How to apply for Director, Global Food Sovereignty Movements Program

About WhyHunger

WhyHunger is a 50-year-old nonprofit that addresses the root causes of hunger by supporting grassroots movements and community solutions rooted in social, environmental, racial, and economic justice. It uniquely bridges philanthropy, advocacy, and movement building, partnering with artists and grassroots leaders to drive systemic change. Working here means being part of a legacy that treats food as a human right, not a commodity.

About the role

As Director of the Global Food Sovereignty Movements Program, you will lead WhyHunger's international strategy, stewarding relationships with global social movements and grassroots organizations while deepening program design, advocacy, and philanthropic partnerships. This senior role sits at the intersection of movement building and philanthropy, requiring you to be both a strategic thinker and a hands-on ally to frontline communities. Your work will directly shape how WhyHunger responds to the global food crisis affecting over 295 million people.

A typical day

A typical day might involve a morning call with a grassroots partner in Latin America to co-design a funding initiative, followed by an internal strategy session on integrating advocacy into global programs. Afternoon could include reviewing grant proposals, connecting with a philanthropic partner, and preparing for an upcoming movement convening. You'll balance remote collaboration with deep listening to movement leaders, ensuring WhyHunger's resources and voice amplify their priorities.

Who WhyHunger is looking for

• Proven experience leading international food sovereignty or food justice programs, with deep knowledge of global social movements and grassroots organizing.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with diverse stakeholders, including movement leaders, funders, and policymakers, across multiple regions.
• Strong strategic and program design skills, with a track record of translating movement priorities into actionable initiatives and funding strategies.
• Commitment to anti-racist, decolonial, and intersectional approaches to food systems work, and comfort working in a remote, movement-aligned nonprofit environment.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific examples of your work with global food sovereignty movements—name the movements, regions, and outcomes to show authentic alignment with WhyHunger's mission.
• Emphasize your experience in both program design and philanthropy, as this role uniquely bridges funding and movement support; quantify budgets or grants managed if possible.
• Demonstrate your understanding of WhyHunger's 50-year history and its intersectional approach; reference their partnerships with artists or grassroots leaders in your materials.
• Show how you've navigated the tensions between institutional philanthropy and grassroots movements, as this role requires balancing funder expectations with movement autonomy.
• Use language that reflects WhyHunger's values—human rights, systemic change, and justice—rather than generic nonprofit jargon; mirror their terminology like 'movement ally' and 'food sovereignty'.

What to cover in your cover letter

["Your personal connection to and experience with global food sovereignty movements, including specific movements or regions you've worked with.", "How you would steward WhyHunger's existing relationships while expanding their global programs strategy, with concrete ideas for deepening impact.", "Your approach to balancing movement building, philanthropy, and advocacy, and how you've successfully navigated these intersections in past roles.", 'Why WhyHunger specifically—not just any food justice organization—and how their 50-year legacy and intersectional approach resonate with your career trajectory.']

Research before applying

• Explore WhyHunger's website, especially their global programs, annual reports, and stories of grassroots partners to understand their movement-aligned approach.
• Research key global food sovereignty movements (e.g., La Vía Campesina, Food Sovereignty Alliance) and their current priorities to speak knowledgeably about the landscape.
• Look into WhyHunger's history, founders (Harry Chapin and Bill Ayres), and how they've evolved over 50 years, including their artist partnerships and advocacy campaigns.
• Understand the current global food crisis data (e.g., 295 million people facing acute food insecurity) and how WhyHunger positions itself in relation to larger NGOs and funders.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you approach stewarding WhyHunger's long-standing relationships with global social movements while also expanding the organization's global programs strategy?
• Describe a time you navigated a conflict between a funder's priorities and a grassroots movement's needs. How did you handle it?
• What is your understanding of food sovereignty, and how does it differ from food security? How have you applied this framework in your work?
• WhyHunger emphasizes intersectionality—how would you integrate racial, economic, and environmental justice into international food programs?
• Given the current global food crisis, what are the most urgent opportunities and challenges for WhyHunger's international work, and how would you prioritize them?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on food security or charity models rather than food sovereignty and systemic change, which would signal a misalignment with WhyHunger's core philosophy.
• Name-dropping global movements without demonstrating genuine relationships or understanding of their internal dynamics and autonomy.
• Approaching the role as a traditional program manager rather than a movement ally, emphasizing top-down strategy over co-creation with grassroots partners.