Senior Director of Growth - Agriculture / Food Industry

Job Description:

A mission-driven nonprofit organization focused on supporting U.S. agricultural programs and industry stakeholders is seeking a Senior Director of Growth to join its executive leadership team. This is a key leadership role with the opportunity to drive outreach, engagement, and growth across the organization and its national alliance.

About the Organization:
We work at the intersection of agriculture, trade, and public service—empowering small and mid-sized food and ag businesses to grow export sales and strengthen economies. We serve as a trusted partner to state departments of agriculture, USDA, and a wide range of domestic and international stakeholders. This position is based at our Philadelphia headquarters and plays a leadership role in our longstanding alliance with Food Export-Midwest, based in Chicago.

About the Role:
The Senior Director of Growth reports directly to the CEO and is responsible for advancing the organization’s growth agenda—integrating marketing, communications, supplier recruitment, stakeholder engagement, and business development into a unified strategy. The role includes oversight of cross-functional teams and requires strong leadership, creativity, and strategic execution.

This position may represent the organization in meetings with funders, board members, and partner organizations. It may also occasionally participate in joint Board sessions with our Midwest counterpart, particularly on issues relating to branding, stakeholder strategy, or communications.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and execute the organization’s growth strategy across communications, marketing, member engagement, and business development.
• Oversee the development and implementation of outreach campaigns to recruit, activate, and retain program participants.
• Strengthen our presence and visibility with key stakeholders, including federal funders, member states, and industry partners.
• Serve as a senior spokesperson and champion for the organization’s mission, vision, and values.
• Guide communications and storytelling efforts to demonstrate program impact and mission alignment.
• Manage a cross-functional team of professionals and consultants with responsibilities across marketing, communications, business development, meetings, and membership.
• Lead planning and execution of strategic meetings, conferences, and high-visibility events.
• Support Board-level and CEO-level engagements with collateral, talking points, and strategic planning efforts.
• Serve as an active member of the executive leadership team, helping to advance a high-performing, collaborative culture across both Food Export-Northeast and our strategic alliance with Food Export-Midwest.

Experience and Skills:

Requirements :

• Bachelor’s degree is required, master’s degree preferred.
• At least 10 years of experience in business development and/or marketing within a non-profit and/or member-based organization.
• At least 5 years of management-level experience, including people management responsibilities.
• Experience and knowledge in the areas of marketing and promotion, trade association, international marketing, international trade, agricultural products, food marketing techniques, and/or non-profit management are desired.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to listen well and communicate with all levels of management and employees.
• Strong employee management skills (e.g., relationship building, listening, and coaching.)
• Excellent customer/client service skills; strong interpersonal skills with ability to negotiate and resolve conflict.
• Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships. Committed to achieving team goals and objectives.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced environment; flexibility and adaptable.
• Proficient IT skills with Microsoft Office products.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally. Must have, or able to obtain a valid passport and travel internationally.