General Position Summary:
The Agency Programs & Partnerships Manager provides strategic leadership for a multidisciplinary team that manages Food Lifeline’s relationships with partner agencies and oversees key programmatic, contractual, and operational functions that support food access across our network in western Washington.
This role is responsible for managing program development and implementation, overseeing partner agreements and contract compliance, managing complex cross-departmental projects, and supervising a team of professionals who support agency relations, distribution coordination, and technical program operations. The Manager plays a critical role in strengthening systems, documentation, and processes that ensure consistency, equity, and continuity across the team and agency network.
This position requires a strong leader with demonstrated experience guiding teams through change, building sustainable programs, and translating strategy into clear, actionable work.
Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities:
People Leadership & Team Management
• Provide direct supervision to a team of Agency Relations, Distribution, and Technical staff.
• Lead with a coaching-oriented management style that emphasizes clarity,
accountability, growth, and psychological safety.
• Set clear performance expectations, conduct regular check-ins, provide feedback, and support professional development.
• Ensure appropriate cross-training, coverage planning, and succession planning to maintain continuity during transitions.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive team culture aligned with Food Lifeline’s mission and values.
Program Development & Oversight
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of agency facing programs and services.
• Identify gaps, opportunities, and inefficiencies in current programs and recommend improvements that enhance partner experience and community impact.
• Apply an equity lens to program design and decision-making, prioritizing
underserved and historically marginalized communities.
• Partner with internal teams to pilot new initiatives, evaluate outcomes, and scale successful efforts.
Contract Management & Written Communications
• Oversee the development, review, and maintenance of partner agreements, MOUs, and related documentation.
• Ensure agency compliance with contractual, regulatory, and program requirements, including corrective action processes when needed.
• Draft, edit, and maintain clear written materials including SOPs, guidance documents, training resources, and partner communications.
• Ensure documentation is accessible, accurate, and supports institutional knowledge retention.
Project & Change Management
• Lead and manage complex, cross-functional projects from scope through completion, including timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder coordination.
• Balance multiple concurrent priorities while maintaining high-quality outcomes.
• Support the team through organizational and operational change by providing structure, communication, and clear decision-making.
• Track progress, identify risks, and adjust plans as needed to meet program and organizational goals.
Cross-Departmental & External Collaboration
• Serve as a key liaison between Agency Programs and other departments including Operations, Inventory, Transportation, Food Safety, Procurement, Finance, and Development.
• Represent Food Lifeline in meetings with partner agencies, coalitions, funders, and community stakeholders as needed.
• Support grant development and reporting by providing programmatic data, narratives, and subject-matter expertise.
Secondary Functions:
• Work cross functionally and collaborate cross departmentally
• Cover work schedules and shifts as needed.
• Conduct one-off and ongoing research projects to support organizational goals and strategy as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Job Scope:
This position:
• Performs regular and recurring work situations with occasional variances from the norm.
• Has a moderate to high level of work complexity.
• Operates from established and well-known procedures.
• Performs work under minimal-moderate supervision.
• Decisions are made within prescribed operating guidelines and procedures.
• Budgetary accountability – no developing or managing of budgets.
• Management of capital assets – no control over capital assets.
Supervisory Responsibility:
• Yes
Competencies
• Commitment to fulfilling the mission of Food Lifeline; represent the organization in a positive manner internally and externally
• Willingness to spend extended periods of time doing routine and repetitive computer work.
• Highly detail oriented with a critical degree of accuracy regarding gift and data entry while adhering to deadlines. Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Perform all functions with a high degree of confidentiality.
• Superb attention to detail; highly proficient with technology
• Strong self-direction and time management skills; planning and prioritizing work to accomplish all tasks in the time allotted; consistently meets deadlines
• Exercise independent judgment, think critically, and strategically
• Ability to communicate and articulate both verbally and in writing
Required Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Minimum of 5 years of experience leading and supervising a team, including performance management, coaching, and staff development.
• Demonstrated experience in program development, program management, or systems improvement.
• Strong experience with contract review, compliance oversight, and written documentation.
• Proven project management experience, including leading cross-functional work and managing timelines and deliverables, and resource allocation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear guidance and superior customer support for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated understanding of the intersections of hunger, poverty, racial inequity, and social injustice.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and comfort learning data and workflow management systems.
• Ability to obtain Washington State Food Worker Card and ServSafe Manager certification within required timeframes.
• Valid Washington State driver’s license and ability to travel for work-related meetings as needed.
Compensation & Benefits
· Salary Range: $80,000–$86,000 annually
Full benefits package includes:
· Employer-paid medical coverage for employees and children
· Dental and vision insurance
· Employer-paid basic life, long- and short-term disability
· Employer match for 403(b) retirement plans
· Generous paid time off, including parental leave
Position Details
· Full-time, hybrid role requiring three days per week in the office
· Candidates must be willing and able to live and work in the Seattle area
Ready to Join Food Lifeline? Apply at FoodLifeline.org/careers
Apply now for our strategic Agency Programs & Partnerships Manager role to lead a high-impact team responsible for managing and strengthening relationships with our network of partner agencies across western Washington.
To join our team as a Agency Programs & Partnerships Manager, please review the full job description and apply electronically. Complete applications must include a resume and cover letter. This posting will remain open until filled.
We encourage applications from candidates who can contribute to our people centered organization and who have lived experience with hunger and inequity.
Food Lifeline is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a workplace that reflects our equity centered values. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.