Executive Director, Local Food Distributor

Context

The Common Market is a nonprofit social enterprise working to build a more resilient and equitable food system. Through regional chapters, we connect family farmers to the people and institutions that need their food the most — schools, hospitals, universities, and community organizations.

Our Southeast Chapter, headquartered in Atlanta, serves Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and North Carolina, partnering with dozens of regional producers and institutional buyers to advance health, wealth, and sustainability across the region.

As The Common Market enters its next phase of national growth, we seek a dynamic, entrepreneurial Executive Director to lead the Southeast Chapter — overseeing operations, sales, and community partnerships while representing the organization as a trusted regional leader in values-based procurement and local food distribution.

As the senior leader of The Common Market Southeast, the Executive Director drives the region’s strategy, culture, and performance — ensuring excellence in operations, growth in sales and partnerships, and alignment with our national mission and values.

This leader brings together people, systems, and vision to ensure that the Southeast Chapter operates with both heart and discipline. They oversee a diverse team across warehouse operations, logistics, and partnerships; manage the Chapter’s P&L; and nurture relationships with farmers, institutional customers, and community partners.

A collaborative member of The Common Market’s national leadership team, the Executive Director ensures that the Southeast Chapter contributes powerfully to the organization’s impact nationwide — demonstrating what an equitable, regional food system can achieve.

The ideal candidate is a mission-driven business leader who combines operational excellence with strategic insight and deep community engagement. They are equally comfortable walking the warehouse floor, meeting with a hospital system’s food service director, or representing The Common Market at a statewide food policy summit.

They are a skilled manager and communicator who can inspire a team, build trusted relationships, and execute with discipline. They understand the complex intersections of food systems, supply chains, health, and equity — and they thrive on making them work better for all.

Operational Leader: Skilled in managing complex supply chains, warehouse operations, and logistics with a focus on food safety, quality, and efficiency.

Business Strategist: Understands financial performance, margin and sales team management, and growth; experienced in social enterprise or mission-driven business.

Relationship Builder: Builds authentic, trust-based relationships with farmers, institutional customers, and partners across sectors.

Collaborative Coach: Leads through partnership and empowerment; builds confidence and accountability across diverse teams.

Community Champion: Deeply committed to equity, sustainability, and strengthening regional food economies.

Results-Oriented Manager: Sets clear goals, tracks performance, and ensures that strategy translates into measurable outcomes.

Professional Foundation: 7–10+ years in operations, sales, or general management; experience managing P&L, leading teams of 10+ staff; background in food systems, logistics, or distribution preferred; nonprofit or social enterprise experience a plus.

This role maynotbe the right fit for candidates who:

• Prefer strategy over execution.
  This is a hands-on leadership role that requires daily engagement with operational realities—warehouse performance, delivery challenges, staffing issues, and food safety compliance—not just high-level planning or vision setting.
• Have not led frontline teams in operational environments.
  Candidates whose leadership experience is primarily in policy, advocacy, fundraising, or program management—without direct responsibility for warehouse, logistics, or distribution teams—are unlikely to find this role aligned with their strengths.
• Are uncomfortable owning revenue outcomes.
  The Executive Director is accountable for regional…