Job Description

Location: Salem, Massachusetts

Type: Full Time

Salary: $150,000

The Opportunity:

Root seeks a visionary, community-driven leader to step into the role of Executive Director, guiding our mission to empower young people through culinary training, transitional employment, and food security initiatives. As a social enterprise, Root operates at the intersection of nonprofit leadership and business innovation, using food as a powerful tool for workforce development and community impact.

The Executive Director will lead a dedicated team of 13 full-time staff, along with an evolving cohort of training program alumni who participate in our transitional employment program. With an annual budget of nearly $2 million, Root’s funding is driven by philanthropy, grant support, and revenue-generating food enterprises, alongside two major annual fundraising events.

Because Root is a social enterprise, we seek a combination of non-profit leadership and business management skills and experience in the Executive Director. Management-level operating experience in the culinary or related sectors is highly desirable, as are demonstrated entrepreneurial skills. Experience working with a socially and economically diverse youth population and demonstrated success encouraging and incorporating youth voice in the organization will be key differentiators. Comfort with financial management, board governance support, and non-profit development are important core competencies. In a relatively flat management organization, experienced staff support the operational complexity of the training program and commercial kitchen activities and play an integral role in planning and execution of events and food enterprise initiatives to cross-subsidize Root’s training and food security work.

The Executive Director will work closely with Root’s Board of Directors on the development, execution, and funding of its strategic plan. Community partner non-profits, local restaurants and businesses, and town and city governments are key constituents in this work. Board members are actively engaged in committee work and task-driven working groups with the management team and will be key partners of the Executive Director in the important cultivation and development responsibilities of the role.

Why This Role?

Root has a proven model of social impact, using food to build futures and strengthen communities. Even in times of crisis—such as the COVID-19 pandemic—our team has adapted, innovated, and expanded access to meals and job training for those in need. The next Executive Director will have the opportunity to shape the future of Root, growing its programs, deepening community connections, and expanding opportunities for the young people we serve.

If you are a bold, socially conscious leader with a passion for food, workforce development, and nonprofit innovation, this is your chance to make a lasting impact. Join us in harnessing the power of food for social change!

Qualifications:

• Successful experience in a senior management position with direct responsibility for strategy, revenue generation, program, budget and board functions for an organization(s) of comparable size and complexity
• Track record of effectively leading and scaling a business
• Ability to develop and operationalize strategies to advance an organization through successive stages of growth
• Deep and heartfelt passion for and commitment to the mission of Root, along with the energy and endurance to achieve the ambitious goals of the organization.
• Financially savvy and politically astute leader able to set clear priorities, delegate and guide investment in people and systems, and apply analytic, organizational and problem-solving skills to operational challenges
• Demonstrated ability to build coalitions in the community and work effectively with internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent communicator with exceptional writing and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated maturity, presence, and intellect to inspire confidence among the Board, donor community, staff, and youth
• Fluency with financial operations, analysis, and accounting
• Proficiency or fluency in Spanish a plus
• Occasional weekend and evening availability is required; limited opportunity for remote work; must be based in Essex County.

Compensation and Benefits: The salary is $150,000 commensurate with experience, and benefits include health, dental, and PTO. This is a full-time in-person position based in our offices in Salem, MA.

Application Instructions: Please fill out the application questions on this page and attach your resume. The priority deadline to apply is Monday, April 14, 2025. To learn more about Root, please visit: . This search is being led by . Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

The youth and communities served by Root are diverse, and we aspire to reflect that diversity in our staff. Root strives to have the most diverse applicant pool possible; to that end, we encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply for any position at Root. By fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, we seek to provide the best training experience and employment environment for Root Trainees and alumni, and ensure they are prepared to succeed in the 21st Century workplace.

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