What: The Associate Manager of Benefits Outreach Innovation works with the Senior Manager of Public Benefits Outreach to improve and expand the Food Depository’s benefits outreach work in Cook County.
As the Food Depository strives to end hunger, some of our most valuable tools are public benefit programs. Nutrition assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) empower families to purchase the food they need at a grocery store. Programs like Medicaid provide families with resources to meet other basic needs, like health care, thereby reducing the need to skip meals to pay medical bills. The Greater Chicago Food Depository currently conducts outreach to connect eligible individuals with SNAP and Medicaid.
The Associate Manager of Benefits Outreach Innovation is charged with removing barriers that impede our ability to connect families to SNAP and Medicaid and exploring opportunities to expand our benefits outreach work to include other programs such as LIHEAP, WIC, and EITC. This role will optimize processes, pilot new programs, leverage technology, and inform policy opportunities.
Key Responsibilities and Essential Functions:
- Identify partnerships and pilot program opportunities to expand benefit outreach with vulnerable groups and communities throughout Cook County.
- Develop and maintain relationships with community organizations interested in public benefits outreach, such as suburban schools, food access partners, and agencies serving older adults and veterans.
- Research safety net programs not currently offered by the Food Depository (i.e. WIC, EITC and LIHEAP) and design new ways to expand the Food Depository’s benefits outreach efforts and connect clients to benefits through re-design of existing work or through new partnerships.
- Support all partnerships with education, training and other technical assistance related to benefit programs
- Explore ways to leverage emerging technologies--such as SMS/text-based tools, web-based enrollment platforms and other specialized software--to expand benefits enrollment and optimize processes.
- Analyze data and develop strategies and protocols for reaching specific vulnerable populations.
- Partner with the Development Team and the Senior Manager of Public Benefits Outreach to develop fundraising proposals which support the expansion of benefit access programs.
- Understand national best practices and leading innovations in benefits outreach and enrollment by collaborating with national partners including Feeding America, the national membership organization for Food Banks.
- Represent the Food Depository at meetings, as assigned by Senior Benefits Outreach Manager
- Build a repository of insights about access to public benefits to help inform community organizations and governmental partners on safety net strategies and public policy.
- Support the Senior Manager of Benefits Outreach in all aspects of integrating Benefit Outreach into the overall activities of the Community Impact team, which is responsible for all community outreach activities, program design and policy advocacy.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree and relevant project and relationship management experience in a social service setting. Graduate degree preferred.
- Minimum of 4-6 years of direct experience in benefits outreach, public policy, program administration, and/or community engagement.
- Strong understanding of public benefits programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, LIHEAP, and/or EITC required.
- Strong understanding of Chicago’s community-based assets and infrastructure (community organizations, faith-based institutions and local government) is preferred. Knowledge of the South and West sides of Chicago and Cook County is a plus.
- Cultural competency and sensitivity to diverse cultures, backgrounds, and communication styles.
- Keen ability to work independently, show initiative, and take ownership.
- Strategic thinker, with strong ability to analyze complex problems and design appropriate solutions.
- Organized and detail-oriented worker, skilled at planning and operationalizing new projects and programs and driving implementation with minimal supervision.
- Commitment to listening to the needs of stakeholders--including clients, colleagues in benefits outreach and partners--and ability to translate those insights into workable program solutions. · Strong skills for building partnerships and managing relationships with internal and external partners.
- Proficient in MS Office- Word, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook.
Exposure:
- Normal office environment with some exposure to warehouse environment.
- Interacts with GCFD staff, the general public, partner agencies and community organizations. · Some evening and weekend time as workload requires.
Apply here: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/1435565321/?recommendedFlavor=HIDDEN_GEM&refId=6a9f19b2-77ec-40f7-99be-25f8433cf030&trk=eml-jymbii-organic-job-card&midToken=AQFitWTgXQiOWQ&trkEmail=eml-jobs_jymbii_digest-null-7-null-null-c11pw%7Ejzvfkqc3%7Eat-null-jobs%7Eview