Policy and Advocacy Manager

Feeding Missouri; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 63,000 - 71,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement

Job summary

Feeding Missouri is seeking a Policy and Advocacy Manager for an on-site, full-time role in Columbia, MO. The position leads legislative monitoring, policy research, briefs, and advocacy campaigns to strengthen Missouri’s emergency food network.

You will coordinate with the Executive Director and network partners, trains staff, and tracks outcomes for grants while advancing hunger relief initiatives.

Qualifications

• Strong written and verbal communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Ability to plan, coordinate, and evaluate advocacy campaigns.
• Experience researching policy proposals and preparing briefs and reports.
• Knowledge of anti-hunger programs or human services policy is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Monitor federal and state public policy related to hunger relief and anti-poverty measures.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and network partners to maintain Missouri’s leading anti-hunger advocacy position.
• Develop and execute a federal and state advocacy plan for Feeding Missouri’s network.
• Coordinate outreach to policymakers, partners, and stakeholders.
• Provide training, materials, and support to network members and partners.
• Track timelines and prepare reports for grant reporting and program alignment.
• Collect data from Food Banks to inform advocacy efforts.

Skills

Communication

Project management

Research & writing

Policy familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree in public policy / political science

Job description

Reports To: Feeding Missouri Executive Director

Compensation: $62,500- $71,000, 100% paid health insurance premiums for employees, Retirement

Company Description Feeding Missouri is the largest charitable response to hunger in the state, coordinating food assistance efforts across urban, suburban, and rural communities. The organization’s network is made up of six regional food banks and more than 1,200 partner agencies. These partners serve every county in Missouri, as well as the city of St. Louis, ensuring broad access to nutritious food for individuals and families in need. Team members at Feeding Missouri contribute to a mission-driven environment focused on reducing food insecurity and supporting community resilience.

Role Summary: The Policy and Advocacy Manager is a full-time, on-site role based in Columbia, MO. This role is responsible for developing and advancing public policy priorities that support hunger relief and strengthen Missouri’s emergency food network. Day-to-day responsibilities include monitoring legislative and regulatory developments, conducting policy research, drafting policy briefs and advocacy materials, and coordinating outreach to policymakers, partners, and stakeholders. The position leads and supports advocacy campaigns, organizes meetings, briefings, and events, and collaborates with member food banks and agencies to gather data and stories that inform policy positions. The Policy and Advocacy Manager also tracks project timelines, prepares reports, and helps ensure alignment between advocacy efforts and organizational goals.

Essential Job Functions:

• Monitors federal and state public policy related directly or indirectly to issues such as food security, emergency hunger relief, and/or other anti-poverty measures. Coordinates appropriate responses through strategies such as testimony, public statement, legislative meetings, social media, earned media outreach, and grassroots advocacy. Inform network communications efforts based on policy developments and education needs.
• Collaborates closely with the executive director and plays a key role in maintaining the organization’s position as Missouri’s leading anti-hunger advocacy organization and largest charitable response to hunger.
• Develop and execute a federal and state advocacy plan for the network in partnership with the Executive Director.
• Work alongside Feeding Missouri lobbyist to accomplish Feeding MO policy priorities.
• Provides and facilitates one-on-one and large group training, consultation, customized materials, and other support to Feeding Missouri network. Conducts needs assessments for additional training, resources, and learning and engagement forums for network and partners. Facilitates regular calendar of opportunities for engagement across the network, in collaboration with staff and informed by needs assessment, which should be revisited regularly to ensure alignment with network needs and priorities.
• Assists with coordinating special advocacy events and engagements, such as congressional or statehouse lobby days, in-district site visits, public policy roundtables, campaigns, and livestreams and press events. Prepares leave-behinds, coordinates meeting schedules, drafts template testimony or public comments for members/partners, and provides other legislative liaising and event-planning support.
• Participates in state and national advocacy coalitions and other work groups, state association meetings, and others.
• Tracks and documents organization-led and network-led advocacy engagements and activities and provides quantitative and qualitative metrics and narratives for grant reporting, stakeholder briefings, and other collateral. Completes grant-related applications, reporting, required meetings, etc. as applicable.
• Collects data from Food Banks to inform advocacy efforts.
• Contributes to content and collateral development, including communications for advocates and stakeholders, web content, and other talking points, briefs, and documents, as a tool for engaging supporters, followers, network members, advocates, legislators, stakeholders, partners, and the public.
• Provides strategic support for other emerging programs and projects, such as support for Food is Medicine initiatives across the network and with statewide stakeholders in partnership with the partner engagement manager.
• Attends work regularly and on time, as attendance and punctuality are essential functions for this position.
• Remains flexible and willing to adapt to changing policy and program landscapes.

Qualifications:

• Candidates should possess strong Communication skills, including the ability to present complex policy issues clearly to diverse audiences and build relationships with stakeholders.
• Candidates should possess Project Management and Program Management skills to plan, implement, and evaluate advocacy initiatives and coordinated campaigns.
• Candidates should possess Research and Writing skills to analyze policy proposals, prepare briefs and reports, and develop persuasive advocacy materials.
• Relevant experience in public policy, government relations, nonprofit advocacy, or a related field is beneficial.
• Knowledge of anti-hunger programs, food insecurity issues, or human services policy is preferred.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams, manage multiple priorities, and maintain high attention to detail.
• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, social sciences, communications, or a related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Location: This is primarily an in office position located in Columbia, MO with the opportunity for flexible work environments upon approval of the Executive Director.

Feeding Missouri is an equal opportunity employer. The association does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.