State Policy Director

About Hunger Free America:

Hunger Free America (HFA) – founded in 1983 as the New York City Coalition Against Hunger – is a dynamic and highly effective national, progressive anti-hunger advocacy and direct service organization that is headquartered in New York City but works in all 50 states. The organization is led by a high-profile policy expert, advocate, and media spokesperson.
The Nation has written that the organization has grown into “one of the leading direct service and advocacy organizations on hunger and poverty in the nation.”

HFA’s mission is to build a nonpartisan, grass-roots movement to enact the progressive public policies and programs needed to end domestic hunger and ensure that all Americans have sufficient access to nutritious food.

HFA’s long-term goal is not just to ameliorate the problem, but also to build the people’s movement necessary to enact the economic and public policies needed to end hunger entirely. Given that hunger drains our economy and tears at our moral and civic fabric, eliminating it will boost the nation both economically and spiritually. That’s why HFA adopted the motto: “Ending hunger lifts us all.”

Responsibilities & Expectations:

• • Collaborate with the Chief Executive Office and the organization’s board of directors to update and refine Hunger Free America’s New York State and New York City anti-hunger and anti-poverty policy goals.
  • Lead efforts to convince New York State and New York City elected and appointed government officials to increase funding for Hunger Free America and other anti-hunger and anti-poverty efforts and implement our broader anti-hunger and anti-poverty policy initiatives.
  • Frequently contact New York State and New York City elected and appointed government officials and their staffs to request meetings and/or request they support our policy agenda.
  • Engage elected officials in media events and social media promotions.
  • Serve as the chief liaison for Hunger Free New York City with other New York anti-hunger and anti-poverty organizations.
  • Aid our national and federal policy and organizing work.
  • Manage any interns or volunteers that can aid such public policy work.
  • Carry out other duties, as assigned.

Qualifications:

• • Bachelor’s degree or higher preferred , preferably in political science, history, sociology, social work or a relevant field, but people with an Associate’s Degree will be considered if they have very significant work history.
  • At least five years of experience in work on progressive policy issues, work for an elected or appointed officials, and/or work on political campaigns
  • Excellent writing and editing and public speaking skills.
  • Highly skilled in politics and/or government relations
  • Experience with news media outreach and organizing press conferences a plus.
  • Strong organizational skills with proven ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Experience meeting tight deadlines.
  • Experience managing a small team.
  • Passion for social justice issues, particularly fighting hunger.

$70,000 - $76,000 a year

This is a full-time exempt 35-hour per week position, with some in-person work required in our HQ in New York City.

Starting salary will likely be $70,000 annually, but potentially slightly higher for someone with very substantial experience.

Hunger Free America offers significant benefits to full-time employees, including a strong health insurance plan which includes fully paid employee premiums and a health reimbursement account. Employees also receive generous vacation, holiday, and sick time.

Hunger Free America is an equal opportunity employer. People of diverse races, sexual orientations, ages, faiths, economic and social backgrounds, genders, physical abilities, and national origins are very strongly encouraged to apply.