Government Advocacy Manager

Position: Government Advocacy Manager

Status: Contract

Reports to: Director of Development

Department: Development

Qualifications:

The ideal Government Advocacy Manager for the Northeast Iowa and River Bend Food Banks understands and is passionate about the organizations’ mission to provide nutritious food and grocery products to those in need in our 21-counties that we serve in Iowa.

This contractor must demonstrate outstanding analysis of identified constituencies and the development of government advocacy tactics or outreach to meet identified needs and influence public perception and action. Government advocacy is a critical focus area, encompassing the relationship building, policy education, and ongoing outreach of government officials at all levels (City, County, State, Federal) and agency partners. Cultural competency is of utmost importance, as the Government Advocacy Manager will need to understand diverse populations to effectively advocate for the food insecure. The Government Advocacy Manager must possess a powerful sense of initiative, adaptability, and flexibility to meet the needs of the community and Food Banking.

A passion for social justice and compassion for others are keys to being a team member of the Northeast Iowa and River Bend Food Banks. The Northeast Iowa and River Bend Food Banks strive to work as a unified team to close the Meal Gap in eastern Iowa. The Government Advocacy Manager will need to be capable of working as part of a team, as well as being a self-starter.

Project Overview

Under the direction of the Director of Development at the NEIFB, the Government Advocacy Manager will analyze the Food Banks’ current government advocacy, relations, and communications strategies, along with the tools currently used and give feedback to the Food Banks’ Executive Leadership team. The manager will then strategize and implement a new government advocacy, relations and communications strategy that builds upon the previous success of the Food Banks and that will take us to future success. The manager will work in close coordination with key leaders, stakeholders, and constituents.

Scope of Work:

• Analyze the current state of each Food Banks’ government advocacy, relations, and communications structures and processes to identify strengths and weaknesses.
• Using personal experience and analytics, identify a comprehensive government advocacy, relations, and communications strategy within the advocacy budget, according to board policy from NEIFB, River Bend Food Bank and the Iowa Food Bank Association. The communication plan should be done in conjunction with both of the Food Bank’s Marketing and Communications teams.

• Develop, manage and execute a strategic government advocacy, relations, and communications plan for NEIFB and River Bend Food Bank to span across all levels of government target audiences, based upon specific performance goals. This includes but is not limited to providing trainings, attending legislative forums and other events to meet with legislators.
• Build a grass roots effort among the community to advocate for our policies or legislation.
• Analyze the success of various government advocacy, relations, and communications plans; provide and implement recommendations for improvement through data informed strategies.
• Foster best practices and execute advocacy campaigns to all partner agencies to increase advocacy efforts.
• Engage, cultivate and manage relationships with government officials across NEIFB and River Bend’s service area to ensure support of Food Bank priorities and ask for sponsorship and support of appropriate legislation to address food insecurity in eastern Iowa.
• Work with both NEIFB and River Bend Food Banks Marketing and Communications Departments to develop the plan for educating, informing, and advocating our policies.
• Be a member of the Iowa Food Bank Association (IFBA) Advocacy team, as a representative of NEIFB and River Bend Food Banks and provide a presence and participate as required for various events, including but not limited to Day on the Hill.
• Other duties mutually agreed upon.

NEIFB Bank Core Values NEIFB Core Focus

• Attitude of Helpfulness Our Purpose:
• Confidently Humble Collaborate + Educate + Advocate = Feed the Food Insecure
• Clear Communication
• Empathetic to the Community Our 10-year target:
• Solution Centered Every Meal. Every Day. Everyone.
• Striving for Excellence

Northeast Iowa Food Bank hereby affirms it is an equal opportunity employer, offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender expression or identity, pregnancy, leave status, genetic information or age and provides Equal Employment Opportunity to handicapped individuals, disabled veterans and veterans of the Vietnam era.  Further, the Northeast Iowa Food Bank is an equal opportunity provider.

Job Type: Contract

Pay: From $50,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• advocacy: 4 years (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Waterloo, IA 50703 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Waterloo, IA 50703: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Waterloo, IA 50703