Director, External Affairs

Director, External Affairs Founded in 1985 at the height of the AIDS pandemic, God’s Love We Deliver improves the health and well‑being of people affected by life‑altering illnesses. We provide medically tailored meals and comprehensive nutrition care and education at no cost to those we serve, always delivered with love. About the Role The Director of External Affairs leads God’s Love We Deliver’s policy, advocacy, and government relations efforts to advance the integration of medically tailored meals and Food Is Medicine services across all government and regulatory entities, including healthcare. Reporting to the Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, this role builds and manages relationships with public officials, civic and policy leaders, coalitions, and partner organizations to champion legislative and regulatory initiatives that support the organization’s mission. The Director oversees lobbying activities, secures government funding opportunities, ensures compliance with lobbying regulations, and collaborates internally to incorporate research, communications, and program insights into advocacy efforts. Additionally, this role also supports partnership cultivation with healthcare institutions and community‑based organizations. In coordination with internal policy leads, the Director will drive external‑facing advocacy efforts to advance God’s Love’s objectives in its services to our clients. This position requires expertise in health policy, strong communication skills, and experience in advocacy, coalition‑building, and government affairs. Benefits: Option to enroll in pre‑tax Commuter Transit, Flexible Spending Account, and Health Savings Account. Retirement Savings Plan: 403B with up to a 2% match each pay period. Paid Time Off including 15 Days of annual Paid Vacation Time Off in first year of employment, increasing with length of service. 12 days of annual Paid Sick Time. 10 paid holidays. Monday through Friday. A rewarding work environment: Supporting our operations providing nutritious meals to New Yorkers living with severe illness. A collaborative work environment: Everyone works together to contribute their talents and their ideas. A fun work environment: Periodic staff lunches and Happy Hours; an annual staff retreat to focus on team learning and team‑building; a fun Holiday Party to celebrate our staff. An inclusive work environment: Celebrating diversity, equity and accessibility, valuing the unique perspectives and life experiences that all employees bring to work. All applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States. God’s Love is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. This position is a hybrid position, allowing for 1 remote day. This is a Full‑Time exempt position, paying $110,000‑$120,000 annually. Position Objectives and Expectations Support the integration of medically tailored meals and other Food Is Medicine services into healthcare through City, State, and Federal Advocacy and Policy. Collaborates with God’s Love’s government relations consultants to develop a yearly strategy relative to key local, state, and federal healthcare/Food is Medicine issues. Develops, leverages, and maintains relationships with public officials and staffs/committee staff to effectively channel policy goals. Acts as a resource for legislators, their staff, and public administrators on Food Is Medicine topics. Implements strategy through in‑person meetings, webinars, conference participation, and presentations, and local and national coalition representation. Oversees lobbying and advocacy activities by organizing and driving in‑person advocacy in and around New York, including but not limited to New York City, Albany, and Washington DC. Identifies, analyzes, tracks, and reports on legislation, regulatory initiatives, and emerging issues across government entities, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, that could have a significant impact on God’s Love We Deliver and the clients we serve. Collaborates with the Director of Research and Evaluation to incorporate outcomes and results from Food Is Medicine research into messaging, collateral, and materials used in support of policy and advocacy activities targeting external stakeholders. Participates in coalition building to engage with organizations that support the advancement and expansion of Food Is Medicine to amplify collective advocacy around issues impacting clients receiving services. Acts as an external‑facing spokesperson, when appropriate, within the policy and advocacy space, including providing public testimony and other public‑facing speaking opportunities. Drafts policy statements, sign‑on letters, op‑eds, articles, presentations, testimony, speeches, and materials to drive the expansion of Food Is Medicine services within God’s Love’s service area. Researches, compiles, and analyzes statistics, from internal and external sources, to inform policy and advocacy and to increase agency visibility and support on issues related to critical and chronic illnesses, hunger, and nutrition. Collaborates with Business Development and/or Program Services on Department of Health, hospitals, and health plans opportunities for partnerships and programs. Cultivates and maintains relationships with governmental and non‑governmental organizations, including the New York City and State Departments of Health, Community‑Based Organizations, and educational institutions, to increase the public awareness of God’s Love impact, and the development of partnerships to amplify the effectiveness of the organization’s work in the Food Is Medicine space. Leads social media efforts and manages advocacy materials to drive the Food Is Medicine movement from God’s Love’s perspective and supports efforts of the Communications Department to integrate Food Is Medicine messages into agency communications. Identifies opportunities for increased funding for advocacy and programmatic activities at the local, state, and federal levels. In collaboration with the Finance and Program Departments, exercises fiscal and programmatic oversight for our public and advocacy grants (filings, applications, deliverables). Leads efforts to secure discretionary and capital funding from governmental sources by preparing requests and advocating for funding during the annual budgetary process. Ensures timely and accurate actions and responses to legislative and regulatory requests related to legislative and advocacy activities. Files periodic, semi‑annual, and annual administrative documents and lobbying reports to keep current with our public grants and advocacy funding and to guarantee compliance with governmental lobbying filings. About You You are a mission‑driven policy leader who believes deeply in the power of Food Is Medicine to transform care for people living with severe illness. With a strong foundation in health policy and government affairs, you bring experience navigating complex legislative landscapes and building strategic relationships that advance equitable access to medically tailored meals. You are energized by coalition work, skilled in translating research into compelling advocacy, and committed to amplifying the voices and needs of vulnerable communities. Above all, you are passionate about using policy, partnerships, and advocacy to expand the life‑saving impact of God’s Love We Deliver across New York and beyond. Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy or related field. Master’s Degree in Public Health, Public Administration, or Health Administration with a concentration in Public Policy preferred. 3‑5 years of experience in policy, government affairs, or government administration, preferably with a community‑based organization. Experience managing and supervising a team. Experience in coalition building, advocacy, and lobbying. Prior knowledge of governmental healthcare programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. Effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills are required. Strong work ethic and superior attention to detail. Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and independently as needed. Ability to handle multiple projects concurrently and appropriately prioritize. Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). #J-18808-Ljbffr