Senior Policy Specialist - Conservation - National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition - Washington, DC

 The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is seeking a passionate and collaborative policy advocate to represent our Coalition’s conservation policy portfolio. Each Policy Specialist on our team focuses on a variety of issues and interacts with coalition members through issue-specific policy committees; in this role, you will build critical relationships, act strategically to push policies forward, and be well versed in relevant policies and frameworks. If you are just as excited to dive into soil health details with farmers as you are to help Congress understand the importance of these issues, this is the role for you. This position will serve as our in house “expert” on agricultural conservation and environmental issues and legislation, with a specific focus on working lands conservation programs, climate change, renewable energy, and farmland protection programs. In addition, each policy specialist also collaborates with the rest of the policy team on shared campaigns and helps to further our racial equity efforts.

We strongly encourage all interested candidates to apply even if they do not meet all of the qualifications. NSAC will also consider strong candidates with less experience at the title of Policy Specialist.

This is a full-time, exempt position that offers benefits. Normally it is based in our Washington, DC office, but all staff are currently remote due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be an expectation that you relocate to Washington, DC if you do not currently live there when public health and safety guidelines allow for office reopening. This position reports to NSAC’s Policy Director.

THE ORGANIZATION

NSAC is an alliance of grassroots organizations that advocates for federal policy reform to advance the sustainability of agriculture, food systems, natural resources, and rural communities. For over 30 years, NSAC’s stellar track record of policy accomplishments has been guided by a vision of agriculture where a safe, nutritious, ample, and affordable food supply is produced by a legion of family farmers who make a decent living for their work, while protecting the environment, and contributing to the strength and stability of their communities. Racial justice – an understanding and acknowledgment of historical and ongoing racial inequities and commitment to actions challenging those inequities – is a core NSAC tenet that we seek to embed in our structure, analysis, policy development, and advocacy.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Act as the primary staff for NSAC’s Conservation, Energy, and Environment (CEE) Issue Committee, leading the Committee’s work to develop and advance administrative, regulatory and legislative priorities

• Collaborate with NSAC grassroots staff and Coalition members on campaign strategy and actions, and support NSAC interns and fellows on portfolio-relevant projects

• Advocate on Capitol Hill and with executive branch agencies (USDA, EPA, etc.) on a regular basis, including developing and executing an ongoing strategy on conservation policy issues and programs

• Draft policy materials, including policy papers, testimony, legislation, rulemaking comment letters, program analysis reports, and regular policy blog posts

• Contribute to the organization’s annual priority setting, fundraising, and coalition-wide meetings

• Apply an equity lens to all work, and strive to advance racial equity both within the coalition’s internal processes (including our Diversity Committee) and through its external campaigns and policy goals

• Represent NSAC at partner meetings, coalitions, conferences, and to the media in DC and nationwide

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• This is not an entry level role and a successful candidate likely has 5+ years of relevant work experience in fields such as legal, regulatory, agency, legislative, or lobbying experience, or other significant agricultural policy experience. We encourage people with related work experiences to apply.

• Strong grasp of federal working lands conservation programs and related issues, including but not limited to key Farm Bill programs

• An understanding of and passion for sustainable agriculture and food systems

• A working knowledge of the federal policy-making process

• Demonstrated understanding of how racial equity intersects with agriculture and food systems and an ability to apply this lens to policy decisions

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking skills and ability to translate complex federal regulations and policies for a lay audience

• Exceptional initiative and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work independently and collaboratively, listen well, build trust, and model healthy conflict resolution

• Strong project management skills and demonstrated ability to work on legislative timelines

• Ability to work effectively with, value differences of, and incorporate the experiences and policy impacts on, diverse groups of individuals, including race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socioeconomic circumstances

• Enthusiasm for and experience in cultivating lasting relationships and accountable partnerships with a diverse body of stakeholders and decision makers

• Willingness to travel domestically several times a year (no travel required while operating under COVID-19 safety precautions)

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCES

The following skills are not required, but are desired.

• Experience working in a Congressional office or federal agency

• Background with grassroots advocacy campaigns (e.g. field organizing, lobby days, etc)

• Experience with large, multi-organization grassroots coalitions, including facilitation and consensus building

• Bilingual fluency in a language other than English

SALARY AND BENEFITS

NSAC offers a competitive non-profit salary and benefits, dependent on qualifications and experience, $65,000+.

Benefits: This full-time position offers excellent benefits (as per the employee handbook), including generous vacation and other time-off policy, health, dental, and long-term disability insurance, contributions after two years in a retirement plan, and financial support for professional and personal development.

APPLICATION PROCESS

All communications are treated confidentially. Resume review begins immediately. No phone calls, please. Applications must be received by November 9, 2020 for consideration.

Please use this form (also available at http://sustainableagriculture.net/about-us/jobs/) to complete and submit application materials.

NSAC is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce and strongly encourages applications from groups that have been historically under-represented, including but not limited to women and people of color. Please also see NSAC’s Statement on Racial Equity. NSAC makes hiring decisions without regard to gender, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify.

Click here to apply.