Agency Sourcing Manager

Who We Are:
Are you ready to join a team where your talent creates lasting change? At Northern Illinois Food Bank, every day is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our Neighbors, so that everyone in Northern Illinois has the food they need to thrive! Together we are a dedicated and innovative team committed to ending hunger in Northern Illinois. We embrace diverse perspectives, collaboration, and continuous learning, we celebrate successes, learn from challenges, and foster a culture of growth, optimism, and teamwork.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
Northern Illinois Food Bank will embrace opportunities to stand in solidarity with our community, and center the voices of those most impacted by systematic injustices. We affirm our commitment to anti-racism, to gender equity, to allyship, and to fairness as we work towards a hunger-free future and to create a better and more just world. 

The Opportunity:
The Agency Sourcing Manager is responsible for developing and executing food sourcing strategies that support Northern Illinois Food Bank's highest-volume agency partners. This role serves as a key liaison between Procurement, Customer Relations, Agency Relations, and agency partners to ensure food sourcing, purchasing, inventory availability, and service delivery are aligned with agency demand and operational capacity.

The Agency Sourcing Manager oversees demand planning, food sourcing, strategic relationships with agencies, inventory optimization initiatives, and regional purchasing collaboration efforts. This position works cross-functionally to improve product availability, supply consistency, purchasing effectiveness, organization goals, and agency food sourcing satisfaction while supporting the organization's mission and strategic priorities.
 

This full-time position is based out of our West Suburban Center (Geneva) location.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and manage strategies that support high-volume agency partners and align food sourcing, purchasing, and inventory decisions with agency demand.
• Analyze agency ordering patterns, demand trends, inventory availability, and supply constraints to identify opportunities for improved service, efficiency, and resource utilization.
• Partner with agencies to improve forecasting, ordering practices, product utilization, and alignment between demand and available inventory for agency purchasing program and agency grant opportunities.
• Monitor service levels, product availability, fill rates, and agency satisfaction and implement strategies to address gaps and improve performance.
• Collaborate with Procurement to ensure purchasing decisions reflect agency demand patterns, operational capacity, and inventory management objectives.
• Serve as a primary point of coordination between Procurement, Customer Relations, Agency Relations, and Agency Partners to support communication, issue resolution, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Support regional purchasing and sourcing initiatives through collaboration with peer food banks and external partners to increase purchasing leverage, improve pricing, and strengthen supply reliability.
• Contribute to the development and expansion of regional purchasing partnerships and cooperative sourcing opportunities.
• Monitor and analyze operational, inventory, and customer service metrics and utilize data to support decision-making, forecasting, and strategic planning.
• Develop recommendations that improve product variety, Healthy Eating Research (HER) goals, supply consistency, purchasing efficiency, and overall agency experience.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with agency partners, external stakeholders, and internal teams to support organizational goals and mission impact.
• Participate in organizational initiatives, cross-functional projects, and continuous improvement activities.
• Perform other related duties, responsibilities, and special projects as assigned or required.

Who You Are:
You’re driven, compassionate, and excited to bring your unique skills to a purpose-driven organization. You have a strong commitment to our mission and:

• Bachelor's degree preferred or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in operations, supply chain, procurement, customer relations, program management, logistics, or a related field.
• Experience managing cross-functional projects, partnerships, or operational initiatives.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret demand, inventory, and performance data.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and customer service skills.
• Experience in food banking, nonprofit operations, distribution, logistics, inventory management, forecasting, or procurement preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a collaborative environment.

Why Join Us:

• Make a Difference: Every role at Northern Illinois Food Bank directly impacts the lives of those we serve.
• Flexible Work Environment: We value work-life balance and support flexible work arrangements.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy medical, dental, vision, retirement plans, paid time off, and more. The starting pay range for this position is $55,645 - $59,120/annually, based on skills and experience. 
• Growth Opportunities: Invest in your career with professional development, career mapping, and leadership training.
• Inclusive Culture: Join a diverse, collaborative team that values equity and belonging.
   

How to Apply:

Are you ready to make a difference? Apply online at https://solvehungertoday.org/about/join-our-team/.  Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter that highlights your passion for our mission and your relevant skills.

Northern Illinois Food Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Our goal is to attract, develop, retain, and promote a talented diverse workforce where all employees feel a sense of belonging and contribute to a culture that values differences, ideas, and experiences. We intentionally seek out diverse perspectives and skills on our teams, knowing that it makes us stronger as an organization and better equipped to serve our neighbors in need. We encourage individuals from historically under-represented communities and individuals with lived experience of hunger to apply.

Salary : $55,645 - $59,120