Job Description

Position Overview

The Food Systems Policy Manager will lead CFPAC’s policy advocacy work to achieve  food justice and sovereignty in Chicago and the surrounding region. They will collaborate and coordinate with network partners, community organizations and leaders, and food justice advocates to advance policy priorities and CFPAC’s legislative agenda, while building and maintaining strong relationships across the food justice ecosystem and all layers of government. This is a new role that will report to the Director of Programs and join a growing team working to deepen CFPAC’s network of community leadership and identify and champion policy priorities from within it.

Objectives You’re Here to Meet!

• Support and steward food justice policy initiatives and CFPAC’s  legislative priorities at all levels of government
• Cultivate and lead policy-focused Rhizome Network spaces to ensure directly-impacted community voice  is centered in all policy advocacy work
• Collaborate with colleagues in the Rhizome Network and GFPI team to identify emergent policy and campaign ideas  and resource those spaces accordingly
• Build thriving, durable relationships with key elected officials and their staff
• Deepen and expand CFPAC’s connections across the local, state, and national policy landscape

Position is Responsible for…

• Facilitate and support policy-focused working groups within the Chicago Food Justice Rhizome Network, including Illinois Food Policy calls, Farm Bill Working Groups calls, and land access collaborations
• Represent CFPAC in policy-oriented coalitions, working groups, and partnerships
• Lead CFPAC’s Farm Bill and other current food policy advocacy campaigns
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders including farmers and producers, community groups, advocacy organizations, government officials, legislators and their staff 
• Collaborate with Communications Manager to support policy- and/or campaign-focused external communications
• In collaboration with Rhizome Network partners, shape and steward CFPAC’s legislative agenda and policy advocacy activities
• Lead all external communications with elected officials (executives, legislators, and legislative staff) and administrative staff 
• Strategically deploy CFPAC staff, food justice advocates, and other stakeholders to advance collective policy goals
• Develop and utilize tracking systems to effectively  manage campaign and legislative priorities
• Occasional travel to Washington D.C., Springfield, IL,  and other locations across the country to coordinate lobby days and advocacy efforts

What You’ll Bring

• A high degree of values alignment with food justice principles with a  racial equity lens
• Advanced knowledge of federal, state, and/or local legislative and administrative processes
• Proven track record of successful relationship management with government partners and elected officials
• Demonstrable  knowledge of the advocacy and political landscape in Chicagoland
• Strong  ability to tailor messaging and communications to a given audience while remaining in alignment with food justice and racial equity principles and values
• Skilled in communicating complex ideas in accessible, digestible  ways for a variety of audiences, using oral, written, and presentation formats
• Detailed understanding of 501(c)(3) lobbying and policy advocacy guidelines

Bonus If You Have…

• Knowledge of or engagement within the food justice ecosystem
• Political and/or community organizing experience
• Educational or professional background  in political science, public policy, community/economic development, urban planning, or a related field 
• Knowledge of or experience with network coordination and/or group facilitation

Desired Competencies

• Relationship Management: Ability to effectively build, sustain and navigate varying relationships across multiple stakeholders and partners 
• Judgment/Decision Making: Ability to intuitively make sound decisions when all the information is not available. Knowing when to engage and when to listen, and how to combine knowledge and context
• Organization/Planning: Excellent time management ability; able to effectively balance and prioritize multiple projects and initiatives with various stakeholders
• Self-Starter: Highly self-motivated with a knack for moving projects forward primarily independently and also when working within a collaborative team setting
• Adaptability: Ability to react positively to change and remain productive in a changing environment. The capacity to change one’s actions, approach, or decisions based on new information or a new situation

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and a one-page cover letter tying your experience to specifics in the job description to [email protected] with the subject line "Food Systems Policy Manager application." Please note, as a small, people-centered organization, our communication in response to you may be slow while we carefully and thoughtfully evaluate each candidate.

Priority will be given to applicants who submit materials by November 8th.

Job Categories: Sustainable Agriculture / Food. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 60,000 - 80,000.

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