Assistant Director of Expansion and Policy (PSE)

About us:

The Hand, Heart, and Soul Project (HHSP) promotes healthy habits for our earliest learners in Clayton County. We provide children and families access to nutrient-dense foods and we develop holistic programs focused on health, wellness, education, and nutrition. Our mission is to nurture, celebrate, and advance the needs of the people we serve by creating equitable access to quality educational, nutritional, and community resources.

Hand, Heart, and Soul Project's work is highly interdisciplinary. It sits at the intersection of education, health, wellness, and advocacy while ensuring those most affected by the policy are in decision-making spaces. Our model is one of collective impact that focuses on cross-collaboration which aligns community members, leaders, organizations, and institutions to go beyond sustainable solutions, but thriving and meaningful solutions.

About the role:

This is a new and emerging role in a growing organization, funded by multiple sources. In-state and out-of-state travel is required as needed. The Assistant Director of Expansion, Partnerships, and Policy will lead initiatives to expand the Hand, Heart, and Soul Project’s mobile market programming and expansion programming, build strategic partnerships, and drive policy on the local, regional, and national levels. This role is crucial for scaling the organization’s mission by broadening program reach, aligning with SNAP-Ed objectives, and influencing policies that impact food, wellness, nutrition, and education. The Director will develop and implement strategies that increase access to nutrition education and healthy food options in SnapEd-eligible areas.

Key Responsibilities

Farm Bill Advocacy and Policy Development:

• Conduct in-depth research on provisions within the Farm Bill that impact nutrition, agriculture, and food access, with a focus on opportunities relevant to the organization’s mission.
• Draft and propose amendments or new policy recommendations to ensure equitable and sustainable outcomes for the community.
• Monitor and analyze Farm Bill updates, legislation, and regulations at both federal and state levels to identify implications for the organization’s work.

Legislative Engagement:

• Build and maintain relationships with legislators, their staff, and key decision-makers at the local, state, and federal levels to advocate for aligned policy priorities.
• Prepare and deliver compelling presentations, briefs, and testimony to legislators, committees, and stakeholders to advance the organization’s policy agenda.
• Coordinate legislative visits and events to strengthen advocacy efforts and raise awareness around key issues, such as nutrition education, food access, education, and community wellness.

Policy Creation and Implementation:

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and community partners to draft policies that address systemic barriers to food security, nutrition, and wellness.
• Translate policy concepts into actionable frameworks that can be implemented at various levels of government or within community programs.
• Develop toolkits, training, and resources to educate staff, stakeholders, and partners on proposed and enacted policies.

Program Expansion Strategy and Implementation (Aligned with SNAP-Ed Objectives)

• Develop and implement a program expansion strategy specifically focused on meeting SNAP-Ed goals, including increased access to nutrition education, healthy eating, and active living resources.
• Implement mobile market and/or retail outlet
• Coordinate mobile market outreach among early childcare providers and other sites
• Identify and establish new sites and partnerships in areas of high need, ensuring that program offerings align with SNAP-Ed objectives to improve community health outcomes.
• Collaborate with program teams to ensure consistent, high-quality service delivery that reflects SNAP-Ed standards and is tailored to the unique needs of each community.
• Expansion of local, state, and regional initiatives
• Identify and evaluate new sites and communities for SNAP-Ed implementation.
• Develop and execute a strategic plan to expand SNAP-Ed services in underserved areas, including the development of community gardens in partnership with others.
• Collaborate with local governments, schools, and community organizations to introduce or scale SNAP-Ed programs.
• Secure space and resources for new programs, including materials and staffing.
• Monitor and assess expansion progress to ensure alignment with SNAP-Ed objectives.

Strategic Partnerships and Coalition Building

• Develop partnerships with advocacy groups, coalitions, and organizations to strengthen collective impact on policy efforts.
• Represent the organization in public forums, stakeholder meetings, and advocacy networks to advance shared goals.
• Convene community members and grassroots leaders to ensure policies are informed by lived experiences and community needs.
• Forge and manage partnerships with organizations, government agencies, and funders that support SNAP-Ed objectives and align with the Hand, Heart, and Soul Project’s mission.
• Identify and negotiate partnerships that expand the program portfolio, especially in areas of food security, wellness, and nutrition education.
• Represent the organization at community and industry events to foster relationships that further program expansion goals and SNAP-Ed objectives.
• Build and maintain relationships with potential funders, sponsors, and stakeholders to support SNAP-Ed initiatives.
• Establish partnerships with food retailers, farmers' markets, and community centers to promote healthy eating and access to nutritious foods.
• Collaborate with healthcare providers to integrate SNAP-Ed into wellness programs.
• Develop partnerships with educational institutions for curriculum integration and training opportunities.
• Represent SNAP-Ed at local and state coalitions, conferences, and events to increase visibility and engagement.

Policy and Advocacy for Food, Wellness, and Nutrition, and Education

• Create marketing and communication strategies to increase awareness of SNAP-Ed programs in new regions.
• Lead policy advocacy efforts focused on SNAP-Ed priorities, including food access, nutrition education, and wellness.
• Develop a policy agenda aimed at advancing equitable access to nutritious food, community wellness, and SNAP-Ed-driven health improvements.
• Monitor policy developments, offering strategic recommendations on emerging opportunities to advance food, wellness, and nutrition policies that support SNAP-Ed’s goals.
• Work in partnership with leadership to develop an organizational policy platform
• Support and elevate voices for collective impact
• Advocate for policy changes that improve access to healthy foods and nutrition education in underserved communities on the local, state and national platforms.
• Work with local stakeholders to establish community gardens, food pantries, or other sustainable food access solutions.
• Implement systems-level interventions, such as improving procurement policies for healthy foods in ECE sites and/or community programs.
• Collaborate on environmental strategies like redesigning food environments to encourage healthier choices.

Team Leadership and Development

• Oversee a team focused on partnerships, policy, and community engagement, fostering a collaborative and mission-driven environment.
• Set goals, provide mentorship, and manage team performance, ensuring alignment with the organization’s expansion objectives and SNAP-Ed targets.
• Collaborate with finance, operations, and development departments to integrate program and policy strategies seamlessly.
• Train staff and partners in SNAP-Ed best practices, including PSE approaches.
• Develop toolkits and resources to support the successful implementation of new programs.

Program Alignment, Planning, Reporting and Evaluation

• Develop strategic plans for long-term engagement with key policy areas.
• Track policy progress and produce reports to demonstrate the organization’s impact and contributions to legislative advancements.
• Use data and research to guide policy development and ensure recommendations are evidence-based.
• Develop strategic plans for long-term engagement with key policy areas.
• Track policy progress and produce reports to demonstrate the organization’s impact and contributions to legislative advancements.
• Use data and research to guide policy development and ensure recommendations are evidence-based.
• Track and analyze metrics related to SNAP-Ed-aligned partnerships, policy impact, and program expansion, preparing reports for executive leadership and the board.
• Use data to refine strategies, ensuring continuous improvement in meeting SNAP-Ed objectives.
• Contribute to annual reports, grant proposals, and external communications that highlight achievements in line with SNAP-Ed priorities.
• Ensure that new programs meet SNAP-Ed guidelines and fidelity requirements.
• Oversee the collection and analysis of data to evaluate the effectiveness of expansion efforts.
• Use insights from program evaluations to refine and improve SNAP-Ed delivery.

Qualifications

• Must have policy experience, especially in food, health, and/or early education.
• Ability to work independently
• Prior experience in the nonprofit industry
• Experience working with young children
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, program development, partnerships, or policy work.
• Proven experience expanding programming and establishing partnerships, particularly in food security, wellness, or SNAP-Ed-related areas.
• Knowledge of policy advocacy, especially in food security, nutrition education, and community wellness.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with experience in public representation.
• Experience managing teams and achieving results that align with program expansion and SNAP-Ed goals.
• Commitment to the Hand, Heart, and Soul Project’s mission and values, with a focus on equity in community wellness.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Weekends as needed

Experience:

• Research: 1 year (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Jonesboro, GA 30236 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Jonesboro, GA 30236: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $75,000