Engagement and Advocacy Manager

Job description

Addison Road Community Organisation (Addi Road) is a not-for-profit, independent organisation supporting arts and culture, championing social justice and caring for our environment. We manage a 9-acre Crown Land, heritage-listed, former army depot site, won for community use in 1976. Almost 50 years on, we still provide a safe hub for local community groups to gather and share cultures and stories. Addi Road has a dedicated volunteer workforce of approximately 400 individuals across multiple programs and both sites.

About the Role

The Engagement and Advocacy Manager is a senior leadership role that will shape and drive impactful advocacy, campaigns and community mobilisation to advocate and educate in sustainable, fair and resilient food systems. Central to this role is a genuine understanding of food systems thinking: the ability to critically analyse the structural drivers of food insecurity, and to champion agroecology, regenerative and alternative farming, and community-led food growing as viable, equitable alternatives to industrial agribusiness models.

What you’ll do

• Coordinate and sustain systems-level work across food justice, environmental and social equity agendas.
• Recognise opportunities for innovative action and create an environment of allies where alternative viewpoints are welcome

• Develop and implement advocacy strategies that address systemic issues, influence policy and advance meaningful systems change.
• Establish and maintain strategic relationships, alliances and networks across community organisations, civil society, peak bodies, movements, experts and other stakeholders.
• Develop and implement a mobilisation strategy that identifies, engages and supports networks and allies to advocate for food systems change.
• Develop instructional education and communications materials and resources that empower communities to take action to address systemic barriers to food access.

What you bring

• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of high-level reports and submissions.
• A strong understanding of food systems, agroecology, and alternative and regenerative farming and food growing models, and how these compare with conventional agribusiness, in the tradition of frameworks developed by bodies involved in Sustainable Food Systems orgs and institutions.
• Understanding of grassroots campaigning including strategy, supporter mobilisation, and research & analysis to drive systems change
• Experience leading and supporting advocacy initiatives that influence government policy and sector reform.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain strategic relationships, alliances and networks across community organisations, civil society, peak bodies, movements, experts and other stakeholders.
• Experience developing and implementing monitoring, evaluation and impact reporting frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience identifying and managing operational and program risks.

Desirable

• A genuine passion for food justice, equity, agroecology and community empowerment.
• Experience working with or alongside communities experiencing disadvantage or food insecurity.
• Existing networks within the food justice, sustainable agriculture, social services, or not-for-profit sector.
• Strong understanding of relevant legislation, regulatory requirements, and policy frameworks impacting community services, food relief and sustainable agriculture.
• Familiarity with international food systems frameworks and literature, both nationally and internationally, and their application to local and community contexts.

Qualifications

A tertiary qualification in a relevant field such as agroecology, sustainable agriculture, environmental studies, public policy, social sciences, international development, or a related discipline. Candidates with equivalent professional experience and a demonstrated commitment to the not-for-profit sector and food systems change are strongly encouraged to apply.

Why join Addi Road?

• Because the work matters—and so do the people who make it happen.
• Part-time role of 26.6 hours per week.
• SCHADS Award conditions, level based on experience.

Next steps

This is a unique opportunity to join a thriving community organisation that is committed to human rights, environmental and economic justice.

Click ‘Apply Now’ to submit your application, including a resume and cover letter outlining your interest in the role and addressing the skills, knowledge and experience criteria in the position description. For enquiries, contact Miriam Pellicano at m.pellicano@addiroad.org.au using the subject line: Engagement and Advocacy Manager enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.