Senior Manager, Community Relations

SPOONFULS•Newton Center, MA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Spoonfuls is hiring a Senior Manager, Community Relations, advertised externally under that title and internally as Senior Manager, Public Affairs. The role is part of the Communication and Public Affairs team and manages outreach, education, advocacy, and community engagement, including informing and executing Spoonfuls’ Public Affairs Strategy. Reporting to the Chief of Communications & Public Affairs, the Senior Manager works closely with the Senior Leadership Team and colleagues across the organization to build community relationships and 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. Familiarity with the communities where Spoonfuls operates is a plus. The Senior Manager represents Spoonfuls in community settings, builds relationships with stakeholders and policymakers, advances advocacy priorities, supports related communications, and supervises junior engagement staff and/or interns. The position is full-time and exempt, typically Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with flexible scheduling for occasional evening and weekend commitments. The role reports into Spoonfuls’ Greater Boston office two days per week and includes community travel across its service territory and national conference travel roughly two to three times per year.

Requirements

At least 5 years of relevant experience at Manager level or higher; applicants with applicable experience or transferable skills are encouraged to apply even if they have not previously worked at Manager level.
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 experience.
Good judgment and problem-solving ability.
Demonstrated experience in deadline-driven roles or environments.
Comfort giving and receiving feedback.
Flexibility and ability to reprioritize as needed.
Comfort with hybrid work environments, including remote and in-person work.
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 known and trusted thought leader in food loss and waste prevention and food recovery.
Develop and refine strategies to build awareness of Spoonfuls’ work and opportunities for involvement.
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 at community meetings, panels, school and civic groups, and media engagements.
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.
Inform and advance Spoonfuls’ Advocacy Priorities with the Senior Leadership Team and colleagues across the organization.
Evaluate advocacy priorities and identify advocacy opportunities.
Interface with policy and advocacy stakeholders, including community partners, elected officials, donors, and organizers, and elevate calls to action.
Contact elected officials and their staff to inform them about Spoonfuls’ initiatives in their districts and build relationships with policymakers.
Organize or participate in public actions and awareness campaigns.
Work with the Communications team to align online and offline engagement and advocacy strategies.
Inform Advocacy Updates and as-needed Advocacy Action Alerts with Communications staff.
Identify and share media engagement opportunities related to community engagement, education, and advocacy priorities.
Support fact-checking for advocacy-focused communications.
Supervise junior engagement staff and/or interns; currently, the role supervises one full-time Coordinator.
Work with teammates to 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 and team and company meetings.
Interface regularly with the Senior Leadership Team, raising ideas, asking questions, and offering perspective.