Executive Vice President, Government Affairs & Policy (Washington, DC / Hybrid)

Feeding America • Washington, DC

7d • $230,000 - $242,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Feeding America is seeking an Executive Vice President, Government Affairs & Policy to lead the development and implementation of integrated strategies across government nutrition and feeding programs, and federal and state level policy and advocacy. This role aligns with Feeding America’s priorities and works closely with network members to inform strategy development and execution, thereby advancing government relations influence and success. The position requires a deep understanding of network member needs to strengthen network capacity and coordinate advocacy actions in support of nutrition and feeding programs and policy priorities. It also involves integrating stakeholder engagement and coalition building to support Feeding America’s policy and advocacy priorities across the national organization, with network partners, and with external partners. This position is based in Feeding America’s Washington, DC office and offers a hybrid work environment, requiring employees to be in the office an average of 2 days a week (when not traveling) and offering a 30-day “work anywhere” program annually.

Requirements

• 10+ years’ experience in issue/policy advocacy and/or federal and state legislative and regulatory processes.
• Deep understanding of nutrition and feeding programs, ideally with an understanding of food bank operations and how food banks and the communities in which they serve are impacted by federal and state policy decisions and federal nutrition programs.
• Proven track record of successfully seeking and translating input from a variety of sources to align stakeholders on a common strategy and activate resources through a coordinated, non-partisan approach.
• Successful experience in leadership positions in large, cross-functionally matrixed organizations, preferably serving franchise, affiliate, or other decentralized network environments.
• Outstanding communication, listening, public speaking, and executive-level presentation skills.
• Ease with and effectiveness at public speaking and making presentations to large audiences or facilitating small group discussions among stakeholders at various organization levels.

Nice To Haves

• Leadership experience in a partner food bank or state association is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of integrated strategies that support Feeding America’s policy priorities, including federal nutrition programs focused on increasing food resources and funding available to food banks and promotion of federal and state food stability and access policies.
• Ensure these efforts are aligned with Feeding America’s 2030 Strategy and partner with the Chief Government Relations Officer (CGRO) to leverage connections and relationships with lawmakers, federal agencies, and the administration.
• Ensure responsiveness to the evolving political and policy landscape and informed by holistic policy analysis and assessment.
• In partnership with the Advocacy team, co-lead efforts to mobilize and engage Feeding America’s network, including food bank CEOs, partner state associations, and community leaders, to advocate for impactful anti-hunger policies and increase the network’s advocacy capacity.
• Inform national office decisions by building deep network engagement into the development of policy priorities and advocacy strategies.
• Routinely engage with the PEAC, partner state associations, and other relevant bodies within the Feeding America Network to ensure strategic alignment and transparency in decision-making.
• Deepen understanding among executive leadership and Government Relations and Advocacy staff of network needs, challenges, and realities.
• Lead efforts to ensure alignment of outreach to members and coherence in how resources are deployed to support advocacy engagement and state-level policy work.
• Integrate and coordinate the delivery of core and customized capacity building and technical assistance to network members that supports federal and state-level policy and advocacy engagement.
• Build capacity to understand nutrition policy and programs, how they operate, and identify learning network partners need to build acumen.
• Provide regular policy communications to network members, ensuring alignment and effective engagement on federal hunger-related initiatives.
• Develop resources to support the network and ensure effective coordination with network members in strategy execution and in response to evolving issues.
• Guide catalytic capacity building by fostering culture and defining processes that identify and engage partners who can effectively support network members and promote clear decisions regarding where FANO should engage partners rather than develop internal expertise and solutions.
• Integrate functional support involving multiple departments including Government Relations, Advocacy & Community Partnerships, Marketing & Communications, Network, Health, Research & Evaluation, Supply Chain, and Development.
• Provide integrated services and solutions that build capacity, optimize functionality, and promote engagement and collaboration.
• Represent Government Relations on critical execution bodies (e.g., strategic priority execution groups) focused on the implementation of the 2030 Strategy.
• Lead, manage, and mentor the Government Affairs and Policy teams, fostering a culture of high performance, collaboration, and accountability.
• Integrate Feeding America’s thought leadership positioning and efforts to engage broad coalitions including community organizations, non-profits, and industry groups to influence policy decisions that support neighbor well-being and shape and defend critical hunger-relief programs such as SNAP and TEFAP.
• Work across FANO and with network members to ensure these efforts are aligned and fully leverage Feeding America’s broad network of relationships.
• Integrate efforts to build, sustain, and leverage effective relationships across the political spectrum with policymakers, Hill/Administration staff, federal agencies (including USDA), and with key external organizations and partners.
• Support the planning and execution of the annual Lobby Day and other events that catalyze stakeholders to lobby for anti-hunger policies, working with the Advocacy Team and key network leadership bodies like the PEAC, as well as network members including partner food banks and state associations.
• Represent Feeding America and its network as needed at governmental hearings, legislative forums, coalition meetings, and with key partners to advance the organization’s policy agenda.
• Support fund development for Government Relations-related priorities or generally for Feeding America and actively collaborate with development team members on donor cultivation conversations and funding proposal development and direct required support for impact/progress reporting on funded projects.

Benefits

• Flexible work environment
• 30-day “work anywhere” program during the course of each calendar year that can be combined with PTO and/or holidays.
• Transparent salary ranges and clearly defined practices for how new hire salary offers move through these ranges.
• Opportunity to progress through salary ranges via regular merit increases and step promotions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed