Government Affairs Manager

Houston Food Bank; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 74,000 - 93,000; Full time

Job summary

Houston Food Bank is seeking a Government Affairs Manager to build relationships with state government officials, analyze policies, and guide staff interactions with county and city officials. The role develops collaborative relationships with organizations addressing food insecurity in pursuit of a world that doesn’t need food banks.

Responsibilities include preparing issue briefs, testimony, talking points, and coordinating advocacy efforts, plus acting as a liaison during disasters and policy

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Public Affairs, or closely related field.
• 3-5 years of related experience in strategic interaction with elected officials.
• 3-5 years in public policy or related work.

Responsibilities

• Builds Relationships with State Government Officials and liaises with officials and staff.
• Researches and analyzes policies that impact Houston Food Bank and communicates findings.
• Elicits input from stakeholders to enhance advocacy skills and provide input to policymakers.
• Provides leadership for local government and community relations initiatives to advance organizational priorities.
• Collaborates with state associations and other food banks to drive statewide legislative agenda.
• Assists senior leadership as disaster liaison to government entities.

Skills

Policy advocacy

Stakeholder engagement

Public policy analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Public Affairs

Job description

Description

This position requires occasional evening and weekend work.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Government Affairs Manager is responsible for strategically identifying and building critical relationships with state government officials and guiding staff interactions with county and city government officials. This role proactively develops collaborative relationships with organizations working on factors that drive food insecurity to further Houston Food Bank’s vision of “a world that doesn’t need food banks.” This position researches and analyzes policies, communicates this information to internal and external stakeholders, and assists staff in creating opportunities to enhance the community’s advocacy skills so they can provide input to policymakers. This role is also responsible for preparing issue briefs, testimony, talking points, presentations, and other appropriate communiques to inform the community and elected officials. The Government Affairs Manager assists during times of disaster as a liaison between government entities and HFB departments and will be periodically called upon to share talking points with media.

Adhere to PACT values. (Purpose: Using our strengths passionately to contribute to our mission. Accountability: Choosing to rise above one’s circumstances and demonstrating ownership to achieve results. See It. Own It. Solve It. Do It. Courage: Standing up for what’s right and acting. Transparency: Doing things openly and honestly).

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1.Builds Relationships with State Government Officials.

• Serves as a liaison to state government officials and their staff for areas served directly by HFB and through its partner organizations.
• Assists in connecting state government officials with HFB or community stakeholders/resources that can meet the needs of their constituents.
• Works with elected offices to arrange tours of HFB and HFB partner organizations.
• Maintains a database of government officials and their staff and inputs significant touchpoints to track metrics.
• Provides state government officials with information pertinent to their constituents, including data on food insecurity, HFB partners in their district/precinct, pounds of food distributed, etc.

2.Researches and analyzes policies that impact Houston Food Bank Affiliates, HFB partner organizations, and their clients, and communicates this information to internal and external stakeholders.

• Researches and tracks information from various sources and stakeholders that could impact HFB’s operations or its client populations and reports this information to government officials.
• Identifies opportunities for local government funding that would support HFB’s work and clients.
• Tracks and reports on state election cycles.
• Works with HFB Marketing and Communications Department and other Houston Food Bank staff to maintain and update content for the Action Center and advocacy webpage, including updated data on hunger and poverty, calls to action, and advocacy alerts on pertinent policy and legislation.
• Works collaboratively with other HFB departments to understand the experience of HFB operations and programs and translates policy and government insights for HFB leadership.

3.Works with key stakeholders to elicit input on systems change and creates opportunities to enhance their advocacy skills and provide input to policymakers.

• Collaborates with HFB staff who interact with community members to identify and train client advocates and creates opportunities for community dialogue about hunger and poverty-related challenges and potential systemic solutions.
• Provides advocacy training for partner organizations.
• Maintains consistent communication with HFB partner organizations to identify policy solutions that further HFB’s vision of “a world that doesn’t need food banks.”

4.Provides leadership for local government and community relations initiatives, overseeing engagement with local government officials, community organizations, and key stakeholders to advance organizational priorities, expand funding opportunities, influence public policy, and strengthen community partnerships that support the organization's mission

5.Collaborates with Houston Food Bank’s state association, Feeding Texas, and other food banks across the state in advancing the organization’s state legislative agenda.

• Works with Houston Food Bank staff and other organizations to create our legislative agenda and successfully drive it through the state legislative process.
• Regularly participates in statewide coalition meetings to stay aware of policy recommendations and changes.
• Develops advocacy campaigns to support the advancement of HFB’s legislative agenda.

6.Assists the Government Relations senior leadership in serving as a disaster liaison to government entities.

• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of resources and needs of internal and external stakeholders through consistent communication with state elected officials and other stakeholders as identified by the Government Relations senior leadership.
• Ensures factors necessary for successful implementation of Government Relations Department COOP are in place and can be executed during times of disaster.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Manage one (1) or more direct reports by providing guidance and/or oversight to employees and/or contractors. Develops and maintains roles, responsibilities, and expectations. Practices performance management in support of employee development and performs administrative duties associated with being a people manager. Responsibilities include interviewing, planning, assigning, directing work, and resolving problems. Responsibilities also include sponsoring and participating in and/or supporting project teams sponsored by other management team members.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Political Science, Public Affairs, or a closely related field
• 3-5 years of related experience in strategic interaction with elected officials
• 3-5 years in public policy or related work
• 2-3 years of management experience with direct reports
• Experience giving presentations and preparing memos, reports, and essays using proper punctuation, spelling, and grammar
• Bilingual: speak and write in Spanish, Mandarin/Chinese, Vietnamese, or other language preferred

Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations:

• Must have reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, and insurance.

Special Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. (For best performance, the job holder in this position would be expected to show the right knowledge, skills, and abilities in the listed areas.)

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including but not limited to Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Ability to work with a diverse population, including the public
• A passion for equity and ending poverty
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively interact and communicate with all levels within the company in English
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, attention to detail
• Ability to work effectively with situations that require tact and diplomacy
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with direct report(s), co-workers, and staff of other departments
• Strong customer service skills and willingness to assist others, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Ability to prioritize tasks and delegate them when appropriate
• Demonstrated ability to work independently to complete projects and effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and senior-level leadership
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously on a variable schedule based on project demand
• Fluency in government policy and funding process, particularly at the state and local levels of government.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to effectively work and communicate with a diverse array of stakeholders
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment
• Ability to think strategically
• Exceptional organizational and logistical skills
• Excellent analytical skills (quantitative and qualitative)
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and to work as part of a team

COMPLIANCE:

Carries out responsibilities in accordance with HFB policies.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. (For best performance, the jobholder in this position would be expected to show the right knowledge, skills, and abilities in the listed areas.)

COMPETENCIES:

Business Insight / Instills Trust / Drives Engagement / Optimizes Work Processes / Directs Work / Composure / Manages Ambiguity / Communicates Effectively / Organizational Savvy / Decision Quality / Manages Conflict / Presentation Skills

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is required on a daily basis to analyze and interpret data, communicate, and remain in a stationary position for several hours in a workday; and frequently access, input, and retrieve information from the computer and other office productivity devices. The employee is regularly required to move about the facility. The employee must frequently lift/move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift/move up to 40 pounds. The employee must occasionally travel to other sites for business.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While the job is generally performed in an enclosed office environment, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, strong food-related smells, and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the office environment is typically quiet, but the employee will be occasionally exposed to loud noise levels (e.g., horns, fans).

TRAVEL REQUIRED:

Travel is required for this position (up to 20-30% of the time and on a domestic basis within our 18-county service area).

This role supports hours of operations at the Houston Food Bank facilities, as necessary, and may require flexibility (e.g., times of disaster, community events, company events).

*Is legally able to work in the United States.

Salary Description

Starting pay: $74,080 - $92,600