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Description

Position Summary

The Advocacy and Government Relations Officer will lead the development of Three Square's overall advocacy strategy while executing a focused government relations function that advances the organization's policy priorities. Advocacy at Three Square serves as the umbrella for efforts that influence policy, systems and public understanding to reduce hunger. 

This position will establish annual advocacy priorities aligned with Three Square's strategic pillars and core values and lead the organization's engagement with policymakers and public agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. This role will serve as a key advisor to leadership, providing policy analysis, managing government relationships and ensuring alignment across internal teams on advocacy-related communications and messaging. 

Scope and Approach

This role is expected to serve as a convener across departments and external partners to help ensure advocacy priorities, policy strategy, and organizational messaging remain aligned.

Advocacy serves as the strategic umbrella for this role, with government relations as the primary area of execution. This position is designed to operate effectively within a lean structure, prioritizing policy strategy, relationship management, and internal alignment. The role will help strengthen partner and community-informed advocacy as capacity allows.

This role will oversee and evolve the organization's advocacy efforts, with responsibility for government relations and the continued development of a more coordinated and integrated approach across community voice, partner engagement, and public awareness.

Essential Job Functions

Advocacy Strategy

• Develop an annual advocacy strategy aligned with Three Square's strategic pillars, including clear priorities, goals and areas of focus. 
• Align internal teams including government relations, communications and partner-facing teams around shared advocacy priorities and messaging. 
• Provide teams with the context, guidance and materials needed to communicate advocacy priorities clearly and consistently. 
• Gather input from internal teams, partners, and community stakeholders to inform priorities, identify gaps and surface emerging issues. 
• Identify opportunities to strengthen and evolve Three Square's advocacy approach over time.

Government Relations

• Develop and implement a government relations strategy aligned with advocacy priorities. 
• Monitor legislative and regulatory activity at the local, state and federal levels, with a focus on hunger, nutrition programs and nonprofit operations. 
• Provide timely analysis and strategic recommendations on policy developments, including risks, opportunities and recommended actions. 
• Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, legislative staff and relevant public agencies. 
• Coordinate and manage Three Square's engagement with policymakers, including meetings, briefings, site visits, hearings and other strategic opportunities. 
• Prepare briefing materials, talking points, impact summaries and testimony support for leadership. 
• Support the executive team in government-facing engagements. 

Advocacy Communications and Internal Alignment

• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to ensure accurate, timely messaging related to policy and advocacy issues. 
• Provide content and guidance for external communications, including our website, emails, social media and public-facing materials. 
• Partner with internal departments to share advocacy updates, gather frontline insights and connect policy issues to community experience. 
• Translate policy updates into clear, easy-to-understand information for partners, neighbors and the public. 
• Elevate community voice and lived experience to inform advocacy priorities and external messaging. 
• Support Three Square's network through advocacy updates, tools and opportunities that strengthen alignment around shared policy priorities.

Coordination and External Partnerships

• Coordinate with external partners, including contract lobbyists and partners such as the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, to ensure alignment on policy priorities. 
• Represent Three Square in coalitions, community meetings and external forums related to advocacy and public policy. 
• Maintain awareness of emerging trends and issues impacting food insecurity and related systems. 
• Align Three Square's advocacy with internal policy, communications, and partner engagement by convening stakeholders to coordinate efforts and engage key audiences.

Work Environment

• Work is primarily performed in an indoor, environmentally controlled setting, with occasional outdoor exposure. 
• Requires frequent and prolonged use of computers and phones.
• Involves standing, walking, and occasional bending or twisting.
• Regular interaction with others (in-person, phone, or virtual), often in close proximity. 
• Requires independent decision-making and the ability to prioritize tasks and goals. 
• Employee must be able to pass a criminal background check, and drug and alcohol screening.
• Must have reliable transportation to travel to multiple sites and locations as needed.

Requirements

Experience and Expectations

• 3 or more years of experience and a bachelor's degree in a related field or a combination of education and experience in government relations, public policy, or advocacy. 
• Understanding of legislative processes at the state and/or federal level. 
• Experience working with elected officials, public agencies, or policy coalitions. 
• Experience in nonprofit, public sector or mission-driven organizations preferred. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex policy into clear, accessible messaging. 
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships and work effectively with internal teams and external partners. 
• Ability to operate both strategically and tactically in a fast-paced environment. 
• Strong organizational, project management and coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines. 
• Demonstrated critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills. 
• Experience supporting cross-functional collaboration and aligning work across departments is strongly preferred. 
• Ability to respond in a timely manner to internal and external needs and requests. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and general computer skills. 
• Demonstrated ability to follow organizational policies and procedures.

What we offer

• A supportive and collaborative work environment
• An opportunity to make a difference in the community
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off 
• Holiday pay (12+ days)
• Retirement plan with company contribution
• Life Insurance
• Short-term and long-terms disability. 
• FSA (Flexible Spending Account)
• Pet Insurance 

...and more. Benefits eligibility begins on the 1st of the month following 60 days of full-time employment.