Advocacy Manager

Preble Street; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Job summary

Preble Street’s Advocacy Manager leads local, state, and federal advocacy to ensure Mainers have access to food, shelter, services, and housing. The role guides strategy for organizing and coordinates with staff, people with lived experience, and partners to advance anti-poverty policy changes.

The manager oversees the Community Organizer’s efforts, collaborates with agencies, and helps deliver on the agency’s priorities while traveling regionally to meet clients and policymakers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, public administration, social sciences, or related field.
• 3–5 years in policy advocacy, community organizing, social work, or related work.
• A master’s degree in a related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Guide local, state, and federal advocacy efforts to reduce poverty.
• Supervise and coordinate Community Organizer efforts and strategies.
• Collaborate with staff, people with lived experience, and partners to implement advocacy initiatives.
• Address system-level barriers and gaps through coalition work and policy recommendations.

Skills

Policy advocacy

Community organizing

Social work

Data interpretation

Written communication

Verbal communication

Collaborative relationships

Creativity & problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social work/public admin/social sciences/related field

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Job DetailsLevel: ManagementJob Location: Preble Street - PORTLAND, ME 04101

As a member of the Advocacy Team, the Advocacy Manager guides local, state, and federal advocacy efforts to ensure all Mainers have the food, shelter, services, and housing they need. This social justice position identifies barriers to reducing poverty and oversees and guides strategy for community organizing efforts to address systemic or structural causes. Coordinating with the Advocacy Team, Preble Street staff, people with lived experience, and community partners, the Advocacy Manager implements strategic advocacy initiatives and solutions in alignment with the Preble Street mission.

The Advocacy Manager also supervises the Community Organizer’s efforts and strategies; partners with agency staff and community providers to address system-level barriers and gaps; and works collaboratively with the Advocacy team and with coalition partners to deliver on the agency’s priorities.

Population Served

Individuals and families experiencing problems with homelessness, housing, hunger, and poverty.

The regular schedule for this full-time position is Monday – Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm schedule, with some work during evenings and weekends occasionally required

Qualifications

The desired qualifications for this position include a bachelor’s degree in social work, public administration, social sciences, or a related field; 3–5 years of professional experience in policy advocacy, community organizing, social work, or related work; and knowledge of local, state, and federal policymaking and budget processes. A master’s degree in a related field is preferred.

Additional qualifications

• Alignment with Preble Street’s mission and positive regard for individuals accessing services for homelessness and poverty.
• Understanding and positive regard for individuals experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, and poverty.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, often acting in a fast-paced, professional environment with experience breaking down complex concepts—dense statutory language, budget statements, or demographic data—for more effective organizing leading to successful policy changes.
• Strong ability to interpret and analyze data and policy research, and present policy recommendations grounded in the reality of people with lived experience to clients and the agency.
• Expertise in defining problems, collecting data, objectively assessing situations, evaluating information, verifying facts, and drawing valid conclusions.
• Ability to assertively engage and build collaborative relationships with people from different backgrounds.
• Self-motivated with the capacity to think creatively to identify challenges, actions and solutions to an array of anti-poverty issues

Regional travel to meet with clients, attend meetings and conferences, and visit the statehouse is regularly required.

Compensation and Benefits

The Advocacy Manager is a full-time, exempt (salaried) position offering a competitive pay of $64,022.40 annually and robust benefits, including:

• 4 weeks (160 hours, accrued) vacation time, 12 days (96 hours, accrued) sick time, 32 hours personal time, 12 Paid Holidays
• Health insurance w/ 100% employer-paid option; Dental insurance w/ 100% employer-paid option; Vision insurance; Employer-paid Life, STD, and LTD insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan w/ employer match

Preble Street, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency, has been working since 1975 to provide best practice social services that meet urgent needs and end hunger and homelessness for individuals and families in Maine living in poverty.

Preble Street is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to equity and inclusion in our workplace. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and consider applications for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military status, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Preble Street recognizes that Black and Indigenous people, people of color, people from working class backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTQ2IA+ people and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every qualification described in a job posting.

Our hiring process recognizes the value of various lived experiences and backgrounds when assessing candidates.

Individuals from all cultures and communities are encouraged to apply.