FOOD SYSTEMS POLICY MANAGER
OCTOBER 2024
Who Are We?
Chicago Food Policy Action Council (CFPAC) was founded in 2002 as a coalition, became a 501c3 nonprofit in 2011, and added full-time staff in 2017. CFPAC connects people across Chicago’s food system to build equitable networks and to advance food justice and food sovereignty.
Our Mission & Vision
We envision a food system where residents of all races, genders, and social identities have the right to produce and access food through community-driven, ecologically regenerative, and economically resilient processes. We address gaps in today’s food system using an incubator model to initiate solutions that build an equitable future for systematically marginalized, local farms and food businesses. We specifically focus on dismantling structural racism in the food system and lifting up food policies that support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. We champion food leaders who equitably represent Chicago’s tapestry (race, class, gender, social identity) by connecting them within our network to take leadership roles, lead policy conversations, and establish greater capacity for equitable solutions. We prompt grassroots action for food system equity by creating space for leaders to connect, facilitating conversations around policy and solutions, and addressing systemic barriers to food equity and food access. To that end, please visit www.chicagofoodpolicy.com to learn more.
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
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
Total Rewards Package
Salary range is $65,000-70,000 based on experience and qualifications for the role. CFPAC is proud to offer a premium benefits package starting day 1, with 100% employer-covered health care through Blue Cross Blue Shield for employee, fully covered vision and dental insurance for employee, a generous professional development allowance, approximately 30 accrued PTO days in addition to over a dozen paid holidays, and more.
Chicago Food Policy Action Council is a semi-distributed team, providing individual and team-collaboration work space in downtown Chicago (the Loop). We host mostly hybrid meetings for staff to attend in-person and virtually. However, we do expect staff to live in relative proximity to Chicago with availability for in-person partner meetings, events, and staff gatherings.
How to Apply
Please submit your resume and a one-page cover letter tying your experience to specifics in the job description to Hiring@chicagofoodpolicy.com with the subject line “Food Systems Policy Manager application.” Please note, as a small, people-centered organization, our communication in response to you may be slow while we carefully and thoughtfully evaluate each candidate.
Priority will be given to applicants who submit materials by November 1st.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Chicago Food Policy Action Council is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. CFPAC makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.
We strongly encourage all who are interested to apply, regardless of whether or not you meet all of the listed qualifications!
Studies show women and BIPOC candidates are less likely to apply unless they check every single box. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and uniquely talented team reflecting the beautiful tapestry of Chicago and the world. If you are excited about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t match up perfectly, please consider applying anyway.