Chief Executive Officer - Lowcountry Food Bank (Charleston)
Career Opportunity Lowcountry Food Bank seeks a visionary, community-engaged leader to serve as its next Chief Executive Officer. Following the planned retirement of longtime President & CEO Nick Osborne in January 2027, the ideal candidate will build on a foundation of trust, transparency,innovation,and operational discipline while guiding the organization through itsrecently refreshed Strategy, sustaining strong donor and community relationships, and continuing to position Lowcountry Food Bank as the premier hunger-relief organization across the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina. Mission:To unite our community in pursuit ofequitable, dignified, and consistent access to food throughout the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina. Reporting Structure:The CEO reports to a Board of Directors and leads a Senior Leadership Team of 6 direct reports, including the Chief Development Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Community Programs Officer,Director of People & Culture, anda part-timeExecutive Assistant. Total Staff and Budget:Approximately 78 staff members and an annual budget of$50 - $80 million. Salary:The salary iscommensuratewithexperience and starts at $225,000 annually. Benefits:Lowcountry Food Bank offers a comprehensive benefits package to full-time employees,effectivethe first of the month following a 60-day waiting period. Benefits include medical,dental, and vision insurance; company-paid Basic Life and AD&D insurance, Short-Term Disability, and an Employee Assistance Program; voluntary Long-Term Disability, additional Life and AD&D, Accident, and Critical Illness coverage; and a401(k)-retirementplan with both traditional pre-tax and Roth options, automatic enrollment at 3%, and a company match of up to 5% after one year of service. Employees alsoaccruePaid Time Off, plus 11 paid holidays and one floating holiday annually. Working Environment/Location:This is a full-time, in-person leadership role based at Lowcountry Food Bank's headquarters in Charleston, South Carolina, with regular travel to the Early Branch and Myrtle Beach Regional Food Centers and across the 10-county service area. The CEO is expected tomaintaina consistent, visible presenceat the food bankand throughout the community.Occasional national travel isrequired. Key Responsibilities of the CEO StrategicOrganizational Leadership Build onthelegacy of trust, transparency, and steady leadership, ensuring a thoughtful and well-managed transition, and on-going alignment with the organization’s Strategic Framework. Lead with humility and flexibility, empowering the Senior Leadership Team to makestrong decisionsfor their respective areasand the collective benefit of the organization. Take the time to learnaboutthe organization's culture, people, and systems before introducingsignificant change. Foster open communication, engagement,and collaboration across a 78-person staff, including regular Executive Team huddles and all-staff meetings. Partner with the People & Culture team to strengthen HR practices and support staff through organizationalchange, including succession planning thatbuildsthe organization's strong staff retention. Promote and encouragenew ideas, innovation, and collaborative ways of working in line with the Strategic Framework. Lead and managethrough uncertainty and adapt to a changing and unpredictable operational environment. Stay closely attuned to state and federal policy developments affecting food security and government funding, adjusting strategy as needed. External Relations, Advocacy & Fundraising Serve as a visible, engaged public face of the Food Bank, building relationships with donors, elected officials, business leaders, and media across the 10-county service area. Partner closely with the Chief Development Officer and Development team to sustain strong donor retention, grow major and planned gifts, and support signature fundraising events such as Chefs' Feast and the Walk to Fight Hunger. Bringexperienceand enthusiasm to donor cultivation,public fundraising,and communication,complementing the Development team'sefforts. Continue to build coalitions and advocacy partnerships at the local, regional, and state level. Maintain and grow key corporate and community partnerships across the region. Operational & Fiscal Stewardship Provide strong fiscal oversight in partnership with the Chief Financial Officer, including attention to reserves, investment strategy, and long-termdata-drivenfinancial planning. Oversee logistics, warehousing, and food sourcing in partnership with the Chief Operating Officer, sustaining the organization's disciplined operational culturethat continuously drives towards operational efficiency and effectiveness. Provide thoughtful oversight of real estate and facility decisions, including the organization's long-term footprint across its three regional food centers. Community & Network Engagement Deepen engagementand developthe Food Bank's network of approximately 240 partner agencies, in partnership with the VP of Agency Relations & Regional Food Centers. Represent Lowcountry Food Bank within the Feeding America network and regional and state hunger-relief coalitions. Champion the Food Bank's community programs, including Community Health & Nutrition, Food for Health, the Zucker Family Production Kitchen, and school food programming, ensuring alignment with community needsthat underscore the importance and value of neighbor and community engagement. Build authentic, ongoing relationships with the neighbors and communities the Food Bank serves, particularly in underserved and food-insecure areas. The Ideal Candidate Profile The ideal candidate willpossessthe following qualifications: Visionary and Strategic —A track recordof guiding organizations through periods of transition and change, with the ability to set andcommunicateclear direction.Demonstratescompetency for learning about emerging tools, the application of data-driven approaches,and bringing innovationand efficiency to the organization’s work. Effective Fundraiser and Communicator — Comfortable and experienced with public speaking, donor cultivation, and media engagement; a genuine, visible presence in the community. FinanciallyExperienced— Understands nonprofit finance, budgeting, and reserves; comfortable partnering with the CFO on investment strategy,long-term financial planning, and ensuring compliance obligations.Able to navigate a shifting funding landscape and make sound decisions when that funding changes. Collaborative and Trust-Building — Builds trust with a high-performing team; takes time to learn before acting,while beingcapable of making difficult organizational decisions when needed. Operationally Grounded — Understands the complexities oflogistics, warehousing, and food distribution. Comfortable partnering with the COO on supply chain and facilities decisions. Policy-Aware — Pays close attention to state and federal issues affecting hunger relief and government funding. Alignment to the mission, vision, and core valuesisessential. Education Requirements: Bachelor's degreerequired; advanced degree preferred. Significant senior leadership experience isrequired, ideally including experience within a comparable complex nonprofit,food bank, the Feeding America network, or a comparable public-sector organization. About Lowcountry Food Bank Founded in 1983 by Trident United Way and Coastal Community Foundation, Lowcountry Food Bank has grown into the leading hunger-relief organization serving the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina. Headquartered in Charleston, with Regional Food Centers in Early Branch and Myrtle Beach, the Food Bank works with approximately 240 partner agencies to distributenearly46million poundsof food each year, including more than17 million poundsof fresh produce, reaching more than 200,000 neighbors annually. As a member of the Feeding America network, Lowcountry Food Bank also leads programs addressing child and senior hunger, nutrition education, and community health, guided by its principles: Feed. Advocate. Empower. Want to know more?Visitlowcountryfoodbank.org About Charleston Charleston, South Carolina is a historic coastal city known for its architecture, culinary scene, andstrong senseof community, and is consistently ranked among the country's top travel destinations. The region combines a growing, diverse economy with deep-rooted Southern hospitality and an engaged philanthropic and business community. Despite the region's prosperity, food insecurity affects more than 200,000 residents across the Lowcountry, the highest rate the region has experienced in two decades, underscoring the importance of the Food Bank's mission. Want to know more?Visitcharlestonchamber.org J-18808-Ljbffr
