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We are seeking a Director, Impact Capital Programs to join our Capital and Innovation team, playing a key role in helping to lead and expand our Capital Programs targeted at influencing and mobilizing much-needed capital into and sparking innovation in the food waste sector. 

The Director, Impact Capital Programs will manage a talented team and serve as a key advisor and relationship builder for capital providers, particularly those in U.S. philanthropy and impact investing. The Director will oversee key initiatives such as our funder coalition, advisory services, and trend reports, as well as essential tools like the Capital Tracker and Solution Provider Database, part of the ReFED Insights Engine. They will also help shape strategies and fundraising for programs like our Catalytic Grant Fund and paid advisory work, including innovation challenges. By fostering partnerships with funders, entrepreneurs, and innovators, the Director will play a central role in driving more investment to tackle food loss and waste.

The Director, working remotely and reporting to ReFED’s Vice President of Capital, Innovation & Global Initiatives, will be joining the team at an exciting moment of opportunity.

Applications must be received by January 5, 2025, to be fully considered.

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

1. Form and maintain trusted relationships with influential network managers and wealth holders, especially philanthropic, angel, and impact investors, as well as commercial investors, venture capital, private equity, and government agencies via in-person and virtual events, meetings, webinars, and conferences. 
2. Lead business development for and execution of custom Strategic Advisory Services projects for individual capital providers who might need support developing their investment theses and allocating their capital at the intersection of climate, nutrition, hunger, economic development, environmental and social justice, and food waste.
3. Lead the growth of ReFED’s Food Waste Funder Circle by developing effective programming that educates capital providers on the investment opportunity that exists within the food waste sector, curating custom funding opportunities, and facilitating collaboration and shared diligence among members that ultimately results in driving measurable capital flows to viable solutions.
4. Oversee content development for ReFED’s Capital & Innovation Market Updates and investment trend reports that keep the ecosystem educated, as well as provide oversight and thought partnership in the maintenance and improvement of ReFED’s Food Waste Capital Tracker, Solution Provider Database, and Federal Grants Database.
5. Lead the exploration and execution of new programs, products, and services for capital providers that lead to the ultimate outcome of accelerating food waste solution adoption (e.g., partnering on the development of innovative investment and funding vehicles such as DAF advisory work, network engagements such as SAFSF, GIIN, and Confluence Philanthropy, and paid advisory projects for asset owners and managers).
6. Work with the Director, Innovation Initiatives to continue strategic development of the Catalytic Grant Fund, ReFED's unique re-granting fund bringing resources to food loss and waste solution providers. This entails open call topic curation, robust process planning for diligence and grantee selection, and supporting the work of fundraising for the Fund by collaborating effectively with ReFED's organizational fundraising leadership.
7. Leverage ReFED’s data and insights in order to mobilize the deployment of capital, while helping to improve our knowledge base over time. This may include activities such as, but not limited to, analyzing various food waste solutions across the maturity and innovation curve in order to make evidence-based conclusions as to how much and what types of capital and innovation are needed.
8. Serve as a thought leader for ReFED, speaking publicly and collaborating with the Communications team to respond to media requests that help to disseminate research, data, insights and guidance on the ROI of the investment into and adoption of solutions to food waste. 
9. Lead, manage, and motivate a team in day-to-day activities, overseeing staff and performance evaluation to create a high-performing and inclusive work environment.
10. Develop and manage annual and multi-year programmatic budgets for the Capital team.
11. Build and oversee effective systems for tracking capital and innovation-related data and evaluating impact and performance.

In this role, specific examples of the work you will be driving include:

1. Designing and executing an engaging and effective set of programmatic offerings for the members of ReFED’s Food Waste Funder Circle, an investor network that aims to educate, connect, and drive investment into fundable initiatives that reduce food waste.
2. Developing a comprehensive capital provider advisory strategy (especially for HNWIs, family offices, and foundations) aimed at mobilizing more of the philanthropic and impact investment dollars needed by food waste solution providers, including supporting ReFED’s participation in external funder member networks.
3. Working with entrepreneurs, innovators, and technologists to facilitate impactful connections to action-oriented funders, corporate strategic partners, key customers, and other valuable stakeholders. 

You could be a great candidate for this role if you have:

1.  10-15 years of experience, including at least 7 years of finance and/or capital advisory experience with a particular expertise in philanthropy (ie: HNWIs, family offices, and foundations) and impact investing required. 
2. Preference for existing network connections and knowledge of various sustainable finance mechanisms and how they can be adopted and developed to unlock capital flows into food waste solution adoption.
3. Working knowledge of food systems, climate technology, food technology, waste technology, agricultural technology, waste management, sustainability, and/or broader environmental, social, governance (ESG) initiatives required.
4. Experience initiating and developing authentic and effective relationships and partnerships with diverse groups of stakeholders, especially capital providers including HNWIs, philanthropists, family offices, foundations, and impact investors, as well as solution providers required. 
5. Demonstrated success leading, mentoring, and managing high-performing teams, as well as working to promote diversity, equity and inclusion and working with remote teams required.
6. Entrepreneurial spirit, with demonstrated success scaling programs and initiatives, driving significant impact in a dynamic, high-growth environment.
7. Strong strategic and critical problem-solving skills including an ability to apply a systems approach to complex societal problems.
8. Demonstrated aptitude for analyzing, modeling, interpreting, and synthesizing complex data and information from multiple sources.
9. Exceptionally detail- and results-oriented with strong organizational skills.
10. Self-starter with strong project management skills and the ability to work just as well independently as with a team.
11. Solid professional writing and verbal communications skills.
12. Comfort with ambiguity and ability to thrive in a fluid, entrepreneurial environment, and willingness to “roll up the sleeves” and extend beyond formal responsibilities as needed for the work.
13. Ability to communicate and align with internal and external stakeholders well in a remote working environment.
14. Proficiency with G Suite, MS Office Suite, Slack, and database management (including Salesforce and Airtable) with a willingness and ability to learn new systems and tools.
15. Knowledge of the food waste investment and innovation landscape is a plus.