Programs Director Jobs in Montana (NOW HIRING)

Job Description: If you are viewing this job listing from a job posting board (indeed, LinkedIn, etc.) and wish to apply for this position you MUST do so directly through our website. If you apply through Indeed or LinkedIn, your application WILL NOT be complete and you will therefore not be considered for the position. Position Details: Job Opening Date: July 16, 2026 Job Status: This position is full time. HRDC also offers flexible schedules and a "reduced work week", which encourages full-time staff to use up to 4 paid hours weekly for their personal wellness. Wage: $94,000 DOE General Summary of the Position: The Food & Nutrition Director provides strategic leadership for HRDC's work to alleviate hunger, ensuring high-quality, customer-centered services that address food insecurity throughout our communities. This position provides strategic oversight of program development, financial stewardship, regulatory compliance, staff development, volunteer engagement, and community partnerships. Programming is operated across multiple program sites and types, including food banks, warehouse, distribution, community meal services, and commercial kitchen operations. As a member of HRDC's Leadership Team, the Director serves as an active organizational leader who collaborates across departments to identify community needs, unite diverse skills and partners, strengthen systems, advance sustainable funding strategies, and improve outcomes for the individuals and families we serve. The Director promotes operational excellence by fostering a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, accountability, and financial stewardship while ensuring programs remain responsive to the evolving needs of our communities. The Director advocates for team members, customers, and volunteers; provides organizational context and serves as a conduit of information; promotes clear, transparent, and consistent communication; and creates meaningful opportunities for collaboration and shared decision-making. The Director approaches every decision through an organization-wide lens, ensuring actions support staff resilience, customer-focused service, and a strong sense of belonging for all team members. In all aspects of leadership, the Director models and advances HRDC's Core Values of Boldness, Justice, Compassion, Excellence, Integrity, Courage, and Impact. Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities: Financial Management: 20% Develop and manage departmental operating budgets. Monitor financial performance and implement operational adjustments to ensure long-term financial sustainability. Ensure program expenditures are allowable, allocable, reasonable, and compliant with grant, contract and organizational requirements. Lead efforts to secure, coordinate, and maximize public, private, philanthropic, and community resources to support sustainable Food & Nutrition programs, including grants, donated food, community food drives, and other revenue opportunities. Actively participate in organizational fundraising, and grant development and resource development strategies, including community food drives, fundraising initiatives, grant opportunities, and donated resources Identify and pursue opportunities to diversify and strengthen long-term program funding Personnel and Staff Development: 15% Hire, supervise, coach, and evaluate department managers and team members Coach and support managers in employee performance, customer behavior response, conflict resolution, and professional development Provide strategic oversight of volunteer recruitment, training, scheduling, and recognition in partnership with managers and coordinators Ensure appropriate staffing, succession planning, and professional development opportunities Foster a collaborative, accountable, and mission-driven culture that empowers team through appropriate involvement, professional growth and shared decision-making Lead the implementation of organizational policies, practices, cross-program directives, and/or services Ensure operational continuity during staffing shortages, emergencies, or periods of increased community need, including direct program assistance when necessary Strategic Leadership: 15% Lead and contribute to organizational planning and strategic development. Establish departmental goals, priorities, partnerships, and funding strategies aligned with organizational objectives Evaluate program effectiveness using performance data, customer feedback, and operational outcomes to drive continuous improvement and innovation. Lead organizational change initiatives that strengthen service delivery, improve operational efficiency, and respond to emerging community/regional needs Foster cross-functional collaboration and cross-training throughout the organization. Develop systems, documentation, and cross-training that strengthen organizational continuity, support succession planning, and reduce reliance on institutional knowledge Prepare and present program updates, performance measures, and strategic recommendations to the COO, HRDC Board of Directors, Advisory Boards, funders, and other stakeholders Serve as an active member of the Leadership Team Community Engagement: 15% Represent HRDC in local, regional, and statewide collaborations related to food security, nutrition, and emergency food systems Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with community organizations, businesses, government agencies, funders, and other stakeholders to strengthen food and nutrition services and advance HRDC's mission Represent HRDC in coalitions, public meetings, professional organizations, and community forums, serving as program spokesperson when designated by the CEO Advocate for HRDC Food & Nutrition priorities, services, and community needs through public presentations, outreach and community engagement Advocate for policies, partnerships, and initiatives that strengthen food security and improve equitable access to nutritious food throughout HRDC’s service area Compliance and Operational Oversight: 15% Direct operational planning that aligns departmental activities with HRDC strategic priorities Develop and maintain systems, policies, and procedures that promote operational excellence, consistency, and compliance Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, grant, contract, licensing and organizational requirements Provide strategic oversight of operational systems, infrastructure and processes necessary for effective program delivery Oversee food quality, food safety, inventory management, and regulatory compliance Ensure accurate data collection, analysis, and reporting to support compliance, program evaluation, strategic planning, and continuous improvement. Identify and mitigate operational risks to protect customers, team, volunteers, food resources, and organizational assets Communications: 15% Support, advance, and participate in the organization’s communication workplan and strategy Communicate HRDC's positions on complex, sensitive, or potentially controversial issues within delegated authority. Collaborate with the Communications Department to promote public awareness, marketing, storytelling, and community education Ensure consistent communication of program priorities, outcomes, and community needs to team, volunteers, partners, funders and stakeholders Represent HRDC in public communications and external relationships consistent with organizational priorities and delegated authority Foster collaboration and resolve conflicts through effective communication and relationship building Organizational Participation: 5% Attend all organizational team meetings Read the weekly news to stay informed Participate in trainings and wellness days when available Conduct respectful, professional, and effective conversations with customers and volunteers regarding behavioral expectations, program compliance, and HRDC property standards. Required Qualifications: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities that are required for success in this position. Experience: The following kinds of experience usually provide the required knowledge skills and abilities to perform the duties of this position: Three years of progressively responsible work in program administration including budgeting, grant writing, and fund-raising Experience in cooking, nutrition, and food safety; Past experience in a supervisory role; Past experience demonstrating positive skills in public relations. Skills / Knowledge: Ability to effectively work and communicate with a wide range of individuals from all socio-economic groups; Ability to read, interpret and implement documents such as governmental regulations, rules, and procedure manuals; Ability work with minimal supervision and effectively manage workflow; Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints from customers or claimants. Ability to effectively supervise and train employees; Ability to present self and organization in a positive professional manner; Ability to work with graphics, statistics; Flexibility in responding to multiple program needs at one time; Strong interpersonal and communication skills; Ability to speak precisely and clearly in public; Must be able to drive standard and automatic transmission vehicles Education: The following course(s) of study or class work usually provides the required knowledge skills and abilities to perform the duties of this position: Graduation from high school or GED required; Bachelor’s degree in Human Services or related field from four-year college or university preferred. Confidentiality: This position requires regular handling of sensitive and confidential client and agency information. Unauthorized disclosure could harm client interests and the organization, and may also violate state and federal privacy laws. This position may have access to reports, records, and personnel files, and must exercise the highest level of discretion, judgment, and confidentiality at all times. Additional Responsibilities of this role: Language Skills: Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing; Ability to analyze and interpret complex and sensitive information; Persuasive public speaking abilities. Software / Tools / Technologies: Experience with Google Workspace, cloud based filing and document sharing, scheduling and calendar tools, phone and messaging systems. Successful experience with program and budget management tools. Skills supportive of conducting presentations Program Specific Software as needed Financial Responsibility: Has responsibility for generating revenue and/or approving, monitoring and adjusting expenditures for multiple closely related programs. Develops budget requests- Operating Budget of 2.5 million dollars (does not include in-kind food donations of 1 million+) Monitors expenditures and revenue for the Fork & Spoon; Gallatin Valley, Headwaters Area, and Big Sky Community Food Banks; KidsPack Program; Senior Grocery Program; and Summer Lunch Program. Solicits grants/gifts/donations Handles cash or checks ($200,000+) from individual donors. May handle large amounts of cash Travel: Occasional travel for training or conferences Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply principles of logical thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems. Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; Drivers Licenses: Valid Driver License required Physical, mental and emotional attributes: Required to perform this job, with or without reasonable accommodation. This role may interact with individuals experiencing crisis, and calls for emotional resilience, empathy, and the ability to remain calm, and obtain help as needed. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk and hear; The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds; Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus; The incumbent must be able to perform multiple tasks simultaneously and must be able to work under time and/or deadline pressures. Working Conditions / Environmental Factors: The position involves either occasional (up to 25% of working time) physical exertion up to 20 lbs or regular driving, usually locally, to attend meetings or run errands. Standard safety practices or procedures mitigate risks of job-related injury or occupational disease. Works primarily in temperature controlled office environment and a warehouse where temperature may not be controlled Weekly or more frequent exposure to risk of cuts, burns, shock or other minor injuries (not requiring hospitalization) May participate in events held outdoors in any month of the year; Weather can vary widely Monthly or less frequent operation of a motor vehicle under all weather conditions Monthly or less frequent exposure to risk of injuries that may result in a permanent disability or death Monthly or less frequent requirement to work above ground level on ladder or scaffold Must be able to work occasional nights and weekends Safety: The person in this position complies with HRDC safety policies, procedures & guidelines; participates in safety training & drills as required; Reports unsafe conditions, incidents or near misses immediately; takes proactive steps to ensure the work area is clean and safe at all times. HRDC, professional or Governmental Policies and Regulations: The person in this position must comply with State and Federal regulations and laws, Agency (HRDC) policies and procedures, and specialized professional or industry guidelines/standards. Specialized Tools: Experience with or willingness to become certified with the following tools: Pallet jack Scales Kitchen dishwasher Fire suppression system, fire extinguishers Electric Forklift. Other Responsibilities of this role: Managerial ServSafe Certification must be obtained within 90 days of employment Supervision: Second level supervisor who supervises exclusively through subordinate supervisors (except for personal assistants) Employees represent two or more distinctly different occupational fields. This position supervises 10-15 subordinate employees across multiple agency programs. This position has responsibility for assigning and checking work, conducting performance evaluations, and approves hiring, disciplining, pay adjustments, or status changes; This position oversees the volunteer workforce through the volunteer coordinator and solicits volunteers for other program needs. Dec