Manager, Public Affairs

For more than 115 years, Ferrara has created sugar confections that enable moments of sweetness, celebration, and connection for candy lovers of all generations. Today, the company is the #1 sugar confectioner in the United States. Ferrara boasts a passionate team of nearly 9,000 employees creating and delivering hundreds of products sold under 20 popular brands like Brach’s, NERDS, SweeTARTS, Laffy Taffy, and Trolli to more than 66 million U.S. households annually and popular Dori snacking products under brands such as Dori, Gomets, Pettiz, and Yogurte 100 in Brazil. Additionally, Jelly Belly, known world-wide for its confections, was acquired in November of 2023.

The Manager, Public Affairs and Community Relations, you will help build and scale Ferrara’s ongoing work with our communities, local government officials and other policymakers and stakeholders. Specifically, you will work with the Company’s VP of Institutional Affairs & Corporate Communications to craft the strategy and plans that protect and enhance the reputation of Ferrara as a growth business and key community partner. You will be responsible for helping to manage government relations/issues, stakeholder relations and community connections and will help manage issues at the state, county and local levels that impact, or potentially impact, the current business practices and the future growth and profitability of the company.

• Develop, manage, and enable delivery of key messages to important stakeholder audiences to clearly define and communicate the company’s strategic business priorities, while also promoting company brands and programs.
• Manage the identification of government-related business opportunities and facilitate discussions with government to support those efforts.
• Work hand-in-hand with company lobbyists working to shape our priorities and messaging for legislative and regulatory policy conversations.
• Plan, draft and launch communications campaigns and messaging supporting government relations and community relations goals and develop and manage the budget.
• Work with team leader to counsel the company Senior Leadership Team on issues management and conduct message training.
• Track and inform company of all matters of interest and help provide analysis of legislative or proposed regulations and updating with reports on subsequent action.
• Execute community outreach strategy, ensuring partnerships that align to business needs and objectives.
• Represent Ferrara and Institutional Affairs & Corporate Communications Team at external meetings, events and ceremonies.

• Strong interpersonal communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build strategies aligned with business goals and company culture.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong sense of initiative and ability to work under pressure on multiple projects with tight deadlines.

• 5-7 years of Government Relations and Public Affairs experience, including community relations.
• This position must pass a post-offer background and drug test.
• Project and budget management.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, employment decisions and opportunities at Ferrara will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil union status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, military or veteran status, disability, handicap, genetic information, pregnancy (childbirth or related medical condition), or on any other basis prohibited by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.