Empower Missouri
Position Title: Food Security Policy Manager
Reports to: Chief of Policy Staff
Position Summary: The Food Security Policy Manager, under the direction of the Chief of Policy Staff, leads a portfolio of food security-related policy research, community engagement and legislative advocacy for the organization. This portfolio includes leading the development of Missouri’s Rural Food Financing Program, spearheading a campaign to end the grocery tax in Missouri, and managing our push for expanded access to free school meals. The Policy Manager supports recruitment, training, and maintenance of a robust, statewide Food Security Coalition composed of organizations working to ensure every Missourian has access to sufficient, nutritious food.
Roles & Responsibilities:
Policy, Advocacy and Organizing
Serve as a food security policy expert for Empower Missouri, including keeping up-to-date on new data and policy recommendations.
Research evidence-based best practices on our priority issues and produce content that may be used on our communication platforms.
Cultivate and maintain relationships with key policymakers
Lead a three-year initiative to launch Missouri’s Rural Food Access Partnership, laying the groundwork for a statewide rural food financing project.
Lead research, planning, community engagement and advocacy on food security campaigns as assigned, beginning with ending the grocery sales tax and expanding access to free school meals in Missouri.
Support communities across the state in establishing Food Policy Councils
Support recruitment, training, & maintenance of a robust statewide Food Security Coalition, including:
Connecting with Missouri organizations who engage in food security work and stewarding them to be a part of the coalition
Convening calls and meetings of the coalition
Organizing coalition-specific events, including policy town halls and regional meetings
Represent Empower Missouri at appropriate meetings or events related to food security
Organizational Stewardship
Contribute to grant-writing and grant-reporting processes for proposals related to food security and collaborates on additional grants as requested.
Assist with fundraising & donor stewardship as requested
Serve as a spokesperson to the media on issues related to food security
Support key organizational events, including our Anti-Poverty Advocates Summit and Week of Action
Supervise interns
Other duties as assigned
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Passion for advancing food security policy in Missouri
Demonstrated planning and organizational skills
Strong coalition building and coalition management skills
Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and shift priorities as needed
Strong research and writing skills
Demonstrated skills in meeting facilitation
Basic event planning knowledge
Desired Education and Experience:
Strong candidates will possess significant knowledge of food security issues in Missouri and have professional experience working on food security-related topics.
Experience in working on policy advocacy is preferred, but not required. We will train the right candidate on the policy advocacy elements of the job as needed.
Empower Missouri is open to a wide range of educational and professional backgrounds. Competency, passion, and experience are more important than formal education, although we certainly welcome those with formal education credentials to apply.
Salary Range and Benefits:
$50,000- $65,000 depending on experience and qualifications. Position comes with annual opportunities for merit-based and cost-of-living raises; health, life, dental and vision insurance; generous PTO policy, paid holidays, and retirement plan.
Location of Position:
This position can be based anywhere in Missouri, with anticipated 50% travel in-state. Candidates must be willing and able to travel frequently.
To Apply:
Submit cover letter, resume, and list of three references to jobs@empowermissouri.org. Priority application deadline is June 12, 2024. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
