Director of Affiliates

ABOUT THE GIVING GROVE

The Giving Grove is a national 501(c)(3) organization that provides healthy calories, strengthens communities, and improves the urban environment through a nationwide network of sustainable little orchards. We partner with community-based nonprofit affiliates to equip local leaders with resources, training, peer learning, and practical tools to establish and sustain community orchard programs. 

Our growing national network includes 17 affiliates and 850 community orchards. As we expand our reach, we’re strengthening the relationships, systems, and shared resources that help locally led programs succeed for the long term.

TRAVEL: Approximately six trips annually

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Affiliate Support (50%)

• Build trusted relationships with affiliate Program Managers through regular coaching, check-ins, site visits, and collaborative problem-solving.
• Strengthen local leadership and program effectiveness by connecting affiliates with peers, experts, training, and practical resources.
• Guide affiliates through recruitment, onboarding, ongoing support, program assessments, and renewal or transition processes.
• Coordinate regular affiliate and organizational assessments to identify strengths, growth opportunities, risks, and tailored support needs.
• Facilitate Program Manager meetings, peer learning, working groups, and trainings responsive to affiliate needs.
• Help develop a regional affiliate support model and, if positions are approved and filled, supervise and coach remote Regional Program Managers.
• Manage assigned contractors, providing clear expectations, coordination, and oversight to ensure quality work and timely deliverables.  

Program Operations (30%)

• Translate approved strategy and affiliate needs into practical annual workplans with clear priorities, responsibilities, timelines and measures of success.
• Develop and implement program standards, operating procedures, templates, and practical tools within the Co-Executive Director’s approved framework.
• Coordinate affiliate-facing shared services, including TreeKeeper, online learning platform, the Little Orchard Shop, and shared resources systems, in collaboration with staff, contractors, and vendors.
• Maintain accessible program documentation, CRM and orchard data systems, and relationship records to support consistent service and informed decision-making.
• Coordinate affiliate agreements, subawards, reporting schedules, compliance requirements, and assigned grant-supported research deliverables in partnership with finance, development, and program colleagues.
• Manage affiliate surveys, data collection, quality assurance, and analysis to inform program improvements.
• Manage assigned program budgets, forecasts, and resource tracking. Provide accurate program information, outcomes, and implementation details to colleagues supporting grants, communications, and partnerships. This role does not lead fundraising or grant proposal writing.

Network Learning (20%)

• Coordinate affiliate newsletters, resource updates, training materials, and shared learning opportunities in partnership with communications and subject-matter experts.
• Plan and coordinate national gatherings, including Program Manager meetings and the National Orchard Leadership Summit, working collaboratively on agendas, speakers, logistics, evaluations, and follow-up.
• Translate horticulture, education, research, evaluation, and data expertise into practical training, tools, case studies, and resources for affiliates.
• Share program knowledge, promising practices, and research findings through internal resources and external publications.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE IN THE FIRST YEAR

• Strong affiliate relationships: Program managers report useful coaching, responsive support, stronger connections, and reliable follow-through. Initial feedback established baseline for ongoing improvement.
• Consistent affiliate support: Active affiliates have current program and organizational information, identified support needs, and a clear process for ongoing assessment and support planning.
• Practical, functioning systems: A prioritized operations roadmap is established, with core workflows documented, implemented, and actively used by staff and affiliates.
• Reliable project execution: Assigned meetings, shared services, communications, research coordination, reporting, and other program projects are delivered according to agreed-upon priorities and timelines.
• Progress towards organizational goals: The Director contributes to FY2027 strategic priorities, including stronger affiliate support, improved program data, and coordinated shared services.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Approximately five or more years of relevant experience in program leadership, affiliate or multi-site networks, nonprofit operations, or complex partner-based work. Equivalent professional and community experience is welcome.
• Demonstrated success coaching and influencing people you do not directly supervise, building trust while maintaining expectations and accountability.
• Evidence of personally designing and improving workflows, processes, or systems that others have successfully adopted and used.
• Experience managing detailed projects, facilitating meetings, balancing competing priorities, and following through on commitments.
• Comfort working with surveys, qualitative and quantitative program information, reporting, spreadsheets, and CRM or related data systems.
• Strong writing, communication, facilitation, organizational, and budget-monitoring skills, with the ability to coordinate contractors and multiple workstreams.
• Commitment to community-led food access, equity, environmental justice, and locally responsive partnerships. Horticulture credentials are not required.

HOW WE WORK

We are a small, collaborative national team. #LittleTeamBigImpact. 

We value initiative, transparency, thoughtful experimentation, and practical execution. The Director works closely with Programs & Impact leadership and colleagues in development, communications, finance, horticulture, research and data. The Director owns dependable day-to-day implementation and brings forward recommendations, and works collaboratively to establish priorities and improve our national program model. 

This is a remote position requiring strong independent work habits, consistent communication, and the ability to collaborate across time zones. Our primary organizational operations are based in Central Time. This role involved approximately six trips annually, with occasional evening or weekend commitments associated with travel, events, and affiliate activities.

How to Apply

Please submit a resume and cover letter describing your interest in The Giving Grove and your relevant experience.

In your cover letter, please include two brief examples (approximately 250 words each) addressing the following:

1. Coaching and Influence Without Authority: Describe a time you’ve helped a partner, volunteer lead, or colleague you did not directly supervise achieve a better outcome. What was the situation, what did you do, and what changed as a result? 
2. Building Systems That Work: Describe a process, tool, or system you personally designed or significantly improved. What problem did it solve, how did you encourage others to adopt it, and how did you know it was working? 

Please send your resume and cover letter to admin@givinggrove.org with the subject line of Director of Affiliates Application – [Your Name].

ANTICIPATED HIRING TIMELINE

• Applications accepted October 30 – November 20, 2026.
• Applications will be reviewed as received, and interviews may begin during application period.
• The selection and interview process will continue until the position is filled.
• Anticipated start date: January 4, 2027.

Candidates selected to advance the interview process will be contacted directly. 

If you require reasonable accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact admin@givinggrove.org.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Giving Grove is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive and equitable workplace. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and especially encourage applicants whose identities and lived experiences reflect the communities served by our network.