About the Greater Chicago Food Depository
The Greater Chicago Food Depository believes that food is a basic human right, and its mission is to end hunger. Widely recognized as a leading, equity-driven organization, the Food Depository serves as the food bank for Chicago and all of Cook County—working in partnership with a dynamic network of 850 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, community organizations, and other partners committed to ensuring that no one in the community goes hungry.
A Critical Lifeline in the Face of Rising Need
In a region where an estimated 1 in 5 households experiences food insecurity—with families with children and communities of color disproportionately impacted—the Food Depository remains a vital source of nourishment, stability, and hope.
As the effects of inflation and the rollback of federal nutrition programs persist, hunger continues to surpass pre-pandemic levels. In fact, visits to food pantries across the Food Depository’s network have increased compared to 2022, reflecting the urgent and ongoing demand for food assistance.
In Fiscal Year 2025, the Food Depository:
- Distributed the equivalent of 96 million meals, serving neighbors through 2.3 million household visits to free grocery partners
- Engaged 26,000 volunteers, who donated nearly 103,000 hours to repack 7 million pounds of food
- Helped more than 3,000 neighbors apply for SNAP benefits, totaling more than $5 million in assistance
This powerful impact is made possible by tens of thousands of annual donors–individuals and institutions with a deeply rooted commitment to the Food Depository’s mission to end hunger.
Moving Beyond Food Distribution
The Food Depository’s work goes beyond delivering food. As a proud member of the Feeding America network, the organization leads with bold, equity-centered strategies to address the root causes of hunger: poverty, systemic inequity, and structural racism.
Key initiatives include:
- Statewide work focused on protecting the nutrition safety net
- A strategic partnership with City Colleges of Chicago
- The development of a home-meal delivery response for older adults and people with disabilities
- The expansion of a prepared meal strategy that connects vulnerable individuals with healthy meals
Investing in Community-Led Solutions
With a deep commitment to community voice and localized investment, the Food Depository is channeling more than $14 million into historically disinvested neighborhoods—those with the highest rates of food insecurity.
- 52% of all food is distributed to these high-priority communities
- 100% of partners receive food at no cost, empowering them to allocate resources toward other essential services
A Mission-Driven Anchor Institution
The Greater Chicago Food Depository is a respected leader in hunger relief—known for its compassion, innovation, and deep connection to the communities it serves. The Food Depository’s work is driven by its core values:
- We center our work on neighbors who face hunger
- We work for justice
- We are inclusive
- We are courageous
Driven by a dynamic and mission-oriented team, the Food Depository’s success is rooted in its people. The next Vice President, People & Culture will join this purpose-driven organization at a pivotal moment, advancing a legacy of impact and helping shape a future where everyone in Chicago and Cook County has access to the food and resources they need to thrive.
Learn more about the Greater Chicago Food Depository at chicagosfoodbank.org.
Explore the organization’s vision for the future by reviewing the Strategic Plan.
The Opportunity
The Greater Chicago Food Depository is seeking a dynamic, mission-driven executive to serve as the Vice President, People & Culture (VP, P&C) who will provide overall human resources and people & culture leadership to the organization.
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, and member of the Senior Leadership Team, the VP, P&C is responsible for managing the development and implementation of human resources policies, programs and services, including recruitment, onboarding, retention, professional development strategy and execution, legal compliance, employee benefits and compensation, employee relations, and employment practices and procedures. The VP, P&C will also be a thought leader in developing and advancing initiatives to strengthen workplace culture. This is a tremendous opportunity for a motivated human resources professional with strong leadership skills to join the Food Depository and advance the impact of its people and the organization as a whole in its next chapter.
Key responsibilities include:
- Establish credibility and trust at all levels of the organization in order to be seen as a responsive, thoughtful, and effective leader of all human capital related matters;
- Lead and manage the People & Culture function, including the leadership of five People & Culture team members (four direct reports include: Director of Payroll/Benefits, Senior Manager of Workforce Development, Director of Talent and Organizational Development, and Human Resources Business Partner) aligned with the Food Depository’s values and objectives, reflecting best practices and in line with evolving contemporary standards;
- Position the Food Depository as an employer of choice, both internally and externally, through culture-building, employee engagement, and continuous performance improvement;
- Lead talent recruitment, development, and training;
- Partner with the CEO, COO, Senior Leadership Team, and, on occasion, the Board of Directors, to ensure that talent plans equip the Food Depository to meet short and long-term strategic goals;
- Develop and execute best-in-class HR strategies and performance management processes that align people with organizational goals;
- Promote and strengthen a performance-driven, mission-aligned, and accountability-focused organizational culture;
- Serve as the voice of and advocate for all employees;
- Promote a workplace environment aligned with the Food Depository’s mission and values. Build relationships and develop processes to ensure equitable recruiting. Ensure employees at all levels and from all backgrounds feel welcome, valued, integrated, and included in the Food Depository workforce;
- Continuously monitor, review, and discern internal organizational skill and competency needs, as well as external factors impacting performance, to ensure processes are in place that support organizational development and growth; and
- Other duties as appropriate.
Candidate Profile
While it is understood that no candidate will offer every desired skill, quality, and characteristic, the following competencies offer a detailed, aspirational view of the ideal candidate profile:
An Expert in HR/People & Culture
This leader will bring:
- Comprehensive expertise across all aspects of the HR/People & Culture function, including compliance, compensation, benefits, recruitment, employee relations, and organizational design.
- A strategic mindset paired with hands-on agility, able to both set vision and execute effectively in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.
- Proven experience leading HR in complex organizations with diverse workforces, including hourly and salaried employees across a wide range of roles.
- A consultative and collaborative approach, fostering open dialogue and aligning stakeholders around shared goals and values.
- Strong change management and organizational development skills, with the ability to navigate evolving needs while maintaining engagement and trust.
- A demonstrated ability to advance talent development and succession planning, ensuring a strong leadership pipeline and opportunities for growth at all levels.
A Skilled Leader of People & Effective Communicator
This leader will bring:
- A human-centered approach, balancing empathy with accountability to achieve results through people.
- A track record of developing and empowering teams, fostering clarity, confidence, and collaboration.
- The ability to communicate with transparency and authenticity, listening deeply and responding thoughtfully to diverse perspectives.
- Comfort having courageous conversations and addressing challenges constructively to strengthen relationships and outcomes.
- A collaborative, influential leadership style, working across departments to advance organizational priorities and build alignment.
A Proven Culture Builder
This leader will bring:
- Demonstrated success cultivating a positive, inclusive, and mission-driven culture that reflects organizational values and strengthens engagement.
- A mindset of meeting people where they are, building trust and belonging across a diverse workforce.
- Approachability and authenticity, with a natural ability to connect and build bridges across teams and levels.
- A commitment to employee well-being, growth, and recognition, ensuring the culture supports both individual and collective success.
Commitment to the Mission & Values of the Greater Chicago Food Depository
This leader will bring:
- A deep connection to the mission to end hunger and a passion for serving the community.
- A champion of equity, inclusion, and justice. A leader who brings sincerity, humility, and transparency to every interaction.
- An innovative and open mindset, valuing diverse experiences and perspectives as essential to organizational strength.
- The ability to inspire and unite others around shared purpose, especially during times of change or challenge.
Location
The successful candidate must be based in or willing to relocate to Chicago, Illinois. The VP, P&C is expected to work in-person at the Food Depository's offices five days per week.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with the selected candidate’s experience. The salary for this role is expected to range from $240,000-$280,000, along with a comprehensive benefits package.
Contact
DSG | Koya, the executive search firm dedicated to mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Cheryl Stevens and Claire Hunt are leading the search.
To express interest in this role, please fill out our Talent Profile or reach out directly at [email protected].
Koya l DSG is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
About DSG | Koya
DSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
DSG Global is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.
Learn more about DSG | Koya via the firm's website.