Grants, Contracts & Government Relations Analyst About the Organization Come join Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County! We are the first food bank in the State of California, and the second in the nation. We pride ourselves in providing 10 million pounds of food annually to over 65,000 people per month through our network of 150-member agencies and programs. We believe that a thriving community is one where everyone has access to nutritious food to support their health and wellbeing. Our team is dedicated to inspiring and supporting our community to provide nourishment for all community members. Second Harvest seeks to attract and retain a diverse workforce that brings a broad range of perspectives and experiences to our work. We value lived experience alongside learned experience and we encourage you to apply, even if you do not believe you meet every one of our qualifications. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals. Second Harvest is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation. Second Harvest will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Second Harvest is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt Annualized Salary: $98,783-$107,564 DOE About the position: the Grants, Contracts & Government Relations Analyst plays a key role in supporting and advancing major organizational initiatives by providing analytical and administrative support across grants and contracts management, government relations activities, and strategic special projects. This role partners closely with internal teams and leadership to ensure programs and special initiatives are well-coordinated, compliant, and informed by timely data, research, and reporting. The Analyst helps translate complex requirements into clear processes, supports external-facing efforts with public partners, and contributes to continuous improvement across high-impact programs and special projects. REPORTS TO : Chief Executive Officer (CEO) SUPERVISES : Contractors / Vendors Contracts & Grants Management (40%) Responsible for identifying and managing the process of securing foundation and corporate grants in accordance with applicable standards, regulations and guidelines. Support the lifecycle of grants and contracts, including tracking deadlines, deliverables, compliance requirements and reporting timelines. Serve as project management lead with proposal development, documentation preparation and submission process. Monitor contract performance metrics and flag risks, gaps, or upcoming obligations. Work closely with stakeholders to understand funding needs and outcome measurements. Collaborate with food bank staff, volunteers, and board members to gain in-depth understanding of ongoing program/project needs, goals, objectives, and outcomes. Collaborate with program staff to gather necessary data, outcomes, and narratives for proposals and reports. Support grant compliance by monitoring budgets, allowable expenses, and adherence to funder requirements. Engage grant writers and other subcontractors as needed to accomplish projects. Write smaller or routine grant proposals independently to support. Assist in drafting grant progress reports, final reports, and supporting documentation for funders. Coordinate internal and external communications related to grants, including acknowledgment of funders and reporting follow-ups. Support contracts administration by tracking milestones, deliverables, and ensuring adherence to legal and financial obligations. Government Relations (30%) Serve as a primary point of contact for local, state, and federal government agencies related to food access, nutrition assistance, and emergency food programs. Track and analyze legislation, regulations, and policy proposals affecting hunger relief, food systems, and public nutrition programs (e.g., TEFAP, SNAP, emergency feeding initiatives). Monitor legislation, policy developments, and funding trends that impact the organization’s programs and funding streams. Support leadership in developing and executing government relations strategies aligned with organizational goals. Prepare briefing materials, talking points, and data analyses for meetings with elected officials and agency staff to support advocacy and funding conversations. Support leadership in building and maintaining strong relationships with elected officials and agency staff. Administrative Support & Special Project (30%) Analyze, research, gather and interpret information on a wide variety of management matters such as budgets, legislation, programs, contracts and staffing. Develop dashboards, reports, and executive-ready summaries. Prepare and present written and oral reports on recommendations, data, impacts, options, strategies and conclusions that are based on analyses. Work closely with managers and other staff within the Executive Team to anticipate, obtain and provide ongoing and accurate information. Coordinate activities related to projects, programs and/or other areas being analyzed. Attend or serve as management liaison at meetings/functions such as committees, task forces, community forums, commissions, and conferences. Manage a variety of complex special projects, research studies, budget analysis, and other specialized functions. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in public administration, public policy, business, nonprofit management, or a related field (or equivalent experience). Minimum of 3–5 years of progressively responsible experience in grants management, government contracts administration, public funding compliance, government relations, or policy analysis. Demonstrated experience managing government-funded grants and contracts, including budgeting, reporting, monitoring, and compliance. Experience tracking legislation, drafting policy summaries, or supporting advocacy initiatives preferred. Knowledge / Skills / Ability Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. Ability to study systems and processes and recommend and implement process improvements. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft professional documents and reports. Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams. Ability to direct/organize colleagues in meeting deadlines and deliverables. Strong understanding of funding sources, research skills, and legislative and regulatory processes. Able to meet deadlines and produce high-quality grant proposals. Experience translating complex programs and evidence-based outcomes into compelling narratives that align with funding priorities. Experience drafting policy briefs, testimony, talking points, and advocacy materials. Familiarity with grant management systems and reporting tools. Experience supporting government relations or public policy initiatives. Experience coordinating special projects and cross‑functional initiatives. Knowledge of budgeting, compliance, and monitoring for grants and contracts. Demonstrated ability to draft smaller grant proposals independently. Strong research and analytical skills for funding opportunities and policy tracking. Demonstrated ability to align funding opportunities with organizational goals and manage complex contracts/grant portfolios. Skilled in leveraging data systems to drive decision‑making and create efficient processes. Additional Requirements It is the responsibility of all SHFB personnel to participate in our Food Safety/Food Defense programs. Demonstrate ethical business practices, in conformance with all state and federal laws and regulations. Commitment to serving vulnerable populations and ending hunger in Santa Cruz County. Demonstrate full adherence to the Code of Conduct and all policies/procedures related to compliance. Adherence to all applicable federal and state laws and regulations including, but not limited to, those governing confidentiality, privacy, program, billing, and documentation standards. Ability to meet the following physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodation: Able to hear conversations on the phone and in-person. The person in this position frequently communicates with funders, community partners, etc; must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations. Be able to read, write, and interpret written reports, documents and manuals. Able to safely lift or carry items weighing up to 10 pounds. Bi‑manual dexterity and able to use a computer keyboard. Frequent standing and sitting throughout the day. Given the front‑line nature of our work, there will be instances where staff are required to work a flexible schedule in order to respond to community needs. Advanced notice will be provided. In instances of a federal, state or locally declared emergency, Second Harvest is considered an essential service and emergency responder; all its employees may be called in to perform regular or emergent duties. Standard Work Schedule: Our business hours are Monday‑Friday, 8:00 – 5:00 pm. Occasional evening and weekend work is to be expected. Worksite: 800 Ohlone Parkway, Watsonville, CA 95076 Work From Home: Not Eligible Job Details: This is a full‑time, regular, exempt position with an annual salary of $98,783 – $107,564; depending on education and experience. Benefits: We offer competitive salaries and benefits and a rewarding work environment. Paid Time Off: New hires accrue three weeks of vacation time in their first year of service, in addition to paid 10 company holidays, and 12 sick days, per year. Health and Wellness 4 Gold‑rated medical plans: employer covered at 90%-80% depending on the plan. 100% employer‑paid benefits for employee Vision, Dental, Life, Long‑Term Disability, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Employee Assistance Program. Employer subsidized vision and dental insurance for dependents. AFLAC supplemental plans. Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts. Supplemental coverage on Life and AD&D plans. Pet Insurance. Financial Benefits 403(b) Retirement Plan with generous employer contribution. Tuition reimbursement program. To Apply: Please submit cover letter and resume by Midnight 3/16/2026 at This position is currently accepting applications. Pay Range: $98,783-$107,564 Close Date: 3/17/2026 Open Date: 2/23/2026 #J-18808-Ljbffr