Policy, Advocacy and Community Engagement Senior Coordinator

GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY•Chicago, IL

3d•$55,000 - $70,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Greater Chicago Food Depository is leading a robust statewide and federal advocacy and outreach campaign in response to significant threats to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Illinois as a result of H.R. 1 at the federal level. The Greater Chicago Food Depository is actively collaborating with hundreds of organizations and collectively galvanizing thousands of neighbors throughout the state to protect SNAP and mitigate harm for SNAP beneficiaries at risk of benefit loss. We are now growing our team to continue to supercharge this critical work. The Senior Coordinator serves as a key member of the Policy, Advocacy and Community Engagement team and plays an integral role in executing advocacy initiatives, building and sustaining strategic partnerships, elevating the voices of directly impacted community members, and coordinating cross-functional initiatives that advance the Food Depository's policy agenda. The Senior Coordinator will help execute and track stakeholder engagement, monitor policy developments, support coalition effectiveness, and contribute to campaign planning and implementation across local, state, and federal advocacy efforts. Cover letter submission required for application consideration.

Requirements

Minimum of 3 years of work experience in advocacy, community organizing, political campaigns, volunteer engagement, nonprofit programs, or a related field required
Bachelor's degree and advanced degree in public policy, social work, public health, or a related field preferred (not required)
Excellent customer service, attention to detail, organizational and problem-solving skills with demonstrated success in hitting milestones, meeting deadlines and managing competing priorities
Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences
Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and across organizational functions in a complex organization
Excellent emotional IQ and proven ability to work with a variety of stakeholders to mobilize action toward a common goal
Experience working in community and/or working with people with lived experience preferred
Ability to work in political environments requiring a high degree of tact and discretion
Ability to implement complex projects effectively and efficiently with strong organizational skills and with limited supervision
Ability to advance multiple projects simultaneously and leverage opportunities to achieve multiple objectives
Action-oriented and entrepreneurial with strong problem-solving skills and creative and flexible thinking
Strong commitment to our mission of addressing the root causes of hunger: poverty, systemic inequity and structural racism
Proficiency in MS Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and CRMs

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree and advanced degree in public policy, social work, public health, or a related field preferred (not required)
Experience working in community and/or working with people with lived experience preferred

Responsibilities

Provide project management and logistical support for lobbying events and rallies in Springfield and Washington D.C. and meetings with federal, state and local elected officials
Support the drafting of advocacy-focused communications to a range of audiences, and enhance the effectiveness of advocate recruitment, training and engagement strategies
Support the preparation of legislative meetings by developing issue briefs, packets, and stakeholder profiles
Research and help the team implement best practices in digital advocacy engagement and retention, and legislator engagement
Alongside the Senior Manager of Advocacy, build transformative relationships with a portfolio of advocates through the Champion Advocates training program which advance shared advocacy goals
Support the recruitment, leadership development, and activation of directly impacted advocates and community leaders
Support organizational efforts around a non-partisan Get Out the Vote project in advance of upcoming elections, including but not limited to matching pantry partners with volunteers for voter engagement
In collaboration with the Director of Government Affairs and Policy team, monitor and summarize federal, state, and local policy developments related to nutrition assistance, food security, poverty, and economic justice
Support data-entry on all elected official and advocate engagement (Quorum), and partner engagement (Stratus)
Implement enhancements to maximize Quorum (our advocacy CRM) and the organization's Advocacy Action Center
In collaboration with the Senior Director of Community Advocacy, coordinate and support strategic engagement with statewide coalition partners, policymakers, advocacy organizations, and community stakeholders
Identify opportunities to expand coalition membership and strengthen partner participation
Provide administrative support for the statewide Save Our SNAP Coalition and all of its relevant working groups and steering committee
Support the scoping, administration and relationship building with recipients of advocacy grants (invoices, meetings, reporting, communications, toolkits and resources) and technical assistance for partner-hosted lobby days via the Statewide Save Our SNAP Coalition
Manage incoming inquiries for community events and presentations and support with implementation
Schedule and coordinate Community Engagement meetings and the planning of community events by securing translation and catering vendors, working with partners, and managing virtual platforms
Attend events representing the Food Depository and engage directly with neighbors with information about SNAP and advocacy opportunities
Provide support for the project management and tracking of milestones and metrics related to the overall Save Our SNAP project
Manage project budget spend for Save Our SNAP across three departments
Maintain organized records of engagement activities, contacts, and reports