Director of Partner Relations and Support

Position Summary

The Director of Partner Relations and Support provides leadership for the Partner Relations team and plays a critical role in strengthening relationships with Food Depository partners to ensure effective, equitable, and quality food access across Cook County. This role is responsible for people leadership, operational oversight, program management and the successful execution of partner-facing initiatives and food-related projects aligned with organizational strategy.

The Director serves as a key collaborator and thought partner to the Senior Director of Partner Relations and Support, supporting the implementation of strategic priorities while ensuring day-to-day partner needs, projects, and relationship management are executed with excellence. While this role leads team operations and project execution, strategic direction and ownership of major initiatives remain with the Senior Director.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Partner Relations Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop the Partner Relations team to deliver consistent, high-quality support to Food Depository partners.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement focused on partner experience and community impact.
• Ensure partner relationships are managed with consistency, respect, and alignment to Food Depository values and standards.

Partner Support & Food-Related Projects

• Oversee the execution of food access programs and partner-facing projects, ensuring timely implementation and alignment with established goals.
• Support food-related initiatives that strengthen partner capacity, improve food distribution models, and enhance service delivery across the network.
• Collaborate with the Senior Director to advance equity-centered approaches in partner support and food access programming.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with internal teams-including Operations, Inventory Control, Procurement, Technology, Community Engagement, and Policy & Advocacy to coordinate partner and food-related initiatives.
• Support organization-wide projects that require partner engagement, ensuring clear communication, implementation support, and issue resolution.
• Serve as a connector between program strategy and operational execution.

Strategic Support & Thought Partnership

• Act as a thought partner to the Senior Director of Partner Relations and Support by contributing insights, operational perspectives, and recommendations.
• Support the planning and rollout of system enhancements, process improvements, and partner-facing tools (e.g., CRM, data systems).
• Create and implement strategies that support and strengthen the capacity of our partner network, such as supporting the volunteer and training needs of our partners
• Prepare summaries, updates, and performance insights related to partner relations and team outcomes for leadership review.
• Lead ongoing program review and optimization across key food access program models to ensure efficiency and delivering desired outcomes.

Performance & Quality Management

• Ensure service standards, policies, and performance metrics are consistently followed across the Partner Relations team.
• Identify trends, risks, and opportunities related to partner experience and recommend improvements.
• Support continuous improvement efforts to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and partner satisfaction.

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

Leadership & People Management

• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong coaching skills with experience managing complex workloads and priorities.
• Ability to lead through change with clarity and empathy.

Relationship & Communication Skills

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and influence skills.
• Proven ability to build trust with external partners and internal stakeholders.
• Skilled at navigating difficult conversations and resolving issues professionally.

Strategic & Operational Thinking

• Ability to translate strategy into actionable plans and oversee execution.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Comfortable operating in a complex, cross-functional environment.

Equity & Community-Centered Practice

• Commitment to equity-centered approaches in food access, partner engagement, and service delivery.
• Cultural humility and respect for community voice and lived experience.
• Experience working in or alongside community-based organizations preferred.

Analytical & Systems Skills

• Ability to interpret data, assess performance metrics, and identify improvement opportunities.
• Experience supporting the implementation or use of technology systems to improve partner experience.

Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously

QUALIFICATIONS

• Equivalent experience or Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred
• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in partner relations, community engagement, social services, program management, or a related field.
• Prior experience leading teams and managing cross-functional projects.
• Experience in food access, nonprofit, or community-based organizations strongly preferred.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution
• Generous paid time off
• Parental leave
• On-site gym
• $3,000 annual employer-paid ThrivePass lifestyle and wellness benefit program
• $250 employee referral bonus