The Chef Ann Foundation (CAF) seeks a creative and dynamic team player with policy advocacy experience to become CAF’s Director of Policy and Advocacy. This position will lead the organization’s policy advocacy work to advance CAF’s mission; Ensuring that school food professionals have the resources, funding and support they need to provide fresh, healthy, delicious, cook-from-scratch meals that support the health of children and our planet.

About the Chef Ann Foundation

Founded in 2009, the Chef Ann Foundation (CAF) believes that all children should have equal access to fresh, healthy, delicious food providing them the foundation to thrive and meet their true potential. We ensure that school food professionals have the resources, funding and support they need to provide cook-from-scratch meals that support the health of children and our planet. To date, we’ve reached over 13,000 schools and over 3.3 million children in all 50 states.

Job Description

The Director of Policy and Advocacy guides the vision and strategy for the foundation’s school food policy efforts. This position interfaces with state, local, and federal stakeholders, as well as grassroots organizations that are advocating for more fresh, scratch-cooked food in schools. This  role will be focused on state legislative and executive branch advocacy, as well as engaging with administrative agencies, local governments, and other campaigns.

The Director of Policy and Advocacy is responsible for stewarding the policy process, from drafting the foundation’s policy agenda, to formulating and implementing initiatives, and finally to monitoring and evaluating how the foundation’s policy work advances CAF’s mission.

The Director of Policy and Advocacy will report to the CEO. This position will collaborate closely with the Director of Marketing, Executive Director of Programs, Executive Director of School Food Operations and our Sr. Government Relations Specialist.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement a strategic legislative and policy program at the state and local levels to advance CAF’s priorities
• Work closely with contract lobbyists to execute CAF’s legislative agenda utilizing appropriate strategies and tactics
• Analyze and track legislation, draft legislation and amendments, prepare and deliver written and oral testimony
• Prepare written materials, including action alerts, talking points, issues briefs, policy reports, op eds, and website content
• Build trusted relationships with elected and appointed officials, agency decision-makers, lobbyists and community stakeholders by providing clear, fact-based analysis and resources
• Represent CAF in various community and stakeholder policy groups, build and lead coalitions with diverse stakeholders to advance shared policy goals, and work in partnership with other organizations
• Consult with policy subject matter experts, including school food operators, and facilitate their voices being heard by decision makers at the state and local level
• Coordinate and implement effective integrated advocacy initiatives, involving a combination of policy, communication, public education and community engagement strategies
• Work collaboratively with national CAF employees and CAF partners to advance nationwide policy campaigns
• Speak to the media or the public as needed
• Assist in educating CAF stakeholders, including CAF team members  about legislation and the legislative process

Position Requirements

• Deep understanding of the legislative process, political strategic planning, and the ability to build respectful relationships across the political spectrum
• Exceptional analytical, research, writing and oral advocacy skills, as well as the ability to articulate complex issues and to communicate them tactfully and effectively to a variety of audiences
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain allies and work collaboratively across the political spectrum with diverse coalitions
• Exceptional initiative, vision and ambition to build a strategic, integrated advocacy program through a broad range of short- and long-term political and lobbying strategies
• Passion for, and a well-articulated knowledge of child nutrition, school food and food systems
• Ambitious, creative, and results-oriented initiative as well as a desire to learn, pitch-in, and anticipate new projects
• Ability to develop and disseminate materials regarding legislative developments to national partners, policy makers and the media
• Experience analyzing and interpreting legislative and regulatory language
• Willingness to work beyond 9 to 5 during the legislative session, and to travel throughout the country as needed
• Experience in selection and management of lobbyist to support your policy goals
• A minimum of 6-8 years of state or national legislative, political or policy advocacy work

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office and GSuite platforms, especially on Mac OS. Experience preferred in Salesforce, Zoom, and Adobe
• Ability to work virtually

Essential Traits

• A passion for Childhood health and wellness and a strong interest food systems
• Passion for and  commitment to health equity
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Flexible mindset and innovative thinker
• Willingness to engage in continuous learning and training
• Resourceful self-starter

Compensation

Compensation ranges between $86,000 – $115,500 per year and will be commensurate with the candidate’s previous experience and credentials. The Chef Ann Foundation is a great place to work and provides its staff with a competitive benefits package, including health insurance reimbursement, professional development, a generous paid time off program, and a 403(b) retirement plan. We are a fully-remote organization whose headquarters are located in Boulder, CO, with team members spread across the US. This position is remote and can be based anywhere in the U.S.

Posting will Close May 15th, 2023

At the Chef Ann Foundation, our work to ensure access to fresh, healthy school food for all is built on the idea of equity. We support and celebrate differences, and our team and community are stronger with every new voice. CAF is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. CAF is committed to the incorporation of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) throughout our organization, including increased efforts to hire, support, and engage BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and other historically marginalized groups.