Government Relations Manager in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at Hunger Free Oklahoma

ABOUT HUNGER FREE OKLAHOMA

Hunger Free Oklahoma is a statewide nonprofit established to leverage the power of collaboration to solve hunger in Oklahoma by improving systems, policies, and practices, facilitating public/private partnerships, and providing backbone support to existing organizations addressing hunger.

Hunger Free Oklahoma’s primary focus is to collaboratively work with community-based organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders who directly serve individuals. We provide support through technical assistance, convening, research, and policy guidance to nonprofit, government, and other stakeholders statewide.

OVERVIEW
Hunger Free Oklahoma is seeking a full-time Government Relations Manager to support the organization’s policy, advocacy, and government relations efforts to end hunger in Oklahoma. This role will help build and maintain relationships with policymakers, legislative staff, agency staff, Tribal governments, partner organizations, contract lobbyists, and other key stakeholders. The position will also monitor policy developments, support policy analysis and materials development, prepare senior staff for meetings and public engagements, and identify opportunities to strengthen HFO’s organizational relationships with key decision-makers and institutions.

The ideal candidate will be an effective relationship-builder who is comfortable engaging with policymakers, partners, community stakeholders, and individuals with diverse perspectives and opinions. They should be able to navigate meetings, listen for concerns and opportunities, recognize when an issue should be elevated, and work across teams to move shared priorities forward. A strong candidate will bring sound judgment, clear communication skills, attention to detail, and a genuine interest in public policy, advocacy, and food security.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING
The Government Relations Manager will be supervised by the Director of Government Relations and Public Policy and be based in Tulsa or Oklahoma City. The role will evolve over time but the core responsibilities for this position include:

Government and Stakeholder Relations

• Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, legislative staff, agency staff, Tribal governments, partner organizations, contract lobbyists, and other key stakeholders
• Identify and cultivate opportunities for senior staff engagement with policymakers, agencies, Tribal governments, partners, and other key institutions, with a focus on strengthening HFO’s organizational relationships
• Attend meetings, hearings, briefings, public events, coalition meetings, advocacy events, and networking opportunities to represent HFO and advance organizational relationships
• Monitor local, state, Tribal, and federal policy developments related to public benefits, federal nutrition programs, and HFO’s policy priorities
• Develop a working understanding of federal nutrition program operations, regulations, statutes, administrative rules, and legislative processes
• Prepare senior staff for meetings, events, hearings, and presentations by developing background materials, talking points, follow-up notes, and stakeholder context

Policy Analysis & Content Development Support

• Support research and analyze current and proposed policies, programs, legislation, administrative rules, and agency decisions that may affect food security in Oklahoma
• Prepare clear summaries, memos, bill analyses, issue briefs, talking points, public comments, presentations, and other policy materials
• Translate complex policy issues into accessible, persuasive language for policymakers, partners, and internal audiences
• Monitor and share relevant research, reports, data, news, and national developments that may affect HFO’s policy priorities
• Support the development of policy recommendations by identifying potential impacts, implementation considerations, stakeholder perspectives, and advocacy opportunities

Project Management & Cross-Team Coordination

• Organize meetings with policymakers, legislative staff, agency staff, partners, coalitions, and grass tops organizations
• Coordinate meeting preparation, scheduling, materials, follow-up items, and internal debriefs related to policy and government relations work
• Work across teams to ensure policy priorities are supported by coordinated communications, grassroots strategy, coalition engagement, and program insight
• Assist with planning and executing legislative visits, advocacy events, policy briefings, partner convenings, and stakeholder meetings
• Support other policy, advocacy, government relations, and organizational projects as needed

WHO YOU ARE
To qualify for this job, you will have:

• Have 8 or more years of relevant experience; OR 8 years in a combination of post-secondary education or training and relevant work experience
• Exceptional communication and relationship building skills
• Interest in public policy, advocacy, and anti-hunger work
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
• Flexible, quick learner, highly adaptable
• Proficient in MS Office Suite
• Familiarity with Quorum, LegisOK, or similar tools (preferred)
• Knowledge of food systems, Oklahoma’s political landscape, and hunger-related issues (preferred)
• Experience working with or in state legislative, regulatory, or administrative bodies (preferred)

KEYS TO SUCCESS
To be successful in this job, you will have strong written and verbal communication skills, be proficient in MS Office Suite, and excel in the areas described below.

• Passionate Engager: You embrace and promote Hunger Free Oklahoma’s mission and values and can communicate to a broad audience how hunger impacts their work to get them excited about addressing it.
• Committed Learner: You are committed to curiosity and learning new skills and knowledge on a continual basis. You are self-motivated to expand your skills, knowledge, and abilities.
• Strategic and Innovative Thinker: You can reason and solve problems, manage partner expectations, and recognize strategic opportunities for systems change.
• Goal Oriented: You have a history of setting and accomplishing ambitious goals and moving barriers to achieve your desired outcomes. You meet your goals because you think ahead, plan, and work collaboratively.
• Collaborator: You understand the importance of working with internal and external partners to achieve a common goal. You are an active listener, have high emotional intelligence, and respect other collaborators’ diverse needs, experiences, and perspectives. You can find points of collaboration even when there are competing interests.
• Relationship Builder: You develop and maintain strong working relationships and can communicate and foster a sense of partnership with diverse partners and program participants of diverse races, ethnicities, incomes, and experiences. People who work with you comment on your quality and timely customer service and problem-solving approach.
• Community Advocate and Inclusive Problem Solver: You are a community advocate and inclusive problem solver, demonstrating a deep understanding of diverse community needs and perspectives, and amplifying underrepresented voices in decision-making. You're passionate about creating positive change and addressing community challenges in ways that work for everyone.

WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW
Hunger Free Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military tatus, or any other basis made unlawful by applicable federal, state, or local laws or regulations.

This position is full-time and based in Tulsa or Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This role requires the ability to independently travel to sites across the state for up to 20% of working time and may require evening and weekend work to support events and programming. This position also requires the ability to perform medium physical effort consisting of occasionally handling, lifting, or moving objects 20-30 pounds for handling resources and supplies, and to sit or stand to complete office-oriented work an average of 8 hours a day.

Benefits:

Hunger Free Oklahoma benefits include the following insurance: medical, dental, short-term disability, and life; 401K contribution (no match requirement); competitive paid time off; and eligible for annual cost of living and annual merit salary increases. Additional insurance is available at employee expense: vision, accident, and additional life. Hunger Free Oklahoma offers partial coverage of medical insurance premium for qualified dependents.

Hunger Free Oklahoma offers the benefit of a hybrid work schedule, allowing up to 3 days a week for remote work for much of the year. Participating in the hybrid schedule requires access to reliable internet and a dedicated workspace at home. Hunger Free Oklahoma provides the necessary equipment.

In order to be considered for this position, you must upload a resume and cover letter. Please include applicant name in the file name.

For more information about Hunger Free Oklahoma, and to apply, visit https://www.hungerfreeok.org/about/staff/join-the-team/