Government Relations Manager

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.

About the role

The Government Relations Manager will support Hunger Free Oklahoma’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 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.

The ideal candidate will be an effective relationship-builder comfortable engaging with policymakers, partners, community stakeholders, and individuals with diverse perspectives. 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.

Responsibilities

• 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, focusing 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.
• 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.
• Organize meetings with policymakers, legislative staff, agency staff, partners, coalitions, and grassroots 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.

Qualifications

• 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).

Skills

• Passionate Engager: Embrace and promote Hunger Free Oklahoma’s mission and values, communicating how hunger impacts work to engage a broad audience.
• Committed Learner: Commit to curiosity and continual learning, self-motivated to expand skills, knowledge, and abilities.
• Strategic and Innovative Thinker: Reason and solve problems, manage partner expectations, and recognize strategic opportunities for systems change.
• Goal Oriented: Set and accomplish ambitious goals, overcome barriers, and work collaboratively to achieve outcomes.
• Collaborator: Work with internal and external partners to achieve common goals, actively listen, and respect diverse needs and perspectives.
• Relationship Builder: Develop and maintain strong working relationships, fostering partnerships across diverse groups.
• Community Advocate and Inclusive Problem Solver: Demonstrate deep understanding of diverse community needs, amplify underrepresented voices, and address challenges inclusively.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, short-term disability, and life insurance.
• 401K contribution (no match requirement).
• Competitive paid time off.
• Eligible for annual cost-of-living and merit salary increases.
• Partial coverage of medical insurance premium for qualified dependents.
• Optional vision, accident, and additional life insurance at employee expense.
• Hybrid work schedule, allowing up to 3 days a week for remote work (requires reliable internet and a dedicated workspace).
• Necessary equipment provided.

Pay

$61,000 – $67,000 USD per year (Oklahoma).

Schedule

• Full-time position based in Tulsa or Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
• Requires ability to travel to sites across the state for up to 20% of working time.
• May require evening and weekend work to support events and programming.
• Involves medium physical effort, including occasionally handling, lifting, or moving objects 20-30 pounds.
• Requires sitting or standing to complete office-oriented work for an average of 8 hours a day.