Senior Director of Strategic Growth & Partnerships

The Franklin Food Bank is a nationally recognized food security organization serving Central New Jersey and surrounding communities. Reporting to the Executive Director and serving as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Senior Director of Strategic Growth & Partnerships will lead the organization’s revenue generation, donor engagement, strategic partnerships, and external growth strategy in support of long-term mission sustainability and community impact.

This role is designed for a high-performing relationship and revenue leader who combines the strategic instincts of a corporate growth or sales executive with a deep commitment to mission-driven work. The successful candidate will know how to identify opportunity, build trusted relationships, expand networks, influence stakeholders, and convert engagement into sustained philanthropic investment — particularly unrestricted funding that increases organizational flexibility, scalability, and long-term impact.

The ideal candidate is energized by relationship-building, community influence, strategic growth, and measurable outcomes. They bring a consultative, entrepreneurial mindset and understand how to align mission, storytelling, partnerships, and philanthropy into a cohesive growth strategy.

Franklin Food Bank welcomes candidates with diverse professional and lived experiences and encourages individuals to apply even if they do not meet every qualification listed.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Revenue Growth & Partnerships

• Lead and execute a comprehensive growth and fundraising strategy across major gifts, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, foundation support, public funding opportunities, government grants and contracts, campaigns, and unrestricted philanthropic investment.
• Build, manage, and continuously expand a high-value donor and partnership pipeline focused on sustainable revenue growth and long-term community engagement.
• Identify, cultivate, and secure new funding and partnership opportunities through proactive outreach, relationship development, networking, and community visibility.
• Convert donor interest, organizational visibility, and mission alignment into meaningful financial investment and long-term strategic partnerships.
• Partner with executive leadership to elevate Franklin Food Bank’s external presence, strategic positioning, and influence within the community and philanthropic sector.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Lead, mentor, and support the development and communications team through collaborative, accountable, and growth-oriented leadership practices.
• Foster a culture centered on relationship stewardship, strategic execution, innovation, inclusion, and measurable outcomes.
• Work closely with the Executive Director, Board of Trustees, and fundraising committees to strengthen external engagement and revenue generation efforts.
• Collaborate with finance leadership on forecasting, budgeting, pipeline management, and revenue analysis.

Communications & Community Engagement

• Serve as a visible ambassador for Franklin Food Bank with donors, corporate partners, community organizations, civic leaders, and external stakeholders.
• Oversee development messaging, donor communications, campaigns, and strategic engagement initiatives.
• Utilize storytelling, donor insights, and relationship intelligence to strengthen engagement, retention, and fundraising performance.
• Represent Franklin Food Bank publicly in ways that strengthen trust, visibility, and mission awareness.

Professional Impact & Performance Indicators

• Demonstrated success driving measurable revenue growth through relationship-based business development, fundraising, sales, partnerships, or account management strategies.
• Experience securing and managing public funding opportunities, government grants, institutional partnerships, or cross-sector collaborations that support organizational growth and community impact.
• Proven ability to build and convert high-value pipelines into sustained financial investment, with a strong emphasis on unrestricted revenue generation.
• Track record of securing major gifts, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, or enterprise-level relationships through consultative engagement and trust-building.
• Experience developing and executing growth strategies that consistently meet or exceed ambitious revenue targets and organizational objectives.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence senior leaders, board members, donors, corporate stakeholders, and community partners.
• Data-driven mindset with experience utilizing CRM systems, forecasting, analytics, and performance metrics to drive decision-making and growth.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, presentation, and relationship management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead high-performing teams in fast-paced, externally facing, and relationship-driven environments.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of professional, volunteer, military, entrepreneurial, or lived experience.

Executive Work Environment & Benefits

• Full-time executive leadership position
• Flexible schedule aligned to organizational and community engagement needs, including periodic evening and weekend events or stakeholder activities
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits package
• Generous paid time off program, including 18 PTO days annually
• Opportunity to serve as a strategic leader within a nationally recognized, mission-driven organization making measurable community impact

Accessibility, Equity & Inclusion Commitment

Franklin Food Bank is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace where all employees feel respected, supported, and valued. We welcome candidates from historically marginalized communities, including people with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals, and candidates of all backgrounds and identities.

Reasonable accommodations are available throughout the hiring process and during employment. We believe diverse perspectives and experiences strengthen our organization and deepen our impact within the communities we serve.