Policy and Advocacy Manager

Blue Ridge Area Food Bank; Verona (VA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision benefits

Generous paid time off

Remote work day per week

Travel opportunity for events

Job summary

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in Virginia seeks a Policy and Advocacy Manager to lead policy change, advocate for neighbors facing food insecurity, and manage a statewide/local issue portfolio.

This full-time role is onsite in Verona or Charlottesville, with a remote day per week, strong benefits, and travel about 15–20 days per year to regional, state, and national events.

Qualifications

• Experience in policy/advocacy initiatives at state/local levels.
• Ability to translate complex policy issues for diverse audiences.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional campaigns and projects.
• Strong writing and research skills for policy content.

Responsibilities

• Advocate for policies reducing food insecurity and communicate BRAFB's story to policymakers.
• Collaborate across teams to lead complex campaigns and initiatives.
• Build relationships with local, state, and federal officials and partners.
• Manage an issue portfolio focused on central and western Virginia.

Skills

Policy advocacy

Public policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Policy communications

Education

Bachelor's degree in public policy, political science, communications, or related field

Job description

At the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, we believe access to nutritious food is a basic human need. Every day, we partner with donors, volunteers, community organizations, and neighbors to build a stronger, healthier, and more food-secure region.

We are seeking a Policy and Advocacy Manager to enact policy change, enhance operations, and empower neighbor voice to build brighter futures through community and policy engagement.

Reporting to the CEO, the Policy and Advocacy Manager will collaborate across various teams of the food bank to advocate for policies that support neighbors facing food insecurity. The Policy and Advocacy Manager will help tell BRAFB's story to local, state, and federal policymakers and oversee an issue portfolio that is predominantly focused on reducing food insecurity in central and western Virginia.

Strong candidates for this role will have a keen understanding of successful advocacy strategies, with a particular focus on state and local governments, and a deep commitment to reducing food insecurity. Candidates will also have a demonstrated history of building trusted relationships, collaborating with elected officials, government staff and key partner organizations, shepherding policies through legislative and administrative branches of government, and navigating various arenas of advocacy and stakeholder dynamics.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior experience working on policy/advocacy initiatives, and/or advocacy campaigns, including experience at state and local governmental levels.
• Successful record of managing public policy analysis, political, and advocacy strategies, including policy communications, with senior government and elected officials.
• Experience forging relationships on the local, state, and federal levels, as well as across key advocacy and coalition groups in the region.
• Demonstrated expertise in communicating complex, technical, or policy issues to diverse, non-technical audiences. Strong research and writing skills, with experience drafting policy-oriented content.
• Ability to successfully collaborate on cross-functional teams (internal and external) utilizing a strong organizational skillset to drive and lead complex campaigns and projects.
• Degree in public policy, political science, communications, or related field preferred, or relevant and equivalent amount of work experience in lieu of a degree.

The role is onsite and based in either our Verona or Charlottesville office and reports to the Chief Executive Officer.

The Policy and Advocacy Manager role is full-time and offers a collaborative work environment, excellent and affordable health, dental, and vision benefits, generous paid time off (including a week between the Christmas and New Year's holidays), and a remote/work-from-home option of 1 day per week (4 per month).

Regular travel across the BRAFB geographic region in Western and Central VA, with occasional day trips and/or overnight travel to areas outside the BRAFB region including Richmond, VA, Washington, DC, and other US locations (e.g., for Feeding America conferences) is required. Travel outside the BRAFB region is estimated at a level of 15-20 days per year.

The hiring range is $65,000 to $72,000 annualized.

The position will open until filled. To learn more about the Food Bank, visit www.brafb.org.

About the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is a respected, regional nonprofit providing nourishing food and hope to neighbors living with food insecurity. Founded in 1981, the Food Bank serves 25 counties and eight cities in central and western Virginia out of four distribution centers in Winchester, Lynchburg, Charlottesville, and Verona, our headquarters. We provide food to 177,000 visitors each month through a partner network of more than 400 community partners. Total revenues of approximately $65 million and an operating budget of $17 million support the work of more than 75 employees.

The Food Bank is fundamentally committed to the diversity of our staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspective and lived experiences. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.