Senior Manager, Community Relations

SPOONFULS INC•Newton, MA

3d•$80,000 - $98,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Spoonfuls is hiring a Senior Manager, Community Relations, internally titled Senior Manager, Public Affairs, for its Communication and Public Affairs team. The position manages outreach, education, advocacy, and community engagement, and informs and executes Spoonfuls’ Public Affairs Strategy. Reporting to the Chief of Communications & Public Affairs, the Senior Manager works closely with the Senior Leadership Team to build community connections and lead conversations about wasted food, food insecurity, the climate emergency, Spoonfuls’ impact, and the benefits of food recovery. The role also connects people with opportunities to support Spoonfuls’ work. This is a hybrid, community-facing role for applicants within commuting distance of Spoonfuls’ Greater Boston headquarters. The position reports to the office two days per week and also attends virtual and in-person meetings and events across Spoonfuls’ service territory as needed. National conference travel is expected roughly two to three times per year. Occasional evening and weekend work may be needed for community meetings and events, with flexible scheduling provided. The role is full-time and exempt, typically Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Spoonfuls provides health, vision, and dental insurance through its PEO partner, as well as generous paid time off and holiday closures.

Requirements

At least 5 years of relevant experience at Manager level or higher; applicants with applicable experience or transferable skills are encouraged even if they have not previously held a Manager-level position.
Passion for and familiarity with food and/or environmental justice issues; candidates with lived experience are encouraged to apply.
Familiarity with the legislative process and movement-building.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Previous public speaking and/or group facilitation experience.
Strong organization and project management skills.
Good judgment and ability to problem-solve.
Demonstrated experience working in deadline-driven roles or environments.
Comfort giving and receiving feedback.
Flexibility and ability to reprioritize as needed.
Comfort working in hybrid remote and in-person environments; the position reports to the Greater Boston office two days per week.
People management experience.
Reliable personal vehicle for travel to the Greater Boston office, which is not accessible by public transportation, and to offsite meetings across the service territory as needed.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with the communities in which Spoonfuls operates.
Experience managing hybrid or remote teams.

Responsibilities

Position Spoonfuls as a trusted thought leader in food loss and waste prevention and food recovery.
Develop and refine strategies to build awareness of Spoonfuls’ work and opportunities to get involved.
Identify engagement opportunities and manage the Public Affairs calendar with the Public Affairs Coordinator, ensuring Spoonfuls is represented at relevant community meetings, conversations, and events.
Represent Spoonfuls in the community at meetings, panels, school and civic groups, and with media.
Elevate community conversations, trends, opportunities, and concerns.
Lead conversations with food retailers, brands, elected officials, and others, and make strategic introductions to advance programming and funding partnerships.
Pitch and deliver presentations to community groups, organizations, businesses, and others about wasted food, Spoonfuls’ work, and ways to get involved.
Work with the Senior Leadership Team and colleagues across areas of work to inform and advance Spoonfuls’ Advocacy Priorities.
Evaluate advocacy priorities and identify advocacy opportunities.
Engage policy and advocacy stakeholders, including community partners, elected officials, donors, and organizers, and elevate important calls to action.
Reach out to elected officials and their staff to inform them about Spoonfuls’ initiatives in their districts and build relationships.
Organize or participate in public actions and awareness campaigns as needed.
Work with the Communications team to align online and offline engagement and advocacy strategies.
Help develop Advocacy Updates and Advocacy Action Alerts with Communications staff.
Identify and share opportunities to engage media around community engagement, education, and advocacy priorities.
Support fact-checking for advocacy-focused communications.
Supervise junior engagement staff and/or interns; the current team includes one full-time Coordinator.
Help ensure Public Affairs strategies and Advocacy Priorities reflect Spoonfuls’ core values.
Set, report on, and analyze Public Affairs performance metrics.
Participate actively in one-on-ones, team meetings, company meetings, and interactions with the Senior Leadership Team; raise ideas, ask questions, and offer perspective.