Business Initiatives Analyst

We are seeking a Business Initiatives Analyst to join ReFED’s Business Initiatives & Community Engagement team. You will deepen ReFED’s capabilities to develop, deliver, and apply business analytics and insights related to food waste in support of ReFED’s growing business network. The Analyst will add much-needed capacity to collect, analyze, and deliver data products, servicing both one-on-one engagements (e.g. Business Services) and pre-competitive partnerships (e.g. U.S. Food Waste Pact). In addition, the analyst will research and improve business data parameters (e.g. causal and destination data), facilitate the implementation of corporate client data modeling projects, and explore thought leadership opportunities across ReFED’s Business Initiatives program. 

This role builds out critical connection points between internal data and program teams, namely tying our analytics in with client relationships and program delivery, while also feeding important insights back into our core models and tools managed by our Data & Insights Team. This position will work remotely and report to the Senior Manager, Business Initiatives. 

David Ly is the hiring manager for this position. Applications must be received by April 7, 2025, to be fully considered.

About The Organization

ReFED is a U.S.-based nonprofit working to catalyze the food system to take evidence-based action to stop wasting food. We do this by cultivating and convening the food community, delivering actionable evidence and insights, and seeding and accelerating food waste solutions. Starting with the 2016 Roadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Waste, ReFED has produced first-of-their-kind tools and resources, providing a full-supply-chain picture of U.S. food waste, cost-effective solutions to reduce it, and methods to track progress. In 2021, ReFED launched the Insights Engine, an online data center serving as the next generation of data, insights, and guidance on U.S. food waste reduction. Reducing food waste will have a significant impact on mitigating climate change, optimizing the use of water, land, and other resources, and providing meals for the over 47 million people in the United States who currently face food insecurity. We are continuing to grow our team to further build our capacity to achieve our vision of a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food system that makes the best use of the food we grow.

We are a team of doers, and we get a lot accomplished. We create outsized impact, and everyone on the team contributes to accomplishing our shared goals. Learning and professional development are heavily embedded in ReFED’s culture. We promote cross-functional work to embrace diverse perspectives, experiences, and skills to ensure we are an inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.   

Learn more at www.refed.org. 

• Refine data models and manage data collection, technical assistance, and analysis for Business Services client projects
• Project manage and provide technical support for Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment and U.S. Food Waste Pact annual data reporting
• Project manage delivery of Custom Roadmaps, explore data and metric improvements, and support expansion to additional sectors and use cases 

• Conduct research on business solutions to food waste and improve key parameters of ReFED’s model (e.g. causal and destination data)
• Support Business Initiatives business development and client management, including CRM and metric tracking 
• Research and support opportunities for thought leadership centered on business data and analytics, such as case studies, best practices reports, trends reports, etc. 

• Have experience managing large and complex data sets, and translating that data into understandable and actionable insights
• Have experience handling proprietary data with strict security measures
• Can demonstrate strong technical skills, including: 
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, including pivot tables and data analysis functions (required)
• Ability to create compelling presentations using PowerPoint or Google Slides, including clear data visualizations (charts, graphs) that communicate insights effectively to internal and external stakeholders (required)
• Familiarity with CRM tools for client management and metric tracking  (preferred, but not required)
• Familiarity with low/no-code automation tools (e.g., Zapier, Google Apps Script, etc) (preferred, but not required)

• 2+ years of relevant experience, with related experience in business analytics, consulting, category management or related fields preferred
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to translate information between data and client-centric internal partners, as well as external clients
• Exceptional attention to detail and robust organizational abilities
• Independent initiative and comfort with navigating ambiguity and autonomy in overseeing multiple projects and timelines simultaneously.

• Food waste expertise 
• Experience working in the nonprofit sector
• A specific degree

ReFED values a diverse range of skills and experiences and encourages all interested candidates to apply, even if they don't meet all of the criteria listed. Our organization recognizes that everyone brings unique perspectives and strengths to the team, and we are committed to considering all applicants fairly and thoroughly. If you are passionate about our mission and excited about the role, don't hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself!

Our Recruitment Process

Our recruitment process includes the following steps:

* Initial screening interview over video call.

* 2-3 interviews over video call with different members of the team.

* References, usually three, will be requested, and reference checks will be conducted.

We strive to maintain clear and frequent communication throughout the recruitment process, however, due to capacity limitations we may not be able to respond to every initial application. Our process always includes input from multiple team members with diverse backgrounds and perspectives from across the organization.

Our Operating Environment

ReFED is a distributed organization, with a team of 28+ working remotely from various locations across the United States. We use a range of digital collaboration and connectivity tools to facilitate our work, including Google Workspace, Slack, Zoom, Airtable, Salesforce, Miro, MS Office, Adobe, and Insperity. 

Our remote culture is built through a variety of means, including 3-4 annual in-person gatherings. These events include our annual team retreat, department retreats and the Food Waste Solutions Summit, a national convening of the food waste movement that we host annually. We also foster team connections through informal virtual get-togethers, ask-me-anything sessions with our Board and Advisory Council members, and peer recognition on our shoutouts channel in Slack. We also have a “Big Dill” spot bonus program and engage in conversation through our watercooler channel in Slack. Our in-person events are essential for team building, learning, and fun.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Commitment

ReFED is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where all individuals have equal opportunities to contribute and grow. We recognize that our success is rooted in the diverse perspectives and backgrounds of our team members, and we strive to foster a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to recruiting, hiring, developing, training, and promoting individuals regardless of their gender identity, sex, race, religion, age, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. We recognize that systemic barriers can create challenges, and we are committed to fostering a more inclusive environment by promoting justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) across all aspects of our organization. Our commitment to JEDI is an ongoing journey, and we are committed to continuously learning, listening, and improving our practices to create a more equitable and inclusive workplace for all.