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

Feeding America•Washington, DC

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Vice President (EVP), Government Affairs & Policy will lead the development and implementation of integrated strategies across government nutrition and feeding programs, federal and state level policy and advocacy aligned with Feeding America’s priorities. This role works closely with network members to inform the development and execution of these strategies to advance government relations influence and success. The EVP will ensure a deep understanding of network member needs and leverage those insights to strengthen network capacity and coordinate advocacy actions in support of nutrition and feeding programs and policy priorities. This role also integrates stakeholder engagement and coalition building in support of Feeding America’s policy and advocacy priorities across the national organization, with network partners and with external partners. This position is based out of Feeding America’s Washington, DC office and offers a hybrid work environment, with employees expected in the office an average of 2 days a week (when not traveling for work) and working from home on other days. Employees also have access to a 30-day “work anywhere” program during the course of each calendar year that can be combined with PTO and/or holidays.

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.
Fosters an Enterprise Mindset
Fosters an Open and Supportive Environment
Leads with Accountability
Collaborates Internally and Externally
Focuses on People and Teams
Manages Organization and Business Complexity
Communicates with Impact and Influence

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 that these efforts are aligned with Feeding America’s 2030 Strategy and partner with Chief Government Relations Officer (CGRO) to leverage connections and relationships with lawmakers, federal agencies and the administration.
Ensure efforts are responsive 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 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 there is alignment of outreach to members and coherence in the way in which our 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.
Ensure effective coordination with network members in these efforts in both the execution of strategy and in response to evolving issues.
Guide catalytic capacity building by fostering culture, and defining process, that identifies and engages partners that can effectively support network members and promotes clear decisions regarding where FANO should engage partners rather than develop internal expertise and solutions.
Integrate functional support that involves 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 (i.e. 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 policy makers, 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 the development team members on donor cultivation conversations and funding proposal development and direct required support for impact/progress reporting on funded projects.