Company description

 

The Chicago Food Policy Action Council (CFPAC) co-develops, facilitates, advocates for, and supports implementation of policies that advance food justice and food sovereignty in Chicago and across the region. 

CFPAC envisions a food system where all Chicagoans, regardless of race, class, gender, and/or social identity, have the right to healthy and culturally-appropriate food produced through community-driven, ecologically regenerative, and economically viable processes. The Council recognizes the history and modern maintenance of structural racism in Chicago and across the country that have led to massive inequities in land access, food business ownership, food security, and political power along lines of racial identity. CFPAC works to address these inequities and dismantle racist structures in the food system by building local political power, supporting frontline workers throughout the food system, and facilitating Black/Brown partnerships and understanding. 

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

Compensation

this position is: salaried, 50k-75k

Application instructions

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Deadline

no deadline