Northwest Harvest is Washington’s leading hunger relief agency – supporting a statewide network of 375 food banks, meal programs, and high-need schools. Focused on improving equity in our food system, Northwest Harvest believes everyone in Washington should have consistent access to nutritious food that feeds the body, mind, and spirit. In addition to making sure those who suffer from hunger are being fed, Northwest Harvest aims to shift public opinion, as well as impact institutional policies and societal practices that perpetuate hunger, poverty, and disparities in our state. Learn more at http://www.northwestharvest.org

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Director of Learning & Impact, the Access Manager will focus primarily on strengthening NWH’s statewide efforts to cut hunger in half by 2028 by partnering with the private sector to increase access to healthy and nutritious food. The Access Manager will diagnose complex societal structures that perpetuate food insecurity and other manifestations of inequality, and will be a champion of anti-racist- and anti-oppression-oriented program design. This role demands close monitoring of private sector social responsibility trends, coupled with a sensitive eye toward the communities needing services. This position requires the highest level of leadership, creativity, and stick-to-itiveness expected by the organization.

Responsibilities

Private Sector Partnerships – 80%

• Identify and cultivate relationships with new potential private sector allies to help increase access to food for people in Washington State experiencing food insecurity
• Increase Northwest Harvest’s ability to operate as a platform to cultivate new partnerships and better connect private businesses with the hunger relief movement
• Provide project management for ongoing private sector partnerships
• Identify new partner programs to further Northwest Harvest’s mission and goals
• Participate in local/regional/national coalitions, where appropriate, to stay informed of current trends and opportunities

Other Projects – 10%

• Using a plan currently being created, sunset our child nutrition programs
• Support Development team on fundraising and grant writing efforts, as needed
• Manage other projects and tasks, as assigned

Agency Engagement and Leadership – 10%

• Participate in strategic planning and evaluation as part of the L&I department and across the agency
• Serve on Northwest Harvest committees/cross functional teams, as necessary
• Work collaboratively and effectively with other Northwest Harvest departments and staff to achieve our organization’s objectives

Equity and Inclusion

• Demonstrate the initiative to learn and enhance skills that promote anti-racism, cultural competency and an understanding of oppression and its impact
• Participate in intentional learning efforts, including events relating to understanding and dismantling institutional racism and building cultural competency

Relationships

• Internal: Frequent contact with leadership and staff. Communicate daily to ask questions, and receive and provide information. Assist in facilitating cross-functional and integrative work across the agency on strategic pathway and Monitoring and Evaluation assignments.
• External: Regular contact with stakeholders, advisors, partners, funders and professional associates and networks.

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of the real-life experience, education, and training listed below which provides an equivalent background to perform the work of this position. Successful completion of Criminal History Background check is required.

Knowledge Of

• Food, Hunger, and Poverty issues
• Hunger relief systems
• Cultural and institutional racism and their impact on society
• Corporate social responsibility and public-private partnerships
• Innovative non-profit, private sector, and government programs

Ability To

• Understand individuals who have experienced poverty or food insecurity
• Communicate effectively, speak truths responsibly, and listen to understand
• Experience discomfort and do things differently
• Inspire internal and external commitment to change
• Network deeply and widely with key stakeholders
• Integrate equity principles and practices into all functions
• Create and nurture key funding relationships
• Build stakeholder constituencies to ensure success
• Ask questions to understand the merits of different approaches, and shift strategies in response to demands of a situation
• Craft and present materials to multiple audiences
• Be nimble and curious
• Have and exercise a sense of humor
• Manage program budgets

Experience

• Candidates with lived experience of poverty or food insecurity, or strong connections with BIPOC communities (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) are strongly encouraged to apply
• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience working in a related field/capacity, including 2+ years of supervisory experience
• Fluency in Microsoft Office programs, including competency in Excel database management

Education And Training

• Bachelor’s degree or a combination of education and experience

Licenses And Certifications

• Valid Driver’s License

Disclaimer

The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, or to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job. As an adaptive organization, responsibilities can and will change in alignment with greater efficiencies and mission metrics.