Senior Manager, Advocacy & Public Policy

Description

About the Organization:

It is an exciting time at the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) as we continue to undertake our mission of providing good, nutritious food today and food to enable brighter futures. On an annual basis, CAFB distributes over 50 million meals through a network of 400+ partners across the DMV. We know that creating long-term solutions to food security requires more than meals. It requires education, training, and collaboration across the public, private, and social service ecosystems. We are seeking people with strong ideas and a passion to come together to address the complex interrelated issues of food security, poverty, and equity.

We are expanding in multiple ways: providing food for today and addressing the root causes of hunger by partnering with organizations that provide critical services like job training programs, health care, and education. Food has the power to transform lives and move everyone forward. Find out how on our website at capitalareafoodbank.org. Let us discuss how food is at the center of everyone’s healthy life!

Description

The purpose of the Advocacy Department is to enact policy change, enhance operations, and empower neighbor voice to build brighter futures through community and political engagement. The Senior Manager of Advocacy will join an agile Advocacy Department that focuses on an array of policy issues and community organizing efforts designed to enact policy change that will enable adequate nutrition, strong health care, and greater access to opportunity and financial security—among other issues embedded in the food bank’s annual policy agenda.

Our goal is to help our neighbors transition to a place of greater security where they will no longer need the services of the emergency assistance network.

The Senior Manager will report to the Director of Advocacy & Public Policy and will work alongside Advocacy staff to collaborate with operations and programmatic food bank staff to advocate for policy change. The Senior Manager will help tell CAFB’s story to local policymakers and oversee an issue portfolio that is predominantly focused on reducing food insecurity and health inequities throughout the region.

Strong candidates for this role will have a keen understanding of successful advocacy strategies with state and local governments, a deep commitment to reducing food insecurity, an understanding of health inequities facing populations of color, a demonstrated track record of shepherding policies through legislative and administrative branches of government, and navigating various arenas of advocacy and stakeholder dynamics. Additionally, this position will support the Director in appearing in external events, testimonies, press, and panels where necessary, and will serve as a point of contact for ongoing issues and budgetary items in state and local jurisdictions.

An important area of focus for this position will be health equity and the food bank’s Food is Medicine agenda. The position will identify active partners and coalitions to join or lead in addressing health equity issues across the CAFB region, form relationships with Departments of Health at the state and county level across the CAFB region, and work closely with CAFB’s Food + Health programmatic team and CAFB Development team to understand and facilitate the linkages between programs, advocacy, and fundraising for health equity work. This position will also conduct research and form alliances with private and managed care organizations to further advocacy efforts.

Essential Functions

Advocacy and External Affairs – 70%

• Communicates CAFB’s story to policymakers across the region.
• Builds trusted relationships with elected officials, government staff, and key partner organizations to further CAFB goals.
• Collaborates on legislative and regulatory strategies to benefit the operations of the food bank and the well-being of clients.
• Advises on the creation of an annual policy agenda across all levels of government in several disciplines and arenas.
• Monitors and analyzes emerging regulatory, budgetary, and legislative issues.
• Works with the Client Leadership Council to strengthen the voice of neighbors affected by food insecurity. Responsible for strategic oversight to ensure that the program aligns with the needs of our clients/community. Assists in organizing trainings, developing curriculum, and engaging CLC members with CAFB.
• Represents the food bank in press, panel, coalition, and stakeholder engagements.
• Works across and alongside donors, board members, corporations, and food bank nonprofit partners to effectively design and execute government affairs and advocacy initiatives.
• Supports the development of external talking points, framing, and documentation for high-level press, media, and donor engagements for CEO and other staff.
• Prepares CAFB staff for external, governmentally related events and appearances (testimony, briefing memos, governmental fundraising).

Public Policy Development and Analysis – 20%

• Tracks public policy portfolio, develops innovative policy initiatives, and implements strategic advocacy efforts.
• Identifies active partners and coalitions to join or lead in furthering CAFB policy priorities.
• Forms relationships with agency staff at the state and county level across the CAFB region.
• Works closely with CAFB’s programmatic team and CAFB Development team to understand and facilitate the linkages between programs, advocacy, and fundraising.
• Performs research and forms alliances with private organizations and stakeholders to further the policy agenda.

Leadership and Management – 10%

• Creates project timelines and advocacy strategies for CAFB priorities as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• At least 5+ years of advocacy experience, including experience at state and local governmental levels.
• Familiarity with governmental fundraising efforts at all levels of government and/or in collaboration with others to secure private funds that can support programming and advocacy.
• Successful record of managing complex public policy analysis, political, and advocacy strategies, including policy communications with senior government officials.
• Exercises strong judgment on complex topics at the intersection of politics, policy, and government.
• Experience forging relationships on the local, state, and federal levels, as well as across key advocacy and coalition groups in the region.
• Demonstrated expertise in communicating complex, technical, or policy issues to diverse, non-technical audiences.
• Ability to successfully collaborate on cross-functional teams (internal and external) utilizing a strong organizational skillset to drive and lead complex campaigns and projects.

Preferred Requirements:

• Demonstrated ability with policy report writing.
• Demonstrated ability to self-direct work and operate in a deadline-intensive environment with strong, versatile interpersonal skills and a positive, professional attitude.
• Possesses superior research, writing, and oratory skills.
• Knowledge of health equity and Food is Medicine issues.
• Familiarity with client relationship management tools preferred.
• Master’s in public policy or public health strongly preferred.

Other Skills and Abilities

• Interpersonal skills
• Displays humility, patience, compassion, and respect to the Food Bank’s clients.
• Maintains a customer service mindset in all circumstances.
• Possesses a friendly, positive, and energetic demeanor and a can-do attitude.

Self-organization and management

• Utilizes strong organizational skills to prioritize and manage multiple tasks through frequent interruptions and rapidly changing policy environments/timelines.
• Demonstrates confidence working independently.
• Exhibits strong attention to detail and organization.
• Demonstrates a strong sense of pride and ownership over his/her/they areas of responsibility.
• Understands the structure and programmatic intent of various social safety net programs.
• Familiarity with data analysis and visualization.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands and working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Sitting: over 2/3 percent of the time
• Keyboarding: over 2/3 percent of the time
• Driving: under 1/3 percent of the time
• As required by the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Schedule

Hybrid schedule available. Regular hours are Monday – Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, with weekends or extended hours for special events. The position is based in Washington DC – 4900 Puerto Rico Ave NE, Washington DC 20017.

Compensation

Compensation is $89,000 to $100,500 annually.

Note: Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

We Offer

At Capital Area Food Bank, we understand that great people make a great organization. We value our people and offer employees a broad range of benefits including competitive compensation and benefits, free onsite parking, complimentary shuttle to the metro, professional development, growth and volunteer opportunities, fun work in a diverse environment.

Application Process

Interested applicants must submit a resume with their application. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

EOE Statement

Capital Area Food Bank welcomes and supports a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are committed to equal employment opportunities (EEO) for all applicants seeking employment and for all our employees. CAFB makes employment decisions based on organizational needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, personal appearance, military status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political affiliation, educational status, unemployment status, place of residence or business, source of income, reproductive health decision making, or any other characteristic protected by law. Additionally, harassment or discrimination based on these characteristics will not be tolerated at CAFB. To perform the essential functions of this position, reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities.

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