Sr. Policy And Research Manager

POSITION: Sr. Policy and Research Manager

SUPERVISOR: Sr. Director of Programs & Policy

STATUS: Salary/Exempt

PAY RANGE: $87,000 - $97,000 Annually

LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK

The mission of the Food Bank is to mobilize resources to fight hunger in our community. To fulfill our mission, we source and acquire nutritious food and other products and distribute them to people experiencing nutrition insecurity through our partner agency network and directly through programs; energize the community to get involved and support hunger relief; and conduct hunger and nutrition education and awareness campaigns and advocate for public policies that benefit the people we serve. Food Bank employees are hired because of their unique skills, diverse perspective, and their commitment to our mission. This means that each of us, working together, will do all that we can to fulfill our vision that no one goes hungry in Los Angeles County. Our core values include: Respect, Stewardship & Accountability, Collaboration, Urgency, Service, Integrity and Diversity. Our organization is committed to maintaining a positive and engaging workplace for all employees.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

This position works closely with the Sr. Director to implement the policy and advocacy priorities of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank at the local, state and federal level and will be responsible for building relationships with elected officials and/or their staff. This position oversees key policy research and analysis and manages policy resource development in support of LARFB's policy priorities. This includes primarily managing support of state-level policy engagement and grant programs related to the implementation of government nutrition programs. This includes overseeing data collection and analysis, collecting key information from partners and federal agencies on programs impacting individuals facing food insecurity, and positioning the Food Bank as one of the leading state authorities on hunger and hunger-related issues. This position calls for an energetic, analytical individual who can maintain in-depth knowledge of the issues pertinent to the Food Bank's organizational mission including hunger, emergency food, government nutrition programs, nutrition, anti-poverty initiatives and related issues.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• State Policy Engagement and Advocacy: Overseeing and supporting state policy engagement work. Grant management, technical assistance, and creation of policy materials for state advocates. Strategy development to engage Food Bank agency partners in state advocacy. Implementation of federal nutrition programs like SNAP through state legislative and administrative actions.

• Project Management and Coordination: Managing project timelines, budgets, and deliverables for various initiatives. Assisting with the development and execution of policy team retreats. Coordinating with IT and Innovation teams for technology and data tools.

• Policy Analysis and Legislative Affairs: Supporting the development and reassessment of policy priorities. Monitoring state policies and legislation affecting the organization and its network members. Building relationships with elected officials and conducting research on hunger-related issues. Participating in legislative visits, meetings, and preparing advocacy materials.

• Data Management and Analytics: Supervising data collection for the Hunger Survey. Managing data analytics, dashboards, and reports for stakeholders. Providing updates on impact, trends, and concerns related to hunger initiatives.

• Community Engagement and Partnerships: Building relationships with community leaders and emergency food programs. Coordinating agency meetings to discuss hunger-related topics. Building strategic partnerships with organizations to achieve policy agenda outcomes. Engaging with team members in coaching sessions. Participating in performance coaching initiatives and continuous improvement opportunities. Collaborating effectively with other staff members within the organization.

• Travel, Flexibility, and Reporting: Traveling to various sites throughout Los Angeles County for data gathering. Traveling occasionally to meet with elected officials, attend conferences, and meetings. Preparing monthly activity reports and other required reports. Performing other Food Bank duties as requested by the supervisor. Working effectively with staff members at all levels within the organization

COMPETENCIES

• Mission and Values Focused-the individual emphasizes organizational values in their work activities and inspires coworkers to follow their lead.

• Analytical-the individual synthesizes complex or diverse information.

• Problem Solving- the individual identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner along with gathering and analyzing information skillfully.

• Oral Communication-the individual speaks clearly persuasively in positive or negative situations, demonstrates group presentation skills and conducts meetings.

• Delegation- the individual delegates work assignments, gives authority to work independently, set expectations and monitors delegated activities.

• Leadership- the individual inspires and motivates others to perform well, accepts feedback from others.

• Management Skills- the individual includes staff planning, decision making, facilitating and processing improvement; makes self-available to staff; provides regular performance feedback; and develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth.

• Quality Management- the individual looks for ways to improve and promote quality and demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.

• Judgment- the individual displays willingness to make decisions, exhibits sound and accurate judgment and makes timely decisions.

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each responsibility, competency, and essential functions. The requirements are a representative of the qualifications, knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Nonprofit Management or related area; 3 - 4 years supervisory or managerial experience, preferably in social service sector; or combination of education and experience.

• Manage project timelines, budgets and effective completion of project deliverables, including for major team initiatives (e.g. State SNAP policy engagement, TEFAP, Farm Bill, Child Nutrition Reauthorization etc.). Additionally, assist with development and execution of policy team retreats (strategic/goal planning) alongside other team members.

• Support project management, thought leadership and participation in conferences, including the annual Anti-Hunger Policy Conference, with the Government Relations department and other teams. Including coordinating with the MarComm team and managing outside consultants and stakeholders to oversee content creation across events.

• Collaborative work style to engage with others in designing creative and innovative solutions.

• Support the development, implementation and assessment of policy priorities, and conduct analyses of relevant legislation and policy initiatives to advance LARFB's agenda.

• Commitment to the values of the organization: respect, stewardship & accountability, collaboration, urgency, service, integrity and diversity

BENEFITS

We offer a comprehensive benefits package:

• Medical: Employee HMO coverage as little as $10 per paycheck and access to Nonstop Health funds

• Dental: Employee HMO coverage available at no cost

• Vision: Comprehensive vision insurance with generous allowances for examinations and material costs

• Flexible Spending Accounts

• Employer-paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability

• Optional Long-Term Care Insurance

• 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with expanded Mental Health

• Employee recognition programs

• Growth & career development support for professional certifications and additional training resources

• Vacation: Two weeks annually for the first three years

• Holiday: Nine paid holidays; eligible upon date of hire

• Sick Leave Time available

As a part of the Food Bank's pre-employment screening process, all potential employees are subject to a Criminal Background Check.

In instances of a federal, state or locally declared emergency, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is typically considered an essential service and emergency responder; all of its employees may be called in to perform regular or emergent duties.

The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is proud to be an "Equal Opportunity Employer." Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. The Food Bank fosters an organizational culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, and serve in a rapidly changing world. We strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply.