Chief Network Officer

• Shape national office priorities focusing on building network capacity, optimizing performance and building deep network engagement. Deepen understanding among national office staff for network needs, challenges and realities and lead efforts to ensure there is alignment of outreach to members and coherence in the way in which our resources are deployed. Build trust and collaboration in the network including FANO and foodbank staff. Drive alignment to strategic priorities and outcomes.
• Create, market and communicate a comprehensive member services framework across all functions of the national office that supports the adoption and implementation of national strategies at a local level and deepens understanding of local needs. Provide direction and leadership to cross functional staff in the implementation and development of services to members through concept analysis, supervision and evaluation. Seek input and recommendations from staff on ways to continuously improve service to members that will improve their effectiveness and build network capacity.
• Oversee the design, development and implementation of the organization’s research agenda related to food insecurity, health, nutrition, and related social and economic issues and policies with a focus on strengthening network knowledge around food insecurity and helping network members identify the most effective interventions to address food insecurity and eliminate it’s root causes while deepening understanding of the client’s we serve.
• Work in collaboration with the IT data team to improve network data management systems and processes and augment this data through other vehicles such as listening sessions and member satisfaction surveys. Help the national office to leverage analytics and performance benchmarking frameworks to translate data into insights about what drives high performance in key areas like food sourcing, fundraising, mobilization of the community, and organizational efficiency. Leverage insights in ways that help member food banks set new goals, identify winning strategies, connect with best practitioners and ultimately improve performance.
• Drive value to members through learning and best practice sharing within communities of practice, peer groups, learning conferences, member training, new leader onboarding and other vehicles to facilitate collaboration, best practice sharing and peer learning.
• Develop a model that supports core and customized member services and provides services to food banks based on level of need to achieve strategic outcomes. Determine appropriate cost models inclusive of annual member dues, donor support (both in‐kind and financial) and a fee for service models (where warranted).
• Oversee the Compliance function, ensuring network compliance with the member contract. Mitigate compliance risk through effective consultation and capacity building support for members. Escalate probation/suspension and termination recommendations to the COO and CEO respectively.  Manage the development of member contract amendments and a new member contract when needed.
• In partnership with the SVP Legal and Governance, provide opportunities for deeper engagement with local board members to facilitate their effective governance responsibilities and deeper understanding of the value that FANO brings to the network.
• Oversee the distribution of grants to members. Continuously improve the grants management process to improve ease of application while delivering on donor stewardship commitments and maximizing impact of our/our donors’ investments in the network.

The ideal candidate will have the following competencies, qualities and characteristics: