Director of State Policy

Position Overview:

The Director of State Policy directs the organization’s state advocacy program, working closely with the Vice President of Public Affairs to develop policy priorities, create materials, and devise strategies to advance policy priorities.

This is a hybrid position based in MAZON’s Los Angeles office or D.C. office but we will consider candidates in other locations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the direction of the Vice President of Public Affairs, develop and advance the organization’s state policy agenda, including collaborating with key staff to identify, implement, evaluate, and update the organization’s policy priorities, advocacy positions, and strategies and the relationship between its grantmaking, community engagement, legal advocacy, and state legislative work;
Serve as an effective and visible spokesperson for the organization, increasing awareness of the organization’s state policy goals, and broadening the organization’s reputation and visibility among elected and appointed officials, partner organizations, the media, and others;
Monitors and leads the organization’s response to state anti-hunger legislation, communicating the organization’s perspective or input to key government offices, and providing technical assistance to state lawmakers, grantee partners, Jewish community partners, and others;
Collaborates with the Director of Federal Policy to produce policy-related materials such as action alerts, memos, fact sheets, and background information as well as presentations for meetings and briefings to engage key stakeholders in MAZON’s state advocacy work;
Works closely with the Director of Communications to provide content for digital and print materials;
Leads the organization’s representation in various coalition and committee settings;
Works closely with the Outreach and Programs teams to strengthen and cultivate relationships with a wide array of partners from the Jewish community, interfaith community, and anti-hunger community to advance policy goals;
Builds and fosters collaborative relationships with other departments within the organization to stay informed and abreast of new and ongoing initiatives;
Provides strong leadership and strategic direction, including developing and monitoring individual and departmental team performance goals;
Identifies staffing needs and department infrastructure requirements, advising the Vice President of Public Affairs on trends and capacity needs for MAZON’s state policy work as a whole;
Directs assigned personnel, establishes work assignments, advises on priorities, schedules, and staffing based on operational needs;
Monitors productivity, provides feedback, conducts performance evaluations, and recommends hiring, discipline, promotion, termination, and other personnel actions;
Enforces company policies, safety and quality standards, and regulations; communicates management expectations, participates in management meetings, and maintains confidentiality of sensitive personnel and business information;
The Director of State Policy is a management-level position responsible for directing daily operations, allocating work, maintaining operational standards, and ensuring that department objectives are achieved. The position exercises independent judgment in managing workflow, directing personnel, addressing performance issues, and making recommendations concerning staffing and employee performance. The position is expected to exercise independent judgment in carrying out its management responsibilities and is accountable for the results of decisions made within its assigned area of responsibility.
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience required; advanced degree preferred;
Eight or more years of prior/related work experience with government agencies, state-based advocacy organizations, or relevant public policy organizations strongly preferred;
Knowledge of or experience with food insecurity policy issues strongly preferred, in addition to familiarity with the organization’s policy priorities;
Outstanding relationship builder with the integrity, maturity, confidence, wisdom and collaborative skills necessary to work effectively with a wide array of stakeholders;
Record of success as a positive and persuasive leader and team player;
Familiarity with the use of digital/social media technology in advocacy campaigns desired;
Ability to work independently, take initiative, and be self-directed;
Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office required, experience with Salesforce and Asana preferred;
Ability to travel, including to represent the organization at outside meetings, events, and conferences.
Excellent oral and written communication skills and strong analytical ability, particularly around policy analysis;
Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with state policymakers and their staff, partners, board members, and colleagues.
Ability to develop and implement effective advocacy strategies to achieve goals.
Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively.
High level of integrity, discretion, and professionalism in all interactions.
Deep commitment to MAZON’s mission to end hunger.
Highly motivated and able to work independently with a strong sense of ownership.