Director of Public Policy

Job Title: Director of Public Policy

Reports to: CEO

FLSA Status: Full-Time, Salaried Exempt

Revision Date: October 2025

Mission Focus: The Director of Public Policy is responsible for leading the Food Bank’s advocacy efforts to ensure that policies improve the lives of individuals struggling with food insecurity and build and sustain engagement in grassroots advocacy efforts by elevating the voices of those most impacted by food insecurity. The Director will develop and cultivate relations with diverse stakeholders, including the Food Bank network and community partners, elected officials, faith-based groups, people who are food insecure, and other interested stakeholders.

Primary Responsibilities

· Identify and analyze key local, state, and federal public policy issues that may have an impact on people who are food insecure; provide in-depth analysis on existing and emerging policy initiatives and their impact on individuals, and lead the Second Harvest Food Bank of NWNC’s (Second Harvest Food Bank) effective response.

· Position Second Harvest Food Bank as a respected non-partisan advocate against hunger and for policies that address the root causes of food insecurity.

· In coordination with the CEO, serve as the public policy spokesperson for Second Harvest Food Bank for internal and external audiences.

· Periodically represent Second Harvest Food Bank at community events, panels, coalitions, key workgroups, and trainings as needed.

· Track the effectiveness and reach of advocacy efforts to best understand how well we’re leveraging our voices with lawmakers and the public; and improve our technical assistance and resource creation support for network partners.

· Work collaboratively with the national office of Feeding America and other members to advance nationwide public policy campaigns.

· Ensure Second Harvest Food Bank complies with applicable lobbying, campaign disclosure, and other laws and regulations.

· Staff the Board-level Advisory Committee.

· Provide input to the development of the Strategic Plan as well as any interval assessments.

· Serve as Second Harvest Food Bank’s representative to the Feeding the Carolina’s Advocacy Committee.

· Create and manage departmental budget.

Community Engagement/Relationship Building/Networking

· Identify key relationships with elected, appointed, and emerging public policy officials and staff at all levels of federal, state, and local governments. Build, broaden, and enhance the relationships.

· Establish and cultivate external relationships with policy makers, allied organizations, and network and community partners to support Second Harvest Food Bank’s mission, vision, and key public policies priorities.

· Engage people experiencing hunger directly in public policy. Lift up public policy priorities identified by people experiencing hunger, including through civic engagement projects and community organizing.

· As the budget and schedule permit, attend staff development conferences and/or anti-hunger and anti-poverty conferences, meetings, and events at local, state, and national levels, as requested.

Communications

· In collaboration with the Marketing and Public Relations team, develop persuasive written materials including talking points, issue briefs, press statements, opinion editorials, calls-to-action, legislative testimony, and policy reports.

Position Qualifications

· Commitment to the vision, mission, and values of Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC.

· College degree or equivalent experience (5 – 7 years) in social services or human services-related field required.

Seven to ten years’ effective experience in public policy and government affairs, including leadership roles

· Extensive experience in research, development, and implementation of public policy strategy; cross-sector project collaboration and community-relations project management; and experience with public sector resource grant pursuit and administration is preferable.

· Strong knowledge of and experience with issues related to food insecurity/hunger, poverty, and social determinants of health and wellness.

Required Skills

· Excellent computer skills: Microsoft Office and ability to quickly learn and master in-house programs.

· Excellent organizational, communication, teamwork and relationship building skills; ability to interact effectively with diverse groups of people.

· Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively both orally and in writing.

· Comfort presenting to and with groups and speaking in public.

· Ability to prioritize, meet deadlines and produce results on multiple projects and activities in a fast-paced environment.

· Critical thinking skills to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

· Ability to analyze and interpret demographic, geographic and other relevant data sets as it relates to the Food Bank’s advocacy and policy agenda.

· Excellent customer service skills and ability to train or teach others with clarity, flexibility, and organization.

· Must maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality at all times.

· Ability to work effectively and efficiently with minimal supervision.

· Valid North Carolina Driver's License and willingness/ability to regularly travel across, not only the 18-county service area, but also in-state and out-of-state.

Physical Requirements

· Able to lift up to 30-40 pounds on occasion without assistance.

· Able to walk, sit, stoop, squat, etc., occasionally.

· Able to stand for long periods of time occasionally.

· Able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

· Visual acuity and other physical requirements to operate a computer and maintain a valid NC Driver's License.