Neighbor & Community Organizer

About the Organization:

It is an exciting time at the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) as we continue to undertake our mission. We know that creating long\-term solutions to food security requires more than meals. It requires education, training, and collaboration. We are seeking people with strong ideas and a passion to come together to address the complex interrelated issues of food security, poverty, and equity. We are expanding in multiple ways: providing food for today and addressing the root causes of hunger by partnering with organizations that provide critical services like job training programs, healthcare, and education.

The food bank is also actively engaged in advocacy. Across every level of government, our focus is on increasing the awareness and understanding of hunger and food insecurity, and enacting change on issues that will have the greatest positive impact on the lives of our clients. We are actively building upon our food distribution efforts, by advocating for thoughtful policy and empowering members of our community to ensure greater food security. Food has the power to transform lives and move everyone forward. Find out how on our website at capitalareafoodbank.org.

Description:

The purpose of the Advocacy Department is to enact policy change, enhance operations, and empower neighbor voices to build brighter futures through advocacy. CAFB’s service area includes DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia, and this position is responsible for building the advocacy power of community stakeholders and clients across several jurisdictions. This is an exempt position and will report to the the Senior Manager of Advocacy \& Public Policy.

The Neighbor \& Community Organizer will conduct the day\-to\-day operations of the Client Leadership Council, a nationally recognized, ten\-month advocacy training program for food bank clients designed to further empower neighbor voices in policy, press, and programming. The position will conduct grassroots organizing with food bank distribution partners to amplify the food bank’s advocacy messages. Additionally, this position will network and engage with other community\-based organizations with client advisory groups to collaborate on common goals. Strong candidates for this role will have a sharp understanding of community organizing models, familiarity leveraging grassroots momentum to build the power of traditional advocacy\-oriented policy strategies, and experience working with neighbors experiencing food insecurity. Spanish fluency and lived experience with food insecurity are a plus.

Essential Functions:

Client Leadership Council – 60%

• Conducts day\-to\-day operations of the CAFB’s Client Leadership Council and alumni engagement.
• Maintains regular contact with council members to track actions, schedule meetings, oversee payments and reimbursements, and support programmatic feedback into annual operating plan.
• Leads planning and logistics of CLC skills calls and in\-person convenings.
• Drafts correspondence to class members regarding advocacy opportunities, upcoming CLC events, or class updates.
• Assists the Senior Manager in planning advocacy actions, including identifying and preparing CLC members for testimonies, meetings, and advocacy days.
• Works with the Marketing and Communications Team to identify and prepare CLC members for media appearances.
• Supports movement and community building efforts between CLC classes and advocacy stakeholders.
• Supports group policy work to further empower client voice and build momentum for CAFB’s annual policy agenda.

Community Organizing – 40%

• Grassroots organizing of CAFB distribution partners to engage in our advocacy efforts through meetings with public officials, testifying before legislative committees, sign\-on letters, and other direct communications to policymakers.
• Coordinates calls to actions on behalf of CAFB volunteers and other community stakeholders.
• Engage and network with other community\-based organizations with client advisory groups.
• Develops advocacy opportunities to conduct joint activities with other client advisory groups on common policy goals.
• Attends community events for CAFB presence.

Requirements:

• 1 to 3 years of community organizing and policy experience.
• Bachelor’s Degree or relevant experience.
• Detail\-oriented with the ability to juggle multiple projects for different stakeholders.
• A team player with the ability to do what is needed to achieve organization/team goals.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to juggle multiple tasks at once.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Creative, strategic, and a self\-starter with an ability to work with diverse stakeholders, clients, and organizations.

Other Skills, Abilities:

Interpersonal skills

• Displays humility, patience, compassion, and respect to the Food Bank’s clients.
• Maintains a customer service mindset in all circumstances.
• Possesses a friendly, positive, and energetic demeanor and a can\-do attitude.

Self\-organization and management

• Utilizes strong organizational skills to prioritize and manage multiple tasks through frequent interruptions and rapidly changing policy environments/timelines.
• Demonstrates confidence working independently.
• Exhibits strong attention to detail and organization.
• Demonstrates reliability, including punctuality and adherence to in\-office schedule (hybrid schedule, in office 3 days a week);
• Demonstrates a strong sense of pride and ownership over their areas of responsibility.

Other skills and abilities

• Understands the structure and programmatic intent of various social safety net programs.
• Demonstrates intermediate capability with data entry, analysis, and visualization.
• Personal experience with food insecurity is a plus.
• Spanish fluency is a plus.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions:

• The physical demands and working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Sitting: over 2/3 percent of the time.
• Keyboarding: over 2/3 percent of the time.
• Driving: under 1/3 percent of the time.
• As required by the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Reporting:

• This role reports to the Senior Manager, Advocacy \& Public Policy.

Application Process:

• Interested applicants must submit a cover letter and resume. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Please Note: We do not accept walk\-in applications or in\-person status updates for any positions. All applicants must apply online. To check the status of your application, please log in to your personal Paycom application account. We kindly ask that applicants do not call to inquire about application status. Our HR team will contact you directly if you are selected for the next step in the hiring process.

Compensation:

• $31\.16 to $40\.07/hourly

Schedule:

• Regular work hours are Monday \- Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM; with weekends or extended hours as assigned for special events or projects.
• This role is hybrid with 3 days in office, 2 days remote.

NOTE: Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

We Offer: At Capital Area Food Bank, we understand that great people make a great organization. We value our people and offer employees a broad range of benefits including competitive compensation and benefits, free onsite parking, complimentary shuttle to metro (DC), professional development, growth, and volunteer opportunities, fun work in a diverse environment.

EEO Statement:

Capital Area Food Bank welcomes and supports a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are committed to equal employment opportunities (EEO) for all applicants seeking employment and for all our employees. CAFB makes employment decisions based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, personal appearance, military status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political affiliation, educational status, unemployment status, place of residence or business, source of income, reproductive health decision making or any other characteristic protected by law. Additionally, harassment or discrimination based on these characteristics will not be tolerated at CAFB. To perform the essential functions of this position, reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities.