Bread for the World

Full Time Regular Management Washington, DC, US DEPARTMENT:     Government Relations   REPORTS TO:    Managing Director     Bread for the World is a Christian advocacy organization urging U.S. decision makers to do all they can to pursue a world without hunger. Our mission is to educate and equip people to advocate for policies and programs that can help end hunger in the U.S. and around the world.        PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:  Lead  Bread’s  policy and legislative efforts to end hunger  by   developing  1)  policy proposals in collaboration with the  P olicy & Resear ch  Institute  depar tment  to r espond to  the U.S.  Congressional agenda; and  2 )   alongside the Organizing   &  Faith Engagement department,  develop ing  and implementing a legislative strategy to continue  the gains made for  people  experiencing hunger and poverty  in the United States and globally.  P rovide  overall leadership and direction for the  Department,  Government  Relations .     PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES/ACTIVITIES:   Provide  leadership in the development and implementation of legislative strategy, including priorities, congressional targets, and responses to  Congressional action.    Provide  leadership in developing and implementing the organization’s campaign strategies and tactics , including   assisting in the  develop ment of  Bread’s legislative, grassroots, and digital advocacy strategies  in coordination with the  P resident /CEO ,  M anaging  D irector  and Strategy Council members .     Provide  thought leadership on the development and prioritization of the organization’s public policy agenda, and the impact of public policies on communities disproportionately  impacted  by hunger and poverty, including historically marginalized communities based on race, gender, and class.   Work  with the directors to deploy Bread’s grassroots, media outreach, church contacts, and coalition partners to maximize the impact  on  legislative  priorities and strategy , including Bread’s digital advocacy network .    Manage  the Government Relations  team  and  encourage cross-departmental collaboration with all departments .   This includes supervising  and mentoring GR  department  staff members ,  fellows  and interns ;  assigning management responsibilities as  appropriate to  the Deputy Director ;  overseeing the departmental budget   including managing  grant budgets  and deliverables;  and  supporting   collaborative interdepartmental relations .        Develop and manage a network of key stakeholders  to achieve Bread’s policy and legislative agenda,  including but not limited to members of Congress, congressional staff, executive branch  officials ,  and  trade associations and non-governmental organization  colleagues .   Lobb y and oversee Bread’s relationships with   congressional  offices and administration officials, especially at high- level meetings .        Promote an d   oversee  Bread’s coalition work ;  and strengthen partnerships with  think tanks  and other advocacy organizations both secular and faith-based .    Inform the  management team on legislative issues,  facilitate  policy discussions relat ed  to legislative  and policy  positions, and collaborate on institutional priorities. Support Bread’s President /CEO  and Managing Director in their lobbying, public speaking, and media work.   Help develop and oversee messaging directed to Congress, the administration and Bread members.   Review, edit, and ensure the accuracy and policy consistency of Bread publications and internal documents as they relate to policy. Work closely with  Policy & Research  Institute  Co- Director s  to address any discrepancies.    Ensure the  accurate  and  timely  tracking of activities in the organization’s information systems through ad hoc and standard reports , including the  Evaluation Report.    Prepare materials for and represent the department at board meetings.    Serve as a member of Strategy Council and c hair internal work groups a s needed.    Other  duties as requested by the  President /CEO  and  Managing Director .   SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES/ACTIVITIES :        Represent department in internal or external meetings as  required .   Participate in public speaking engagements and media interviews to promote Bread’s policy priorities.   SUPERVISION EXERCISED:   Oversee  department  staff members ,  including  the  deputy director, domestic and international policy advisors,   interns  and fellows .     SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:   Bachelors degree is  required ; a  Masters degree is preferred .   A minimum of 10 years’ relevant experience, with at least 5 years ’  experience  of  management experience .   W ork  with  ecumenica l organizations  preferred .   Commitment to the mission and faith basis of Bread for the World and ability to   communicate the case for supporting Bread.   In-depth knowledge of the legislative process;  demonstrated  lobbying success and campaign wins; strong experience on Capitol Hill ,  in the executive branch,  and/or  with policy making organizations; and  established  congressional and  executive branch   contacts.  Pragmatic, strategic thinker .    Personable, trustworthy, diplomatic, and perceived as such by colleagues and direct reports.    Proven  track record  of creating a test and learn culture  of experimentation and implementation .    Ability to listen to others and learn from their best ideas - a sense of inquisitiveness and intellectual curiosity.    Solid  understanding of hunger and poverty issues and an ability to communicate these issues to members of Congress, the  executive branch , and Bread’s grassroots.   Strong understanding of racial and gender inequities  exacerbating  hunger and poverty rates and ability to communicate  viable   policy  solutions to redress these inequities.   Experience managing  and coaching  a  diverse   team with  strong, collaborative management  and cultural competency  skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment on a multitude of issues simultaneously.     Ability to communicate  highly complex  information at a national level to external contacts to influence results and achieve strategic goals for multiple units.     Articulate, with proven ability to write effectively and speak persuasively to groups of all sizes and types , including ability to  identify  and engage target audiences and communicate complex ideas or issues tailored to the audience, using  appropriate formats  and media.     Experience approving decisions that commit financial and human resources to a course of action (60% tactical; 40% strategic  decision-making ), which is subject to executive review.   WORK ENVIRONMENT ISSUES:   Must be responsive to emails and phone calls off-site during evenings, weekends, and holidays to support time-sensitive matters.    This position is base d  in Washington, D.C. Some travel  required .    Bread is a hybrid organization.    Proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19  in accordance with  CDC guidelines is  required  to enter our offices. Reasonable accommodations will be considered on a case-by-case basis for exemptions to this requirement  in accordance with  applicable law.   CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS:   Bread is committed to advancing racial equity externally and internally, all staff members play  a vital role. In the course of our work, each staff person should work to apply a racial   equity lens to their work and practices; and  participate  in racial equity on-going training.   Bread is also committed to being an equal opportunity employer.   OUR VALUES:   We value our faith.  Our faith in Christ compels us to love our neighbors near and far and is the foundation for our hope, story, mission, and values.   We value human flourishing.  We believe that every human being, created in the image of God, has inherent dignity that affords an opportunity to thrive in relationship with God, self, neighbor, and the environment; and to access enough nutritious food for good health.   We value justice.  We  seek  to  establish  effective systems, structures, and policies that affirm equality and advance equity among all human beings to alleviate hunger and poverty.   We value courage and prophetic voice.  In a spirit of wisdom and love, we will be bold in articulating and pursuing our vision of a world without hunger.   We value nonpartisanship.  We believe that effective and sustainable public policies are made when, in good faith, we employ a civil and bipartisan approach to develop and implement laws and programs to achieve our mission.   We value collaboration.  We believe in working alongside and building community with a diversity of churches, interfaith communities, institutions, and individuals, including people experiencing hunger, to achieve our mission.   We value impact.  We strive for excellence in our work and hold ourselves and our nation’s leaders accountable in the pursuit of public policies that  render  measurable results and meaningful change for people everywhere affected by hunger.   DISCLAIMER:   Background and reference checks will be conducted on all final candidates. The information   in this job description  indicates  the general nature and level of work expected of employees   in this classification. It is not designed to  contain , nor to be interpreted as, a comprehensive   inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and  objectives  required of employees assigned to this job.