Careers

We’re growing and looking for folks who are passionate about equity and food! We are currently hiring for two positions: Senior Director of Impact and Director of Finance.

We are always looking for mentors and food industry professionals to share their skills. If you are interested in volunteering, take a minute to tell us about yourself.

CommonWealth Kitchen (CWK), a nonprofit social enterprise, based in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, is on a mission to build a new food economy grounded in racial, social, and economic justice. We are hiring our first Senior Director of Impact to  lead all of CWK’s marketing, communications and fundraising efforts into a unified, coordinated strategy to drive impact. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of effective marketing, communications, and fundraising experience and at least seven years of senior leadership and progressive supervisory experience within a related field. 

About CommonWealth Kitchen 

CommonWealth Kitchen (CWK) is an entrepreneurial nonprofit social enterprise working to build a just, equitable food economy where all of us can participate and prosper.  To accomplish this work, we take a systems-based approach that focuses on empowering diverse entrepreneurs to start and build food-based businesses, connecting them to the resources, relationships, and industry networks essential for success.  Our core programs include operating a shared-use commercial kitchen that is home to over 50 diverse food businesses, a range of business education and technical training, coordinated market access to help drive sales, and our own small-batch food manufacturing operation. For 2024, approximately $1.5M of our $5M annual budget will be generated through earned income, with the balance from fundraising.  

Since 2009, CWK has helped launch more than 175 diverse food businesses that are still going strong today, creating over 650 jobs and generating over $65 million annually in combined gross revenue. In all, 94% of our businesses are BIPOC and/or women-owned. Our member products are integrated onto menus including Harvard, MIT, Boston College, Northeastern, Brandeis, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Peabody-Essex Museum. These products can be found at Whole Foods, HomeGoods, and other local stores.

Over the years, CWK has been increasingly gaining notice for our entrepreneurial approach and regularly fielding requests from communities across the US looking to adapt or replicate our work. CWK has been named “Best Incubator” by Boston Magazine, a “Game-Changer” by the Boston Globe, and, in 2021, CWK was thrilled to be named “Best Community Catalyst” by Boston Magazine

The Senior Director of Impact Position 

The Senior Director of Impact will be responsible for the development and implementation  of all of CWK’s fundraising, marketing, and communications strategies. They will manage two+ dedicated staff and project-specific consultants, and work closely with CWK’s programs and operations teams.

Marketing/Communications: This position is responsible for developing and implementing all internal and external marketing and communications including written, online, and through the media, and to a range of audiences, including funders, government, media, current and prospective member businesses, buyers and the general public. 

  • Develop and implement clear, consistent communication and marketing strategies for CWK and the businesses we work with to achieve organizational goals and objectives;
  • Collaborate with the organization’s Executive Director and the Senior Team, as well as other cross-functional teams on all fundraising and marketing initiatives and special events;
  • Develop content, materials and outreach strategy that best conveys key messages and meets the organization’s goals;
  • Provide oversight and collaboration with third party vendors, such as event planners, designers, IT/IS consultants, or other marketing specialists;
  • Ensure CWK website is regularly updated and functioning as designed;
  • Ensure consistent look, feel and voice for all marketing, communications and educational materials and programs;
  • Refresh and implement a newsletter strategy for internal and external audiences;
  • Write op-eds, articles, and blog posts to promote the work;
  • Engage with local and regional media outlets;
  • Identify stakeholders and target audiences for engagement, which includes relationship building with constituency groups;
  • Serve as a representative, spokesperson, and advocate for external stakeholders and in the media, in partnership with the executive director;
  • Track benchmarks and report to the Board; and
  • Manage staff, interns and consultants involved in this work.
 

Fundraising: The Senior Director of Impact is also responsible for leading all of CWK’s fundraising work, including developing strategies to expand our donor base and grant support. 

  • Collaborate with Executive Director and the Board of Directors to develop annual fundraising goals, impact measures and strategies that further support the organization’s mission;
  • Implement a comprehensive fundraising plan that includes government, corporate, individual, and foundation giving, board giving, endowments, major gifts, and earned income;
  • Conduct prospect research and set priorities for donors, grants, and corporate sponsorships;
  • Develop and maintain a fundraising calendar;
  • Oversee collection of all impact data in partnership with key staff;
  • Lead development staff in crafting compelling proposals and reports consistent with organizational goals and strategies;
  • Develop/track benchmarks and data essential for measuring and evaluating impact and for reporting. 
  • Manage the fundraising budget in consultation with the Executive Director;
  • Advise and support the Executive Director for strategic cultivation and solicitation activities;
  • Provide oversight and collaboration with third party vendors, including grant writers, or other consultants;
  • Collect, measure, analyze, and report impact data relating to the organization’s work for internal and external purposes, including donor development;
  • Monitor and analyze fundraising data to evaluate effectiveness and adjust strategies as needed; and
  • Manage staff, interns and consultants involved in this work.
 

Qualifications 

The successful candidate must possess exceptional written and verbal communication skills, excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, and ability to distill and present complex information into clear, concise, and engaging communications for diverse audiences, as well as:

  • 7+ years of direct experience in fundraising and strategic communications or equivalent, including experience raising $2.5M+/year for operations;
  • Exceptional people management skills and cultural competency;
  • Demonstrated expertise in project management, strategic planning, and budget  management; 
  • Experience bringing initiatives and teams to the next stage of growth; 
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to effectively communicate, whether it be short emails, annual reports, conference presentations or persuasive funding proposals;
  • Knowledge of philanthropy, fundraising, and revenue streams for nonprofits outside of earned revenue;
  • Experience and skill working with people in the intersections of cultural identity;
  • Proficiency with cloud-based tools, including Salesforce, Google Suite, Slack, Asana, and project management tools.
 

Compensation and Benefits

This hybrid position is based at our Dorchester kitchen facility with at least 3 days/week on site. CommonWealth Kitchen offers a fast-paced, collaborative work environment, a group employee health insurance plan, and excellent holiday and vacation benefits. Salary range is $110,000-$135,000, commensurate with experience.

To Apply 

CommonWealth Kitchen is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse staff who are representative of the community we serve and bring a variety of traditions, experiences, and points of view. Individuals of all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please apply below with your letter of interest, resume, and supporting materials. We will review all submissions and only contact individuals selected to continue in the search process. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The Director of Finance will be a critical member of the senior team, reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer. The successful candidate will be a hands-on and participative manager and will lead and develop an internal team to support the following areas: finance, business planning and budgeting, human resources, and administration. 

The Director of Finance will play a critical role in partnering with the senior leadership team in strategic decision making and operations as Commonwealth Kitchen continues to enhance its quality programming and build capacity. This is a tremendous opportunity for a finance and operations leader to maximize and strengthen the internal capacity of a well-respected, high-impact organization.

Responsibilities

Financial Management

  • Analyze and present financial reports in an accurate and timely manner; clearly communicate monthly and annual financial statements, internally and to the Board of Directors; collate financial reporting materials for all donor segments, and oversee all financial, project/program and grants accounting.
  • Coordinate and lead the annual audit process, liaise with external auditors and the finance committee of the Board of Directors; assess any changes necessary.
  • Oversee and lead annual budgeting and planning process in conjunction with the ED; administer and review all financial plans and budgets; monitor progress and changes; and keep senior leadership team abreast of the organization’s financial status.
  • Manage organizational cash flow and forecasting.
  • Implement a robust contracts management and financial management/ reporting system; ensure that the Member billing and collection schedule is adhered to and that financial data and cash flow are steady and support operational requirements.
  • Update and implement all necessary business policies and accounting practices; improve the finance department’s overall policy and procedure manual.
    Effectively communicate and present the critical financial matters to the senior leadership team and the Board of Directors.

Human Resources and Administration

  • Further develop Commonwealth Kitchen’s human resources function, coordinating with third-party provider; enhancing professional development opportunities, managing compensation and benefits, performance evaluations, and training.
  • Ensure that recruiting processes are consistent and streamlined.
  • Establish and manage a comprehensive training program to educate employees regarding staff tools, policies, and procedures.
  • Work closely and transparently with all external partners including third-party vendors and consultants.
  • Oversee administrative functions to ensure efficient and consistent operations as the organization scales.

 

Qualifications

  • Minimum of a BA, ideally with an MBA/CPA or related degree.
  • At least seven to 10 years of overall professional experience; ideally six-plus years of broad financial experience in a fast-paced environment.
  • The ideal candidate has experience of final responsibility for the quality and content of all financial data, reporting and audit coordination for either a division or significant program area, and has preferably management experience of a human resources function.
  • Ability to translate financial concepts to – and to effectively collaborate with — programmatic and fundraising colleagues who do not necessarily have finance backgrounds.
  • A track record in grants management.
  • Technology savvy with experience selecting and overseeing software installations and managing relationships with software vendors; knowledge of accounting and reporting software.
  • Commitment to training programs that maximize individual and organization goals across the organization including best practices in human resources activities.
  • A successful track record in setting priorities; keen analytic problem-solving skills which support and enable sound decision making.
  • Excellent communication and relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
  • A multitasker with the ability to wear many hats in a fast-paced environment
  • Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of Commonwealth Kitchen
 

Apply

Please submit your application below.

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