Witnesses to Hunger® Program Manager, Center for Hunger-Free Communities

Posted by Drexel University on May 4, 2015

Position Description:

Witnesses to Hunger® Program Manager – Full Time
Drexel School of Public Health- Center for Hunger-Free Communities

The Center for Hunger-Free Communities, established in 2004, is a research, service and policy center of Drexel University School of Public Health in Philadelphia, PA. The goal of the Center for Hunger-Free Communities is to develop innovative, empirically-tested solutions to the challenges of hunger and economic insecurity.

Witnesses to Hunger® is a participatory advocacy project of the Center for Hunger-Free Communities, which partners with the real experts on hunger – the parents and caregivers of young children who have first-hand experience with hunger and poverty. The Witnesses to Hunger share their expertise and create change through their roles as photographers, educators and advocates, and advisors.

Our Mission
The Center for Hunger-Free Communities works with partners from public and private organizations, universities and the community to:
• Find science-based solutions to hunger and economic insecurity;
• Report on and monitor the health consequences of poverty and hunger;
• Engage those who have experienced poverty as full partners in developing research, programs and policies that work;
• Establish and support opportunities for an on-going national dialogue on poverty

Position Summary
The Center seeks a full-time Witnesses to Hunger (WTH) Program Manager to lead and manage the Witnesses to Hunger program as it grows nationally. The WTH Program Manager will coordinate efforts at existing sites (Boston, Baltimore, Camden and Philadelphia) and new sites as they are developed (including Washington, D.C.; New Haven, CT; Texas; Alaska; and Northern California). The WTH Program Manager will lead and manage all aspects of the Witnesses to Hunger program, including key activities of site management and expansion coordination; program evaluation and strategic planning; participant communications and support; exhibit and event planning; policy and advocacy work support; and other duties as assigned.

The WTH Program Manager will work closely with Center leadership and the Witnesses to Hunger program team including the Director, Deputy Director, Policy Director, Administrative Coordinator and Qualitative Research Coordinator; and have day-to-day supervision by the Deputy Director.

Responsibilities
Site Management and Expansion Coordination
• Build and strengthen partnerships for existing sites in Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, and Camden.
• Lead the expansion to additional sites including Washington DC (2015), New Haven, CT (2015), Northern California, Alaska and Texas.
• Serve as the primary liaison to new program sites and partners and oversee new site development. Conduct monthly check-in calls with partners at each site to offer support, troubleshoot challenges, monitor activities and coordinate national efforts.
• Plan and execute Witnesses to Hunger 101 trainings for new sites.
• Travel to all program sites at least once per year and to Washington DC at least twice per year for program activities.

Program Evaluation and Strategic Planning
• Lead the team in evaluating and refining the Witnesses to Hunger program model
• Working with outside evaluation assistance, lead a SWOT analysis of the Witnesses to Hunger program to date. Summarize and disseminate the outcomes of the SWOT analysis in a formal written report.
• Through interviews and focus groups with Witnesses participants, evaluate the individual, family and community impacts of the Witnesses to Hunger program. Summarize and disseminate the outcomes of the qualitative evaluation in a written report.
• Develop ongoing mechanisms for internal and external program evaluation.
• Strategically plan with the WTH Program team for the expansion of the project utilizing insight and lessons learned from the SWOT analysis and qualitative evaluations.

Participant Support and Communications
• Be the primary point of contact for Witnesses participants at the Center’s four sites in Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore and Camden.
• Receive and respond to communications from Witnesses participants.
• Utilize phone, text and social media tools including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter to communicate with Witnesses about program activities and updates.
• Develop and distribute the quarterly Witnesses to Hunger newsletter to ensure Witnesses remain up to speed on all program activities, events and advocacy opportunities as they arise.
• Connect Witnesses with the Outreach Worker (social worker) or other supports as needed.

Exhibit and Event Planning
• Manage Witnesses to Hunger exhibits, as scheduled, from inception to completion.
• Support the planning and execution of any other events (panel discussions, forums, etc.) as required.

Support for Policy and Advocacy Work
• Provide and facilitate trainings for Witnesses on community engagement, public speaking, advocacy, and other topics as identified.
• Support the Witnesses in preparation for meetings with elected officials and local and national speaking engagements.

Other Duties As Assigned (including but not limited to)
• Supervise interns, students, or fellows who assist with the work with Witnesses to Hunger
• Help produce WTH writing and publications, including but not limited to: blog posts, testimonies, etc.
• Support the development of policy briefs, WTH one-pagers and other policy-related materials.
• Help conceive, plan and execute non-exhibit events that further the Center’s community engagement.

Qualifications
The Center seeks a dynamic individual who is committed to ending poverty and hunger in the US. The candidate should be familiar with and committed to community-engaged work, participatory advocacy and scholarly research.

Candidate should possess:
o A Masters degree in a relevant field (public policy, public administration, social work, or social policy) or Bachelor’s Degree with equivalent experience.
o A minimum of three years experience as a professional community organizer/leader or other active community-engaged role.
o Excellent organizational skills and ability to work independently
o Experience as a supervisor, especially of part-time or temporary staff
o Excellent written, verbal and telephone communication skills
o Proficient in Microsoft office and adept at social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
o Good sense of humor and humility
o Flexibility, ability to multi-task, and prioritize in a fast-paced work environment.
o Provide ethical and sound judgment when advocating and working with WTH participants
o Experience working with underserved and diverse populations
o Conversant and knowledgeable of the social safety net system and its associated programs (SNAP, WIC, TANF, CACFP, etc.)
o Bilingual (Spanish/English) a plus
o Travel required (out of state/across country).

The Center employs the Sanctuary Model in its implementation of programs. The Sanctuary Model is an evidence‐supported, trauma‐informed practice designed to facilitate the development of structures, processes, and behaviors on the part of staff, clients and the community as a whole that can respond to the wounds of traumatic experiences and extended exposure to adversity of program participants. This person should have some knowledge and/or interest in learning about and utilizing this organizational culture model.

Supplemental Information
This is a full-time position that will be located in the Center for Hunger-Free Communities Offices at Drexel’s School of Public Health. The position will be supervised by the Deputy Director of the Center. This position is grant-funded with potential for extension pending additional support. Pay commensurate with experience.

Drexel University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is proactively committed to diversity and inclusion in all of its policies, practices and services. We are especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute to the varied diversity and excellence of the academic community, and all of its complements.

Background investigations are required for all new hires as a condition of employment, after the job offer is made. Employment will be contingent upon the University’s acceptance of the results of the background investigation.

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