RACHEL NEUKIRCH
OPERATION FOOD SEARCH
Cedar Hill,MO
1
Certification
29
years of professional experience
Strategic executive leader with 25+ years driving growth and transformation in nonprofit and human service sectors. Expertise in clinical supervision, team development, and service delivery enhancement. Skilled in translating strategy into operational success through accountability, data-driven decisions, and collaboration. Proven ability to manage diverse teams, multimillion-dollar budgets, and foster partnerships with stakeholders to enhance outcomes for children and families.
Work History
Senior Director, Food Is Medicine Programs
3 Years 4 Months- Provide strategic and operational leadership for innovative Food as Medicine initiatives connecting nutrition, healthcare, and community-based services to improve outcomes for individuals and families.
- Provide strategic leadership for multiple Food as Medicine service lines, translating organizational priorities into operational plans, measurable objectives, and accountable implementation.
- Lead cross-functional teams through program growth and organizational change, strengthening accountability, systems, communication, and alignment with strategic priorities.
- Oversaw program performance and evaluation; analyzed data to identify opportunities and improve decision-making and service delivery effectiveness.
- Developed and implemented maternal and clinical nutrition initiatives with healthcare providers and community stakeholders to enhance service delivery and health outcomes.
- Develop program strategies, policies, work plans, budgets, evaluation frameworks, and sustainability plans for complex initiatives.
- Utilized partner and participant feedback, program data, and frontline experience to identify gaps and refine program design and implementation.
- Represent the organization with healthcare, community, philanthropic, and public-sector stakeholders and build support for mission-critical initiatives.
- Advance innovative approaches to addressing social determinants of health through integration of nutrition and healthcare services.
Chief Strategy & Program Officer
5 Years 8 Months- Executed executive leadership for strategy, programs, organizational performance, staff development, and major organizational transformation, enhancing overall effectiveness.
- Served as a key executive partner to the CEO and Board of Directors in strategic planning, organizational performance, governance communication, and long-term organizational vision.
- Led executive-level organizational integration during a major nonprofit merger, bringing together services, teams, operational systems, and organizational cultures.
- Directed strategic development and implementation of mission-driven programs designed to strengthen service delivery and improve outcomes for children and families.
- Steered managers and staff through significant organizational change, resolving operational challenges and facilitating successful adoption of new structures and processes.
- Cultivated cross-departmental collaboration and forged strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders to drive organizational priorities.
- Directed annual operating and project budgets and aligned financial resources with strategic goals and program priorities.
- Led facility expansion planning and implementation while helping secure and steward $10 million in capital funding.
- Held progressively responsible leadership roles in the organization's accreditation process, ultimately serving as the primary leadership lead for accreditation of the newly formed organization.
Director of Programs
19 Years 2 Months- Progressed through increasingly responsible leadership positions including Adoption Social Worker, Assistant Director of Social Services, Director of Social Services, Director of Education and Counseling Services, and Director of Programs.
- Provided executive oversight, program leadership, and clinical supervision for multidisciplinary teams serving children and families.
- Supervised and developed staff through coaching, performance feedback, and professional development, enhancing service quality.
- Designed, implemented, and scaled innovative programs in response to emerging community needs, contributing to 300% organizational growth over six years.
- Established operational guidelines, quality standards, and performance improvement processes to strengthen program consistency and effectiveness.
- Established operational guidelines and quality standards, implementing performance improvement processes to ensure program consistency and effectiveness.
- Analyzed program outcomes and service data to evaluate effectiveness, identify gaps, and drive program improvements.
- Secured more than $4 million in grant and contract funding, expanding organizational capacity and access to services.
- Applied social work principles and family-centered approaches to complex human service situations involving vulnerable children, youth, and families.
- Provided leadership across complex program environments requiring sound judgment, collaboration, accountability, and sensitivity to the needs of children and families.
Education
Master of Social Work (MSW) - Social Work
GPA: Magna Cum Laude
Skills
Program implementation
Healthcare Partnerships
Quality improvement
Data & Outcome Measurement
Performance Management
Strategic Planning
Change Management
Continuous Improvement
Strategic & Operational Leadership
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Stakeholder management
Team Leadership & Coaching
Organizational Development
Community Engagement
Crisis management
Policy development
Accomplishments
- Led teams of up to 150 employees, overseeing recruitment, training, leadership development, performance management, and organizational accountability.
- Led major organizational transformation, including integration of services, teams, operations, and organizational culture following a significant nonprofit merger.
- Advanced programs and operations contributing to 300% organizational growth over six years.
- Established quality standards, operational guidelines, and performance improvement initiatives to strengthen program effectiveness and service delivery.
- Led accreditation efforts through progressively increasing levels of responsibility, ultimately serving as the primary leadership role for accreditation of a newly formed organization.
- Developed and strengthened cross-sector partnerships with healthcare systems, community organizations, funders, public-sector stakeholders, and service providers.
- Secured and stewarded more than $10 million in capital funding supporting major organizational facility expansion.
- Secured more than $6 million in grant and contract funding to expand programs and strengthen organizational sustainability.
Certification
LCSW 2001
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- 25+ years of progressive leadership in human services and nonprofit organizations
- Extensive experience leading and coaching multidisciplinary teams
- Executive-level strategic planning and organizational change leadership
- Clinical and program leadership within child- and family-serving organizations
- Healthcare and community partnership development
- Performance measurement and continuous improvement
- Accreditation and quality improvement leadership
- Complex program and budget management
- Experience working with vulnerable individuals and families
Timeline
Senior Director, Food Is Medicine Programs
OPERATION FOOD SEARCH
04.2023 - CurrentRead More
Chief Strategy & Program Officer
FAMILYFORWARD
04.2017 - 12.2022Read More
Director of Programs
CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY OF MISSOURI
01.1998 - 03.2017Read More
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY
Master of Social Work (MSW) from Social Work
Read More