Staff Writer, Hunger Matters

Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina

This is a hybrid position based at any of our branch locations Durham Greenville New Bern Raleigh Southern Pines or Wilmington. Successful candidates must live within driving distance of (or be willing to relocate to) a Food Bank branch community.

Overview

Hunger and poverty are not primarily the result of personal choices or circumstances; they are deeply rooted in systems that deny opportunity and provide insufficient safety nets for common crises such as illness or loss of income.This is the true story offood insecurity and as the Food Bankof Central & Eastern North CarolinasStaff Writer you will play a key role insharing the powerfulvoices andstoriesat the center ofour mission and vision.This role is ideal for a purpose-driven communicator who thrives on collaboration storytelling and connecting people to meaningful impact.

As a key member of theExternal Communications Teamsupportingdepartments across theorganization including our Development team the Staff Writer willidentifyand developcompellingpeople-centeredstoriesindigital and print with a primary focus on the Food BanksHunger Matterspublicationsandourbroadernewsroom.Yourmission-drivenjournalismwillelevate thevoicesof neighbors farmers pantry leaders and supportersto raise awarenessand mobilize action in our shared fight to end hunger.

Key Responsibilities

People-centeredStorytelling and Content Strategy

• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners toidentifystoryopportunitiesthatelevatethedrivers of hunger and real-world solutions to insecurity.

• Develop engagingemotionally resonantarticles and profiles that spotlightneighborslived experiencesin thewake ofreduced federal support andthe rising cost of living.

• Interviewfarmersvolunteers donors and communitypartnerstoshowcasethecombinedefforts thatbringfoodfromthefieldtofamilies tables.

• Proofandeditcontent to ensure accuracy clarity and alignment with the Food Banksbrandstandardsvoice andcommunity-centered approach.

• Maintainan editorial calendar that reflects the Food Banks strategic priorities community campaigns and seasonal initiatives such as Stop Summer Hunger Holiday MealsandHunger Action Month.

Media Relations and Public Awareness

• Support press release drafting media advisories and storytelling for earned media opportunities.

• Collaborate with leadership and communications partners to craft talking points blogs and community-facing materials that reflect the Food Banks values and initiatives.

• Assistwith web content updates and ensure all communications reflect the organizations mission diversity and equity priorities.

Public Awareness&DirectEngagement

• Engagecolleagues and vendors tohelpillustrate stories across mediums and platformsincluding print photography digital and short- and long-form video.

• Collaborate with leadership and communications partners to craft talking points news articlesprogram features and othercommunity-facing materials that reflect the Food Banks values and initiatives.

• Assistwith weband socialcontentupdatestoensurealignment withFood Bank strategic priorities andstorytellersauthenticvoiceand tone.

• Draw on engagement metrics and analytics to refinecontentstrategies and increase the reach and impact of stories and highlights.
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with internal departments including Volunteer Engagement Programs and Development to ensure consistent messaging and alignment with strategic goals.

• Build relationships with communityand industrypartnerslocalagency representatives and neighbor groupsto highlight their contributions to the collective fight against hunger.

• Participate inregular editorialmeetings and brainstorming sessions bringing creativity curiosity and a solutions-oriented mindset.

• Maintain a structured archive of leads and stories (the Food Bank usesEveryActionand Canto) ensuring simple organization and accessibility.

Qualifications

Wereeager to meet people that believe in our mission and can contributeina variety of ways not just candidates whocheckall the boxes. Even if youdontfeel you meet every single requirement we still encourage you to apply!

• Minimum seven(7) years of professional or academic experience injournalismmultimedia storytellingnonprofitor advocacy communications public relations or related field. (Note: Bachelors degree in communications Journalism Business or a related field is preferred but not required.)

• Strong storytelling instincts rooted in empathy community awareness and an understanding ofsocio-economic factors that contribute to hunger andpoverty

• Exceptional writing and editing skillswith the ability to translate complex information into compelling accessible content

• Proven ability to convey concepts to different audiences across multiple formats and platforms often under tight deadlines

• Demonstrated ability to manage projects independently and collaborate across teams with comfortoperatingin adiversemission-driven environment

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build relationships in diverse workand communityenvironments

• Commitment to the Food Banks mission vision and values including integritydedication compassion and teamwork

• Proficiencywith Microsoft Office Suite and comfortutilizingconstituent relationship and digital asset management systems to track contacts andstories

• A valid drivers license is with some expected travel within the service area

Though not exceptional candidates may have any of the following skills:

• Lived experience of food insecurity and / or the systemic inequities that drive hunger and povertyin our communities

• Advanced study or certification in the journalism or communications space (ex:Knight Center Poynter Institute Society of Professional JournalismGoogle NewsInitiativeetc.)

• Awareness of current events and news in anti-hunger efforts federal foodassistanceprograms (SNAP WIC etc.) or general social / human service initiatives

• Written and oralproficiencyin Spanish or other languages commonly spoken by people facing food insecurity in our region: Arabic Cantonese French Mandarin or Vietnamese
  

About the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina

The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina works to ensure that nutritious food is accessible to all serving more than 600 partner agencies across 34 counties. Every story we tell from a family receiving fresh produce to a volunteer packing a box helps our neighbors see that hunger is a solvable problem when we work together.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not regard race color religion national origin age sex pregnancy marital status disability genetic information veteran status sexual orientation or any protected class characteristic when seeking to hire. This practice in addition to hiring applies to our recruiting training transfers promotions job benefits pay dismissal practices social and recreational activities and any other term or condition of employment.

We care about our employees our candidates and our community.

As such please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits for You

We help YOU thrive. As a mission-based organization we believe our team needs great support to help deliver on our work to Nourish People Build Solutions and Empower Communities. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Medical Dental and Vision Plans
• Health Spending Accounts Employer Contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid Time off: including Holidays Personal Vacation and Sick Time
• 403(b) with 5% Match after 90 days
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• 100% Employer paid STD and LTD Insurance
• 100% Employer paid Group Life Insurance
• Voluntary benefits including Accident and Critical Illness
• Business Travel mileage reimbursement

Required Experience:

Manager