Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans Acadiana VP Operations

About

Second Harvest Food Bank leads the fight against hunger in South Louisiana by providing food access, advocacy, education, and disaster response. Second Harvest provides food and support to 500+ community partners and programs across 23 parishes. Our staff and volunteers distribute the equivalent of more than 50 million meals a year.

Through our food distribution programs, community kitchen meal service, nutrition education, and public benefits assistance, we are helping to create pathways out of poverty. Every year, Second Harvest secures millions of pounds of food that otherwise would have gone to waste. Our work helps ensure that these meals make it to the dinner tables of thousands of families struggling with hunger in South Louisiana.

This opportunity comes at an exciting time in Second Harvest's evolution as the organization continues to expand its capacity to serve communities across South Louisiana while responding to increasing demand for food assistance. With a strong operational foundation already in place, the organization is investing in the systems, infrastructure, and leadership necessary to support continued growth, innovation, and long-term sustainability.

The Vice President of Operations will play a central role in shaping that future. Beyond overseeing the day-to-day execution of one of the region's most sophisticated food distribution networks, this leader will have the opportunity to strengthen organizational systems, champion continuous improvement, and help position Second Harvest to respond effectively to both everyday needs and large-scale disasters. From optimizing logistics and facilities to leading cross-functional initiatives and supporting strategic expansion, the role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact across every aspect of the organization's operations.

At Second Harvest, operations are at the heart of the mission. Leadership is collaborative, innovation is encouraged, and every improvement in efficiency ultimately translates into more meals delivered and more lives impacted. For a leader who thrives in complex, mission-driven environments and is energized by building high-performing teams, solving operational challenges, and creating lasting organizational capacity, this role offers the opportunity to leave a significant and enduring legacy.

The Vice President of Operations (VP, Operations) serves as the senior leader responsible for the strategic direction, oversight, and optimization of Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana's operational functions, ensuring the efficient, safe, and effective distribution of food and resources throughout the organization's 23-parish service area. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, this role provides visionary leadership to strengthen operational excellence, enhance organizational capacity, and support the Food Bank's long-term mission and sustainability.

The VP, Operations leads a high-performing, cross-functional team encompassing warehouse operations, distribution, transportation and fleet, facilities, and inventory management—driving an integrated, data-informed approach to logistics, process improvement, and service delivery. In close partnership with the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board of Directors, the VP, Operations ensures operational readiness, regulatory compliance, and organizational resilience while positioning Second Harvest to expand its impact and effectively serve communities across Southeast Louisiana.

• Recommend, plan, and coordinate all ongoing activities associated with both East and West Regional Operations of Second Harvest Food Bank.
• Recruit, motivate and lead a high-performance team of individuals who support and execute the daily mission of the Company.
• Develop annual goals and objectives for Operations and coordinate those with the Executive leadership team. Work as part of the EL team to develop the short and long-term sustainable strategic plans of the company.
• Work collaboratively with EL members to oversee the development and implementation of plans for program/service expansion within the…