Advocacy Manager

Preble-Street; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 58,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation time

Sick time

Personal time

Paid holidays

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Long-term disability

403(b) retirement plan

Job summary

Preble Street in Portland, ME seeks an Advocacy Manager to guide local, state, and federal advocacy efforts ensuring Mainers have access to food, shelter, services, and housing. The role oversees community organizing strategies and collaborates with staff, partners, and people with lived experience to address structural barriers.

The position leads policy initiatives, supports data-driven analysis, and travels regionally to meet clients and attend statehouse meetings as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, public administration, social sciences, or related field; 3–5 years of policy advocacy or related work; knowledge of local, state, and federal policymaking and budget processes.

Responsibilities

• Guide local, state, and federal advocacy efforts to ensure Mainers have food, shelter, services, and housing.
• Oversee and guide strategy for community organizing to address systemic causes.
• Implement strategic advocacy initiatives aligned with Preble Street mission.
• Supervise Community Organizer’s efforts and strategies.
• Partner with agency staff and community providers to address system-level barriers and gaps.
• Collaborate with Advocacy team and coalition partners to deliver on priorities.

Skills

Communication

Data analysis

Policy advocacy

Community organizing

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work/public administration/social sciences

Master's degree preferred

Job description

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 requiredThe 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 include: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 issuesRegional travel to meet with clients, attend meetings and conferences, and visit the statehouse is regularly required.Compensation and BenefitsThe Advocacy Manager is a full-time, exempt (salaried) position offering a competitive pay of $64,022.40 annually and robust benefits, including:Generous paid time off, insurance, and retirement plan benefits include:4 weeks (160 hours, accrued) vacation time, 12 days (96 hours, accrued) sick time, 32 hours personal time, 12 Paid HolidaysHealth insurance w/ 100% employer-paid option; Dental insurance w/ 100% employer-paid option; Vision insurance; Employer-paid Life, STD, and LTD insurance403(b) retirement plan w/ employer matchTo Apply: We encourage applicants to apply via Preble Street’s website employment page. Applications (resume and cover letter, preferred) may also be emailed to [e-mail] or mailed via USPS mail to Preble Street Human Resources, 55 Portland Street, Portland, ME 04101. Please note that automatically generated confirmations of receipt will be sent in response to applications sent via email. Only those candidates selected for interviews will be otherwise contacted.If you need assistance or accommodation in the application process, please contact us at [e-mail] 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.