Associate Director, Federal Government Relations

Job Description

Since 1984, Share Our Strength® has led the fight against hunger and poverty by inspiring and organizing individuals and businesses to share their strengths. Today, through the No Kid Hungry campaign, Share Our Strength is ending childhood hunger in America by ensuring all children get the healthy food they need. No child should go hungry in America – we’re on our way to making that a reality and we want you to join us. We’re bold, creative, always open to new ideas, and 100% dedicated to our mission. If that sounds like you, we’d like you to consider becoming part of our team.

The Associate Director, Federal Government Relations will be responsible for assisting in the development, management, and implementation of Share Our Strength’s government relations efforts on federal policy priorities, working collaboratively with external partners and colleagues across Share Our Strength to develop and execute federal strategies and tactics and serve as Share Our Strength’s representative in coalitions, meetings on Capitol Hill and the Administration.

This position will be in Washington D.C. and the candidate must be local to the Washington D.C. area. This position offers a range of $103,000-$110,000. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and geographic location.

POSITION SUMMARY

Leads work related to implementation of Share Our Strength’s federal legislative and regulatory priorities across child nutrition programs (School Breakfast and Lunch, CACFP and Summer Food Service Program), SNAP, WIC, CTC and other federal anti-poverty programs.

Manage and maintain strong and effective relationships with legislative staff and external partners on Federal policy issues. This includes managing difficult conversations, finding shared common ground and identifying and establishing new partnerships.

Experience and preexisting relationships with Congressional Leadership and key Committees; including Appropriations, Agriculture, Education and Labor, Finance and HELP, among others.

Leading the preparation of letters, one-pagers, legislation, testimony, etc. for Members of Congress, Congressional staff and other policy makers.

Works with colleagues to identify and track federal policy developments impacting child nutrition and anti-poverty programs and coordinates analysis and response on specific bills.

Support and drive Share Our Strength to reach government relations goals by providing ongoing feedback, conducting regular needs and progress assessments, identifying barriers and opportunities and developing strategies and marshalling resources from across the organization.

Develop an understanding of broader organizational goals and strategies and identify opportunities to leverage federal government relations to further those broader goals.

Communicate progress and facilitate shared understanding of government relations metrics, strategies, tactics and impact among external and internal stakeholders, including senior leadership.

Assist team leadership in tracking federal government relations expenses and making timely recommendations on project funding.

Represents Share Our Strength to external audiences, including through presentations at conferences, community events, meetings with policymakers, donors and similar forums.

Provide strategic counsel and guidance to State Campaigns and Program Department leadership during annual planning, campaign reviews and on other strategic matters.

Lead organizational workgroups as needed.

Manage federal government relations staff and external consultants.

Contacts/Collaboration

Internal: daily interaction with Government Relations and Advocacy team and Research and Policy team, regular interaction across Program Department, Communications, CED, Finance, Design. Interaction is primarily at a strategy level.

External: National anti-hunger partners, Congressional staff, Executive branch officials, other policymakers, donors and board members.

Decision Making

Decision making in collaboration with Director of Government Relations and Advocacy. Makes decisions on issues and priorities for own work areas within strategic guidelines and with supervisor input on emerging and significant issues.

SUPERVISION

This position has supervisory responsibilities of Manager, Federal Government Relations.

QUALIFICATIONS

BA/BS required, MA/MS preferred; typically requires at least 6-9 years of relevant experience and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience with a focus on Federal issue advocacy, lobbying, public policy, and/or experience on Capitol Hill or with a Federal government agency.

Demonstrated knowledge of Federal legislative processes and experience working with elected officials, legislative staff, agency personnel and other policymakers.

Success at developing and managing effective and collaborative partnerships both externally and internally, including ability to cultivate and maintain positive relationships across diverse, bipartisan coalitions, especially across anti-hunger and anti-poverty programs.

Strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion through the integration and elevation of individuals with lived experience in all levels of policymaking and program implementation.

Outstanding written and oral communications skills, including experience presenting to high- level audiences.

Outstanding judgment and demonstrated ability to initiate, organize and prioritize multiple projects and work independently in a fluid environment.

Excellent analytical, project management, and organizational skills required.

Ability to work evenings and weekends as necessary.

Comprehensive Benefits Plan

We offer a comprehensive benefits plan which currently includes, but is not limited to, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, retirement, wellness benefits, and paid time off (vacation leave, sick leave, personal leave, holiday, parental leave, bereavement leave, military leave and jury duty leave).

DIVERSITY

At Share Our Strength, we value an individual’s diversity of backgrounds, experiences, ideas and perspectives. A hallmark of our history, culture and values has been the organization’s desire to bring together motivated, intelligent, and talented people to work together to find and implement solutions to end hunger and poverty in the U.S. and abroad. We each come to Share Our Strength with a unique background, but together we form a team that yields amazing results. This shared value of encouraging and embracing diversity in our organization fosters a workplace and culture that is highlighted for its innovation, open expression of ideas, and collaboration. With a strong shared commitment to the organization’s mission, and a unique blend of individual strengths, we are all working toward ensuring that every individual can live a healthy and productive life.