Advocacy and Legislative Affairs Associate

Advocacy and Legislative Affairs Associate

Advocacy · Arlington, Virginia (Hybrid)

OVERVIEW OF MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA

Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. Powered by a dedicated volunteer workforce, this network delivers a comprehensive solution that begins with a meal and is proven to enable independence and well-being through the additional benefits of tailored nutrition, social connection, safety and much more. By providing funding, programming, education, research and advocacy, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Advocacy and Legislative Affairs Associate supports the legislative and policy agenda for the organization, with particular focus on grassroots advocacy, community engagement and administrative support for the Department. This person tracks emerging advocacy tactics, helps monitor and respond to Meals on Wheels America legislative and policy priorities, and actively engages with Meals on Wheels Members and other key audiences via legislative alerts and updates, social media, training, and assistance, scheduling congressional visits, and more. The ideal candidate has campaign and/or Capitol Hill experience, strong verbal and written communication skills, robust social media knowledge, a collaborative and learning mindset, is detail-oriented and an ability to juggle multiple tasks at once with accuracy.  

The position reports to the Senior Director, Government Relations and is an Arlington, VA based, flexible hybrid working role. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops grassroots advocacy tools, resources, and template emails/communications to advance legislative and policy agenda and grow and cultivate support for the Meals on Wheels network and older adults served. 
• Manages the scheduling and logistical planning of meetings with Members of Congress and/or staff for Meals on Wheels America leadership, staff and board for events and advocacy days on Capitol Hill with precision and excellence. 
• Liaises between congressional offices and local senior nutrition programs, working to facilitate visits, advocacy meetings, townhalls, and/or meal deliveries with Members of Congress and staff. 
• Supports Advocacy Team via federal policy and legislation monitoring and reporting related to Meals on Wheels America issue areas and priorities.  
• Under the direction of Senior Director, Government Relations and in partnership with other Departments, creates grassroots campaign tools to engage and inform Meals on Wheels America Members, partners, donors, and the general public to achieve advocacy goals.  
• Drafts email alerts and updates, social media posts, talking points, form letters/emails, e-newsletter articles and other resources to inform and activate Meals on Wheels America Members and other audiences on key advocacy activities and news. 
• Daily social media monitoring, content development and, when applicable, coordination with other advocates and national organizations on policy positions via digital channels and/or grassroots efforts. 
• Maintains the advocacy inbox, including overall organization and responsiveness to inquires  social media accounts related to key audiences (e.g. Members of Congress, federal agencies, national organizations, Meals on Wheels programs, etc.) 
• Assists in input and managing information in key databases and online platforms to support advocacy goals and strategies, including the Advocacy Center for Meals on Wheels America Members, email forms, webpages, etc. 
• Partners with Membership Team to host legislative and advocacy trainings, webinars, and Conference sessions to support Meals on Wheels America Members. 
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS OR SKILLS REQUIRED

• At least one year of experience on Capitol Hill and/or with a public policy organization, anti-hunger or aging-focused a plus.  
• Experience with social media content creation and managing social platforms.
• Thorough knowledge of the legislative process. 
• Ability to operate in a nonpartisan manner. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.  
• Strong attention to detail, recordkeeping, organizational, and administrative skills such as scheduling and event coordination.  
• Ability to manage multiple requests concurrently while remaining flexible 
• Strong computer skills, with experience in MS Office Suite and Microsoft 365 preferred. 
• Familiarity with Zoom, Teams, and other virtual meeting, webinar, and training platforms a plus.  
• Excels in a team-based, collaborative environment working across departments; interest in and willingness to learn about issues impacting the health and wellness of older adults; ability to build effective relationships internally and externally. 
• Must support and model the Association’s cultural values of collaboration, learning, accountability, service, and Racial Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion. 
• Models the Association's cultural attributes of collaboration, learning, accountability, and service, augmented by a strong commitment to Race Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Candidates meeting 75% or more of the above qualifications should apply.  

Meals on Wheels America is an Inclusive Workforce/Employer and encourages applications from qualified persons of every race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and disability.