Executive Director, Kids Feeding Kids

Location: Kansas City metropolitan area
Employment: Full-time
Reports to: Pete’s Garden Board of Directors
Salary: $90,000 - $120,000

About Pete’s Garden and Kids Feeding Kids
Pete’s Garden helps families share wholesome meals at home and brings people together to address food insecurity. Kids Feeding Kids, an anchor program of Pete’s Garden, combines food education with community service. Through curriculum, teacher training and classroom support, the program equips educators to engage students in preparing meals for families while learning about nutrition, food waste and the impact of giving back. Together, these efforts reflect a commitment to strong families, connected communities and meaningful action to improve access to food. Learn more about Kids Feeding Kids on the website.

Position Summary
Due to the growth and success of the Kids Feeding Kids program, Pete’s Garden leadership and Board believe it is time for the program to have a dedicated leader to steward the next phase of the program. As a result, Pete’s Garden seeks an entrepreneurial, collaborative, results-oriented leader to be Kids Feeding Kids’ first-ever Executive Director.

Working in partnership with Pete’s Garden’s existing leadership and the Board, the Executive Director will balance strategic planning with practical execution. The Executive Director will lead fundraising, planning and execution, external engagement, as well as oversee educational and culinary quality through qualified staff and partners. This is an opportunity for an experienced leader who can translate a compelling mission into clear priorities, effective systems and measurable results.
 
Key Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership: Develop and implement a clear vision, an annual operating plan, and establish a 3-5 year strategic plan with achievable growth objectives aligned with staffing, funding and community needs.
• Fundraising and resource development: Responsible for funding the annual operating budget, currently around $500,000 per year, but increasing as the program grows.  Cultivate, solicit and steward individual donors, foundations and corporate partners in coordination with Pete’s Garden’s Board and efforts on other Pete’s Garden initiatives. Communicate a compelling case for investment and lead efforts to build sustainable funding.
• Program development and operations: Strengthen the operating model across educator recruitment, onboarding, training, classroom implementation and reporting. Establish clear processes, responsibilities and tools that support consistent delivery.
• Team leadership: Coach and support a team of 3 staff, set priorities, delegate effectively and build a collaborative, accountable culture. Assess capacity needs and support knowledge transfer, succession planning and program continuity.
• Education and teacher engagement: Guide curriculum quality and practical professional development through educators and specialists. Ensure the program fits school environments, instructional priorities and teachers’ needs. 
• School and community partnerships: Build relationships with teachers, school leaders, districts, education organizations and community partners to strengthen participation, retention and program reach.
• Culinary and program quality: Work with culinary educators and qualified partners to maintain appropriate food safety, nutrition, meal-production and distribution practices.
• Financial stewardship: Develop and manage the program budget with finance and operations staff. Monitor costs, grant commitments and restricted funding, and provide clear financial and operational reporting.
• Impact and continuous improvement: Use program data and educator feedback to evaluate outcomes, improve delivery and communicate results to staff, the board and funders.
• Communications and representation: Serve as an effective spokesperson for Kids Feeding Kids. Develop a communications strategy and coordinate marketing support to implement the strategy in order to advance recruitment, partnerships and fundraising.

Required Qualifications

• At least eight years of progressively responsible professional experience in education, nonprofit management, youth development, workforce development, community programs or a related field, including at least three years in a senior leadership role with responsibility for staff, budgets, strategy and measurable results.
• A bachelor’s degree in education, nonprofit management, business administration, public administration, social work or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education, training and relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated success translating strategic priorities into effective operations, strengthening organizational systems and leading teams through growth or change.
• Proven success developing funding and resource partnerships, with a track record of participating directly in donor cultivation (grants, corporate sponsorship and individual contributions).
• Financial management experience, including developing budgets, allocating resources and monitoring performance.
• Strong communication, relationship-building and staff leadership skills, including the ability to collaborate with board members, funders, educators and community partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ten or more years of relevant experience, including service as an executive director, vice president, senior director, department head or in a position with comparable leadership responsibility.
• Experience leading a nonprofit organization or a substantial program and working closely with a Board of Directors.
• Experience expanding programs across schools, communities or geographic markets while maintaining quality.
• Experience working with educators, schools or education programs, with an understanding of teacher engagement, professional development or adult learning.
• Experience overseeing teacher professional development, curriculum, career and technical education, or school-based program implementation.
• A master’s degree in a relevant discipline.
• Familiarity with culinary education, nutrition, food systems or food-access programs.

Professional culinary experience and teaching credentials are welcome, but are not required. Candidates who meet the required qualifications are encouraged to apply even if they do not have every preferred qualification.

Values and Leadership Approach
We seek a leader who brings compassion, sound judgment and follow-through to the work. The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Commitment to families and food access: Respect for the dignity of every family and a desire to address food insecurity through practical, meaningful action.
• Community-minded service: A belief in giving back, listening to community needs and building relationships rooted in trust and mutual respect.
• Action and accountability: Initiative, reliable follow-through and a willingness to solve problems while remaining focused on results.
• Collaborative leadership: Respect for staff and educator expertise, openness to different perspectives, and a commitment to helping others succeed.
• Integrity and stewardship: Responsible use of resources, transparent communication and care for the people and communities the program serves. 
• Entrepreneurial mindset: Eager to work in an environment of possibilities where the candidate has the initiative to find creative ways to turn ideas into action; willing to take thoughtful risks, learn from setbacks, and adapt when circumstances change.

Work Environment
Must reside in Kansas City metropolitan area. This is a hybrid position (in office and work- from-home), but requires regular in-person collaboration, travel for school visits, teacher training and partner meetings, and occasional evening or weekend commitments. Essential functions may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

Compensation

• Salary: Salary range is $90,000-$120,000, based on experience. 
• PTO: Pete’s Garden provides 4 weeks of PTO per year.
• Pete’s Garden does not currently offer other employment benefits (health insurance, 401(k), etc.).

How to Apply
Please submit your résumé and a brief cover letter describing your interest in the mission and relevant leadership experience to jobs@petesgarden.org.

Pete’s Garden is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.