing food insecure households in the U.S.; researching, identifying and recommending Hunger Relief program opportunities in alignment with strategic priorities and plans.
Based on Hunger Relief program goals, requirements and needs assessments, identify resource requirements (product, funding, staffing, partnerships) to provide clear needs statements for development staff.
Manage teams and project managers to implement programs that make a measurable community impact based on in-depth partner needs assessments.
Develop a program assessment methodology and lead the monitoring and evaluation effort for Hunger Relief programs; regularly reviewing programs and projects for effectiveness and potential improvements.
Track and report on hunger program impact, supporting findings with documented data regarding beneficiaries, demographics and program services provided.
Establish annual program and staff goals, objectives, and accountability protocols, creating a way to monitor and track results.
Manage program budget development and ongoing tracking, maintaining a high level of fiscal responsibility and stewardship.
Develop a team-based environment to motivate and inspire staff to work collaboratively toward vision and goal, by clearly communicating organizational vision, implementing yearly staff development plans and mentoring.
Manage and support the marketing and media strategy for Hunger Relief programs with the various CBN/OB media teams in support of Operation Blessing and partner missions and goals.
Respond to foundation, major donor, corporate and ministry partner requests for proposals and applications in partnership with Philanthropy, Procurement, and senior staff.
Coordinate planning and activities necessary for design of effective hunger programs, with monitoring and evaluation measures that meet donor requirements and expectations.
Develop strong internal working relationships with Philanthropy, Procurement, Finance, Marketing, Ministry Reporting Task Force, and other departments that support the effective implementation and evaluation of program strategies.
Support and assist Vice President of Operations and Logistics, and Chief of Staff, as requested.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
A vibrant and growing relationship with Jesus Christ and agreement with OB’s Statement of Faith.
Senior level program management experience for a humanitarian nonprofit organization.
Demonstrated knowledge of nonprofit business practices and initiatives.
Experience in managing a Hunger Relief Program is preferred.
Excellent ability to lead, manage and motivate staff.
Strong experience in budget development, monitoring and evaluation.
Excellent logistical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Strong project management skills with ability to prioritize and oversee multiple projects simultaneously.
Strong time management and organizational skills with attention to detail.
Strong interpersonal skills with ability to establish professional rapport with all levels of management, staff and outside public.
Self-motivated with ability to work independently as well as be an effective member of a team.
Flexible with ability to work well under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
Proficient in Microsoft Office, with application emphasis in Excel and Access.
Ability to travel.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Salary: Target salary is $80-90,000, but will be based on experience.
Benefits: Medical, dental, life (2x salary), STD, LTD, PPL, 401(k) plan.
Vacation: Three (3) weeks.
Relocation: N/A
Travel: Up to twenty five percent (25%), including regular visits to the Virginia Beach headquarters, and depending on program development and execution needs.