Director of State Policy

Sacbar; Washington, Northern (District of Columbia, KY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 119,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Life/Disability/AD&D insurance

401K with employer match

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

FSA participation

Vacation and holidays

Fridays early close for Shabbat

Job summary

MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, a national advocacy organization, seeks a Director of State Policy to lead the statewide policy agenda in collaboration with the Vice President of Public Affairs. The role involves acting as a public voice, coordinating with federal and local partners, and shaping policy positions on hunger issues in multiple settings.

The position is hybrid, based in Los Angeles or Washington, DC, with flexibility for other locations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years in government, state policy, or related advocacy roles.
• Experience with food insecurity policy strongly preferred.
• Excellent relationship-building and leadership capabilities.
• Proficient with MS Office; Salesforce and Asana experience a plus.
• Willingness to travel for external meetings and conferences.
• Strong written and oral communication; analytical policy skills.
• Ability to develop and implement advocacy strategies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and advance the organization’s state policy agenda with the VP of Public Affairs.
• Serve as spokesperson to raise awareness of state policy goals.
• Monitor and respond to state anti-hunger legislation and advise lawmakers and partners.
• Collaborate with Federal Policy to produce policy materials and briefings.
• Provide content for digital and print materials with Communications.
• Lead representation in coalitions and committees.
• Cultivate relationships with Jewish and interfaith partners to advance policy goals.
• Communicate across departments to align on initiatives.

Skills

Policy leadership

Public policy

Stakeholder relations

MS Office

Travel readiness

Advocacy campaigns

Spokesperson

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Asana

MS Office

Job description

Inspired by Jewish values and ideals, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger is a national advocacy organization working to end hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds in the United States and Israel.

For more than 40 years, MAZON has worked to ensure that laws, policies, and regulations governing access to food are available, accessible, and meaningful to all those in need. Our focus areas include college students, immigrants, Indigenous communities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, military families, the people of Puerto Rico, single mothers, and veterans. Our efforts are designed to provide people with the resources they need in a manner that is dignified and without judgment. All people — regardless of circumstance — must have access to adequate, nutritious food, while retaining their choice, agency, and dignity.

MAZON is a leading national voice on anti-hunger issues. We work independently and in coalition with partners to protect and strengthen government nutrition programs that help people put food on the table, explore innovative solutions to persistent challenges to food security, and undertake unique strategies to bring such solutions to fruition. We educate communities across the country about the reality of hunger and how they can join us to help end it. We also provide funding to expand advocacy, training, and resources to nonprofit organizations across the United States and Israel, which includes a range of partnerships with local advocacy groups, food banks, legal-service organizations, and statewide coalitions.

Position Overview:

The Director of State Policy directs the organization’s state advocacy program, working closely with the Vice President of Public Affairs to develop policy priorities, create materials, and devise strategies to advance policy priorities.

This is a hybrid position based in MAZON’s Los Angeles office or D.C. office but we will consider candidates in other locations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Under the direction of the Vice President of Public Affairs, develop and advance the organization’s state policy agenda, including collaborating with key staff to identify, implement, evaluate, and update the organization’s policy priorities, advocacy positions, and strategies and the relationship between its grantmaking, community engagement, legal advocacy, and state legislative work;
• Serves as an effective and visible spokesperson for the organization, increasing awareness of the organization’s state policy goals, and broadening the organization’s reputation and visibility among elected and appointed officials, partner organizations, the media, and others;
• Monitors and leads the organization’s response to state anti-hunger legislation, communicating the organization’s perspective or input to key government offices, and providing technical assistance to state lawmakers, grantee partners, Jewish community partners, and others;
• Collaborates with the Director of Federal Policy to produce policy-related materials such as action alerts, memos, fact sheets, and background information as well as presentations for meetings and briefings to engage key stakeholders in MAZON’s state advocacy work;
• Works closely with the Director of Communications to provide content for digital and print materials;
• Leads the organization’s representation in various coalition and committee settings;
• Works closely with the Outreach and Programs teams to strengthen and cultivate relationships with a wide array of partners from the Jewish community, interfaith community, and anti-hunger community to advance policy goals;
• Builds and fosters collaborative relationships with other departments within the organization to stay informed and abreast of new and ongoing initiatives;
• Provides strong leadership and strategic direction, including developing and monitoring individual and departmental team performance goals;
• Identifies staffing needs and department infrastructure requirements, advising the Vice President of Public Affairs on trends and capacity needs for MAZON’s state policy work as a whole;
• Directs assigned personnel, establishes work assignments, advises on priorities, schedules, and staffing based on operational needs;
• Monitors productivity, provides feedback, conducts performance evaluations, and recommends hiring, discipline, promotion, termination, and other personnel actions;
• Enforces company policies, safety and quality standards, and regulations; communicates management expectations, participates in management meetings, and maintains confidentiality of sensitive personnel and business information;
• The Director of State Policy is a management-level position responsible for directing daily operations, allocating work, maintaining operational standards, and ensuring that department objectives are achieved. The position exercises independent judgment in managing workflow, directing personnel, addressing performance issues, and making recommendations concerning staffing and employee performance. The position is expected to exercise independent judgment in carrying out its management responsibilities and is accountable for the results of decisions made within its assigned area of responsibility.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience required; advanced degree preferred;
• Eight or more years of prior/related work experience with government agencies, state-based advocacy organizations, or relevant public policy organizations strongly preferred;
• Knowledge of or experience with food insecurity policy issues strongly preferred, in addition to familiarity with the organization’s policy priorities;
• Outstanding relationship builder with the integrity, maturity, confidence, wisdom and collaborative skills necessary to work effectively with a wide array of stakeholders;
• Record of success as a positive and persuasive leader and team player;
• Familiarity with the use of digital/social media technology in advocacy campaigns desired;
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and be self-directed;
• Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office required, experience with Salesforce and Asana preferred;
• Ability to travel, including to represent the organization at outside meetings, events, and conferences.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and strong analytical ability, particularly around policy analysis;
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with state policymakers and their staff, partners, board members, and colleagues.
• Ability to develop and implement effective advocacy strategies to achieve goals.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively.
• High level of integrity, discretion, and professionalism in all interactions.
• Deep commitment to MAZON’s mission to end hunger.
• Highly motivated and able to work independently with a strong sense of ownership.

Compensation and Benefits:

MAZON offers a compensation package with a competitive salary range of $110,000 to $119,000 annually.

• Employer-paid benefits include comprehensive medical insurance and Life/Disability/AD&D insurance.
• Other benefits include a 401K plan with an employer match, FSA participation, dental, vision, and AFLAC insurance at a discounted group rate.
• MAZON offers a very generous vacation, sick time plan, and holiday schedule, including all major Jewish holidays.
• We close early on Fridays in observance of Shabbat.
• We have a fun office environment (even virtually!) and a fantastic team who are dedicated to the meaningful work we do.

MAZON is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to diversity and inclusion, and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including people of color, people with disabilities, people of all gender identities, people of all races and national origins, veterans and LBGTQIA individuals. We strive for a diverse workforce, and we acknowledge that our diversity also comes from our experiences and perspectives. We want all staff and team members to be treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to ensuring that you can carry out your assigned mission in an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment