Rural Coalition - Policy and Advocacy Coordinator

Washington, D.C.

Description:

• We seek a dedicated Policy and Advocacy Coordinator to join our team, working with our senior policy leaders, staff team and members. The qualified candidate should support our organizational mission with a commitment to social justice and equity, an attention to detail, and demonstrated ability to relate to our constituency.
• The successful candidate will work with our members, our leaders and our allies to ensure that the voices of diverse farmers, ranchers, farmworkers and indigenous and rural peoples are reflected to secure short and long term changes in federal agriculture and food policy. 
• The Policy and Advocacy Coordinator will collaborate with our Communications, Research, Federal and Field Project, and Development staff teams and our member Working Teams to coordinate work across the Coalition’s principle areas of focus. 
• The ideal candidate is a strategic policy advocate, coalition-builder, and experienced relationship and network manager, who is passionate about equity and justice and grounded in the food, farm, farmworker movements, with a deep understanding of rural and land-based, people of color, and indigenous community issues.
• The position will be housed at the Rural Coalition office in Washington DC and supervised by the Executive Director.

Duties:

• The Coordinator will work with senior policy staff team, and our grassroots farm policy leadership team to motivate our members to engage and build a comprehensive food and farm policy agenda, and in coordination with our allies in the progressive farm movement, to strategically advocate that agenda at the legislative and administrative level.
• Specific responsibilities include:
• Staffing our food and farm policy working group and facilitate ongoing involvement of our leaders and members to develop and implement our policy agenda.
• Conducting ongoing legislative research and tracking, and writing policy briefs, sign on letters and action alerts on key policy issues and regulations. Key issue areas include equity, sustainability and civil rights in agriculture and rural community development and credit access, climate resilience, farmworker justice, and just immigrant and trade.
• Developing compelling and effective advocacy messages and finding best methods for delivery.
• Regularly preparing and posting relevant analysis and updates to share with RC members, our blog, Listservs, social media and Web site.
• Enhancing the relationship of our members and RC as a whole with policy makers, by drafting Dear colleague letters, etc., and organizing meetings, briefings and congressional events.
• Continually listening to our members and translating their needs and ideas into policy and advocacy proposals and assuring their voices are heard through the legislative process and in federal rulemaking processes.
• Coordinating with our partners and allies in the progressive farm movement and representing RC and its members in legislative working groups in Washington.
• Developing and/or representing Rural Coalition within existing coalitions and working groups to partner in advocacy efforts to transform policies and practices.
• Presenting or participating in presentations that advance Rural Coalition’s advocacy and thought leadership efforts.
• Working as part of our team to connect policy and advocacy work with our work on communications, research and field activities.

Requirements: 

• The Successful Candidate will demonstrate the energy, experience and enthusiasm essential to coordinate grassroots efforts to promote economic and social justice as well as:
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential.
• Demonstrated ability to monitor Congressional action, access legislation and regulations over electronic mediums and implement strategies to influence Congressional action.
• Demonstrated background and/or professional experience in the fields of agriculture, rural development, food and farm policy with emphasis on equity and justice.
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles and priorities of the Rural Coalition and cultural competence needed to work with our diverse membership.
• Demonstrated ability to work as a team member to analyze complex and diverse issue areas and pursue systemic and structural change.
• Demonstrated skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with diverse constituencies, including public officials, coalition partners, and community leaders.
• Ability to work independently in a team environment.
• Ability to work in and connect both the policy and grassroots community environments.
• Background and familiarity with agriculture and rural communities, and diverse land-based communities is preferred.
• Ability to motivate others, and work proactively, and as part of a team to build consensus and compromise.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Fluency in Microsoft suite and Google Suite. (Constant Contact, Donor Perfect, Square Space experience is a double plus.)
• Comfort with technologies and communication mechanisms that support remote teams, including file sharing, web-based meetings, conference calls, and emerging technologies.
• Must live in Washington DC metropolitan area.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel periodically to many interesting rural communities is required.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, writing samples, and a list of three references including their contact information to working@ruralco.org with the subject line

POLICY AND ADVOCACY COORDINATOR. Applications accepted until position is filled.

References will not be contacted until after interviews are completed. No phone calls please.