Interim Vice President, Research & Advocacy (Parental Leave)

Daily Bread Food Bank works towards long-term solutions to end hunger and poverty and runs innovative programs to support individuals living on low incomes and experiencing food insecurity.

Daily Bread distributes fresh and shelf-stable food, and fresh-cooked meals to 132 member agencies and 207 food programs across Toronto.

Daily Bread also publishes the influential Who’s Hungry report - an annual survey measuring trends in food insecurity and poverty in Toronto.

Job Title : Interim Vice President, Research & Advocacy (Parental Leave)

Department : Research & Advocacy

Reporting to : Chief Executive Officer

Location : 191 New Toronto Street, Toronto, ON, M8V 2E7

Direct Reports : 3 Staff Members

Salary : $117,000-$133,000 per annum, commensurate with experience

Terms : 35 hours a week / 15 months Contract, Full-Time, Hybrid

Schedule : Monday to Friday

Daily Bread offers an inclusive and engaging workplace culture, a competitive salary and a comprehensive employer-paid benefits package.

The wages and benefits paid to Daily Bread Food Bank’s full-time staff meet the requirements of the Ontario Living Wage Network.

Other considerations for you :

• 21 days of paid vacation per year.
• Paid sick leave days.
• A hybrid work environment.
• Free daily lunches when on-site at 191 New Toronto St office.
• Recognized as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers (2024).
• Awarded Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures by Waterstone Human Capital (2023).
• Recognized as a 5-star rated charity by Charity Intelligence Canada (2023).
• Creative, kind, fun, and passionate team culture.
• Active social committee.
• Free on-site parking.

THE PERSON

You are a thought leader and want to effect change in our communities using a rights-based lens and exceptional research and analytical skills.

You thrive in a dynamic, challenging social policy space and can be a leader at Daily Bread and in the community. You want to join an organization recognized as a leader in social research and poverty trends;

and take that to the next level.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The Interim VP of Research & Advocacy leads all work associated with identifying the causes and consequences of poverty as well as evidence-based solutions.

The VP works with other departments to mobilize the community in order to advocate with all levels of government on poverty reduction initiatives.

These initiatives include the development and support of social policy, raising awareness, and advocacy mobilization to find long-term solutions to poverty reduction.

The Interim VP of Research & Advocacy is an important member of the Senior Management team.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Advocacy and Government Relations

• Lead and manage a comprehensive advocacy strategy, including analyzing social policy initiatives and their impact on people who access food banks as well as the member agencies supporting them, formulating advice on key policy positions, and developing and maintaining strong relationships with key government decision-makers.
• Develop and execute a communications strategy including acting as spokesperson for the organization in various media, panels, and other public facing opportunities.
• Establish and build relationships with community organizations to support opportunities for collaboration.
• Represent Daily Bread and participate as a member of committees and coalitions.
• Develop and oversee implementation of advocacy campaigns using a variety of tactics including digital, government relations, media relations, community mobilization and coalition building.
• Develop government submissions, deputations, testimonies, and briefing notes.
• Provide advice and counsel to the Chief Executive Officer, who is still learning, and other members of the Daily Bread organization.

Research

With the team, lead the creation research papers relating to poverty, food insecurity, and government policy. This includes the cornerstone of Daily Bread’s research, the Who’s Hungry Report, which provides quantitative and qualitative data about the experience of hunger and poverty in Toronto.

• Responsible for research knowledge translation and communication activities.
• Works with all departments to ensure data integrity in public communications.
• Coordinate, contribute to, or lead the application processes for research or policy related grants.

People Management

• Organize the department and establish plans and a culture to meet department objectives.
• Interview, hire and provide training and support to staff within the department.
• Mentor and learn from your team so they thrive in their positions
• Plan, administer and control approved budgets.
• Promote a safe and healthy workplace ensuring adherence to legislation and policy.
• Other responsibilities and duties as may be necessary from time to time.

INTERNAL / EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS

• Be a leader on the Leadership Team
• Represent Daily Bread’s mission and values to Government, elected representatives, the general public, colleagues and volunteers.
• Disseminate results and findings of research projects to the Daily Bread Community, leaders, and partners across Canada as well as to the general public.

This includes disseminating information internally so Daily Bread can improve its service delivery.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE (or equivalent)

• Master’s Degree in the social sciences or the humanities (e.g. education, equity studies, social work, political science, cultural studies, law / justice, public policy or related field) that includes a major research component.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in policy research and / or development and / or advocacy efforts.
• Strong familiarity with public policy development and implementation.
• Experience in a leadership role is an asset.
• Experience utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, specifically within community-based research frameworks.
• Experience developing reports tailored to the public.
• Project management experience and asset
• Experience analyzing statistical data using R is an asset.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft software, including Word, Excel, PowerBI etc.
• Experience working in a not-for-profit, food security, and / or social justice environment an asset.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Highly proficient at conceptualizing, developing, and implementing large scale quantitative and qualitative research projects.
• Effective communicator with strong ability to present information in a clear, concise and actionable manner, speaking to stakeholders at all levels.
• Dynamic leader and innovative change agent with bottom-line, results-driven orientation coupled with consideration of human elements.
• Strong presentation skills, including developing presentations and addressing groups, both internal and external.
• High level of critical and logical thinking, analysis and reasoning.
• A team player with an attitude of service and the ability to motivate others. A person who takes the mission seriously but not themselves.
• High degree of resourcefulness, flexibility and adaptability.
• Exemplary interpersonal, analytical, organizational, communication and conflict resolution skills with the ability to build bridges between complex stakeholder groups and individuals.
• Excellent sense of discretion, judgment, tact, diplomacy and humour.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The incumbent works in a hybrid model with work-from-home and an office / warehouse environment. There is occasional travel to offsite meetings and events.

How to Apply

To be considered, applicants must submit a cover letter and resume by Friday , October 11th , 11 : 59 p.m. to careers@dailybread.

ca. Interviews for the position will be conducted on a rolling basis.

Daily Bread Food Bank is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from members of designated groups and those with lived experience of poverty or food insecurity.

Persons with disabilities who need accommodation in the application process, or those needing job postings in another format, please e-mail a request to Human Resources.

Daily Bread Food Bank thanks all individuals who apply for this position and will only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.