Senior Manager, Public Affairs

SPOONFULS INC•Newton, MA

2d•$80,000 - $98,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Spoonfuls keeps good food from going to waste. Through food recovery and distribution, education, and advocacy, we work to address the health, environmental, and economic impacts that wasted food has on people and the planet. This position manages Spoonfuls’ outreach, education, advocacy, and general community engagement work, including informing and executing Spoonfuls’ Public Affairs Strategy. It's a great opportunity for a strategic thinker who excels at relationship-building and enjoys being a public “face” of the organization. Reporting to the Chief of Communications & Public Affairs, the Senior Manager will work closely with Spoonfuls’ Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to forge and deepen connections and drive community conversations about wasted food, food insecurity, the climate emergency, Spoonfuls' impact, and the benefits of food recovery. The Senior Manager will funnel individuals to a range of opportunities to support our work. Familiarity with the communities in which we operate is a plus.

Requirements

5+ years’ relevant experience at a Manager level or higher (if you haven’t worked at a Manager level before but you have applicable experience and/or transferable skills that would translate well to this role, we encourage you to apply)
A passion for, and familiarity with, food and/or environmental justice issues – candidates with lived experience are encouraged to apply
Familiarity with legislative process and movement-building
Strong communication skills - verbal and written; previous public speaking and/or group facilitation experience required
Must be highly organized with strong project management experience
Good judgment; ability to problem-solve
Demonstrated experience in deadline-driven roles/environments
Comfortable giving and receiving feedback
Flexibility; able to comfortably re-prioritize as needed
Comfortable with hybrid work environments - remote and in-person (position reports into our Greater Boston office two days per week)
People management experience (experience managing hybrid/remote teams preferred)
Reliable personal vehicle for reporting into our Greater Boston-based office (off public transportation) and to offsite meetings, across our service territory, as needed

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with the communities in which we operate is a plus

Responsibilities

Positions Spoonfuls to be a known and trusted thought leader in the fields of food loss and waste prevention and food recovery
Develops and refines strategies for building awareness of Spoonfuls’ work and opportunities to become involved in it
Identifies engagement opportunities and, with the Public Affairs Coordinator, manages our Public Affairs calendar, ensuring Spoonfuls is represented in community meetings, conversations, and events that have the potential to grow our reach and impact
Frequently represents Spoonfuls in the community including at meetings, on panels, before school and civic groups, media, etc.
Elevates community conversations, trends, opportunities, and concerns
Routinely leads conversations with food retailers, brands, elected officials and more and makes strategic introductions for other members of the team in order to advance programming and funding partnerships
Routinely pitches and provides presentations to community groups, organizations, businesses, and others interested in learning more about the issue of wasted food, Spoonfuls’ work, and ways to get involved
Informs and advances Spoonfuls’ Advocacy Priorities
Routinely evaluates advocacy priorities and identifies advocacy opportunities
Interfaces with outside policy/advocacy stakeholders including community partners, elected officials, donors, organizers, and others who help set local, regional, and national food and environmental policy agendas; works to elevate important calls to action
Outreaches to elected officials and their staff to keep policymakers informed of Spoonfuls’ initiatives in their districts; builds and deepens relationships with elected officials
May organize or participate in public actions and awareness campaigns
Works closely with the Communications team to inform strategies and ensure our online and offline engagement and advocacy strategies are well-aligned
Informs Advocacy Updates and as-needed Advocacy Action Alerts
Identifies and shares opportunities to engage media around our community engagement and education/advocacy priorities
Supporting fact-checking around advocacy-centric communications
Supervises junior engagement staff and/or interns (currently one FT Coordinator)
Works to ensure that Spoonfuls’ Public Affairs strategies and Advocacy Priorities represent the organization’s core values
Sets, reports out on, and analyzes Public Affairs performance metrics metrics
Attends and participates actively in 1:1s and team and company meetings
Routinely interfaces with Senior Leadership Team, raises new ideas, asks questions, and offers perspective