Advocacy Specialist bei Northern Illinois Food Bank

Who We Are:
Are you ready to join a team where your talent creates lasting change? At Northern Illinois Food Bank, every day is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our Neighbors, so that everyone in Northern Illinois has the food they need to thrive! Together we are a dedicated and innovative team committed to ending hunger in Northern Illinois. We embrace diverse perspectives, collaboration, and continuous learning, we celebrate successes, learn from challenges, and foster a culture of growth, optimism, and teamwork.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
Northern Illinois Food Bank will embrace opportunities to stand in solidarity with our community and center the voices of those most impacted by systematic injustices. We affirm our commitment to anti-racism, to gender equity, to allyship, and to fairness as we work towards a hunger-free future and to create a better and more just world.  

The Opportunity:

The Northern Illinois Food Bank seeks an extraordinarily motivated candidate to join our team as an Advocacy Specialist to help advance our public policy agenda at the local, state, and federal levels. Reporting to the Sr. Manager of Public Policy and Benefits, this role focuses on influencing legislation, building partnerships, and mobilizing stakeholders to support our mission to end hunger.

This Full-Time position is based out of our West Suburban Center (Geneva) location. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Help develop and implement advocacy strategies that support food access and nutrition programs.
• Monitor legislative activity and public policy developments related to nutrition programs and our advocacy agenda.
• Help build and maintain relationships with local, state, and federal lawmakers, agency partners, community organizations and advocacy coalitions.
• Create policy briefs, fact sheets, PowerPoint slides and talking points to support advocacy education and outreach.
• Represent the Food Bank in external coalitions, meetings and other forums.
• Collaborate with staff across departments to ensure alignment between advocacy, programs, and community engagement efforts.
   

Who You Are: 
You’re driven, compassionate, and excited to bring your unique skills to a purpose-driven organization. You have a strong commitment to our mission and: 

• Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience in Public Policy, Political Science, Social Work, Nonprofit Management, or a related field or 2-3 years of experience in public policy, advocacy, or community organizing ideally within anti-hunger or nonprofit sectors.
• Understanding of government nutrition assistance programs and public policy processes.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to distill complex policy issues into compelling messages.
• Ability to work with diverse stakeholders and communities, including people with lived experience of food insecurity.
• Comfortable speaking publicly and engaging with elected officials, media, and community partners.
• Self-starter with a collaborative mindset and strong project management skills.

 Why Join Us: 

• Make a Difference: Every role at Northern Illinois Food Bank directly impacts the lives of those we serve. 
• Flexible Work Environment: We value work-life balance and support flexible work models.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy medical, dental, vision, retirement plans, paid time off, and more. The starting range for this position is $48,168 - $60,210/ annually, based on skills and experience.
• Growth Opportunities: Invest in your career with professional development, career mapping, and leadership training.
• Inclusive Culture: Join a diverse, collaborative team that values equity and belonging.

How to Apply: 

Are you ready to make a difference? Apply online at https://solvehungertoday.org/about/join-our-team/.  Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter that highlights your passion for our mission and your relevant skills.

Northern Illinois Food Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Our goal is to attract, develop, retain, and promote a talented diverse workforce where all employees feel a sense of belonging and contribute to a culture that values differences, ideas, and experiences. We intentionally seek out diverse perspectives and skills on our teams, knowing that it makes us stronger as an organization and better equipped to serve our neighbors in need. We encourage individuals from historically under-represented communities and individuals with lived experience of hunger to apply.