Position Overview
The Rockefeller Foundation (RF) is seeking a Project Director to lead operational and programmatic support for the Foundation’s Regenerative School Meals (RSM) initiative. The initiative aims to address the dual crises of child malnutrition and climate change by connecting school meal systems with regenerative agriculture—thereby delivering ecological, nutritional, and economic benefits at scale. By expanding access to regenerative school meals (RSM), we seek to create a significant impact through three core levers:
Meals: Enhancing the delivery, quality, and regenerative sourcing of school meals, with support from the Global School Meals Impact Accelerator (SMIA) within the World Food Program.
Markets: Driving market incentives and financing mechanisms that encourage regenerative agricultural practices, including through “lighthouse initiatives” which demonstrate the impact of linking farmers, investors, and purchasers, including government purchasers for school meal procurement.
Mindsets: Advocating for climate-resilient, regenerative school meals as a global policy priority, ensuring support from a range of international agendas on nutrition, climate, and human capital.
Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Food, the Project Director will serve as a strategic integrator across the Foundation’s Food team and with external partners to ensure executional excellence and operational clarity across workstreams in East Africa, East Asia, and the US. The Project Director will also ensure collaboration and alignment with the Rockefeller Foundation Catalytic Capital’s (RFCC) initiative “Reimagining Humanitarian Nutrition Security.” The successful candidate will possess a deep understanding of program management, effective stakeholder coordination, and a passion for sustainable food systems and nutrition.
Pay Range: $172,000- $193,000. This represents the present low and high end of the Foundation’s pay range for this position. Actual pay will vary based on various factors, including but not limited to experience.
Work Schedule: This role is on a hybrid work schedule and required to be in the office on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Alignment & Execution
Establish cross-functional workflows and internal alignment processes across the RSM global initiative, including RFCC’s “Reimagining Humanitarian Nutrition Security.”
Design and manage execution systems such as “OneRF SWAT” meetings and track deliverables for global pilot projects.
Collaborate with Strategy, Policy, Communications, and Resource Mobilization teams to set and monitor time-bound program goals.
Lead development of work plans, facilitate alignment across core teams, and escalate issues that impede progress.
Operational Process Management
Implement internal communication protocols and workflows, including RACI alignment across workstreams.
Monitor impact metrics in collaboration with the Strategy, Learning & Impact team and lead quarterly reporting efforts.
Oversee program budgets and manage transparent tracking of resource use and results.
Facilitate team learning culture by designing and managing documentation, processing innovations, and shared planning tools.
Develop and manage the team’s CRM system and serve as a point of contact for relationships.
Internal & External Partnerships
Support Resource Mobilization efforts through management of pipeline tracking, partner cultivation outreach, and leadership reporting.
Represent the Foundation in meetings with partners and funders, ensuring internal debriefs and coordinated follow-ups.
Maintain and manage relationships with coalition grantees and partners, tracking evolving insights into regenerative food systems and school nutrition.
Serve as a credible, thoughtful representative of RF’s goals and values both internally and externally.
Education, Experience, and Skills
Generally expected to have ten years of experience leading fast-paced, strategic projects in a relevant setting, such as strategy units in companies, governments, large non-profits, project-based professional service firms, or rapid-growth start-ups.
Experience working in strategy and management consulting, the philanthropic sector, grant-making, partnerships, or co-investments by other donors is a plus.
Expertise in process design and management, organizational transformation, and systems management.
Familiarity with regenerative agriculture, climate-smart food systems, or school nutrition programs is preferred.
Skilled in project planning tools, CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), and Microsoft Office Suite.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to navigate complexity with diplomacy.
Qualifications and Competencies
Balances Stakeholders: Anticipates and balances the needs of multiple stakeholders.
Data & Detail-Oriented: Approaches work with precision, using data and structure to inform execution.
Directs Work: Provides clarity, eliminates barriers, and enables cross-functional collaboration.
Manages Complexity: Synthesizes large volumes of information to solve problems and guide decisions.
Strategic Learning: Learns through experimentation and actively uses feedback to inform improvements.
Values Differences: Recognizes the value of different perspectives, commits to being self-aware and respectful, and seeks to learn from new and different voices.
