Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund - Executive Director (remote)

The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund is seeking an Executive Director to expand its legal defense, advocacy and other programs in support of America’s independent farmers, ranchers, food producers and their customers.

Responsibilities include leading FTCLDF’s staff and board in implementing the organization’s strategic plan, financial objectives, mission, vision, and goals, working closely with staff and vendors to ensure programs, services, and public outreach all meet the organization’s standards, conducting legal research for FTCLDF members and clients, overseeing staff and contractors providing these services, and serving as the organization’s public face to media, businesses, and institutions in collaboration with communications and development staff.

Candidates should have three to five years’ nonprofit management experience in the food, agriculture, or policy sectors, a strong understanding of key federal, state, and local food issues, laws, and regulations, experience with fundraising campaigns and budget-management skills, and strong public speaking abilities, among other skills.

Salary Range: $90,000 - $100,000

Apply here: Executive Director | KK&P | LinkedIn

Lactalis USA - Senior Counsel, Food Law & Regulatory Compliance (Chicago, IL) (Hybrid)

Lactalis USA is seeking a Senior Counsel to serve as a legal advisor on FDA, USDA, FTC, state consumer protection, food labeling, and food advertising requirements, monitoring developments in food law and emerging regulatory trends.

A Senior Counsel will have responsibilities in the areas of food law and regulatory compliance, regulatory enforcement, litigation risk management, cross-functional partnership, business support (providing strategic advisory support and delivering trainings on food law), CSR, and emerging regulatory issues.

Candidates should have a J.D. from an accredited law school, at least one bar admission, 6 to 8 years’ experience with a national law firm and/or in-house legal department, and significant experience in food law, FDA regulation, consumer products regulation, advertising law, or a related practice area. Experience advising consumer packaged goods, food, beverage, dairy, or other regulated industries is strongly preferred.

Salary Range: $165,000 - 190,000

Apply here!

Sargento - Compliance Counsel (Elkhart Lake, WI) (Hybrid)

Sargento, a family-owned company that has been a leader in cheese for more than 70 years, is seeking a compliance counsel to monitor federal, state, and local legislative and regulatory developments affecting food manufacturing, including FDA and USDA rulemaking, Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act developments, Federal Meat Inspection Act requirements, and state and local food safety laws.

Responsibilities include supporting cross-functional implementation of new and amended regulations, drafting and managing regulatory submissions, registrations, and notifications, monitoring regulatory enforcement trends and evaluate outstanding litigation on topics relevant to the company, and assess the likelihood of enforcement in areas affecting the business and its supply chain, and providing legal counsel and support to any area of the company as directed by the General Counsel from time to time.

Candidates should have a J.D. from an ABA accredited law school and a minimum of 5-7 years experience preferably in a corporate legal department or law firm with a focus on corporate regulatory law (including FDA/USDA, EPA, DNR, OSHA, SEC, etc.), compliance/regulatory practice, or corporate compliance, 

Apply here!

FMI, The Food Industry Association - Vice President, Government Relations (Arlington, VA) (hybrid)

FMI  is seeking a Vice President of Government Relations to lead high-impact strategic advocacy initiatives to strengthen member engagement with policymakers. FMI works with and on behalf of the entire industry to advance a safer, healthier and more efficient consumer food supply. The reach and impact of FMI's work is extensive, ultimately touching the lives of over 100 million households in the United States and representing an $800 billion industry with nearly 6 million employees.

Responsibilities include developing strategic lobbying and advocacy plans on legislative and regulatory issues affecting FMI members and the food industry, building relationships with Members of Congress, congressional committees, Executive Branch officials, and agencies, and leading the strategy, fundraising, administration, and compliance activities for FoodPAC and LEAD, including fundraising and development events.

Candidates should have a college degree in government affairs, political science, public policy, or a related field (advanced degree preferred), ten to fifteen years of government affairs experience with significant experience in lobbying, fundraising, and Executive Branch procedures, and experience on Capitol Hill, within Executive Branch agencies, or with trade associations.

Salary Range: $190,000 - $250,000

Apply here!

Vermont Law & Grad School - Food & Ag LL.M. Fellow (South Royalton, VT)

Vermont Law and Graduate School is seeking a food and agriculture LL.M. fellow. In addition to pursuing the LL.M. degree at Vermont Law and Graduate School, the Food and Agriculture LL.M. Fellow will work part-time at the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS). The Fellow will contribute research and develop materials that provide approachable legal and policy information to individuals and entities across the food system, including government officials. The Fellow will maintain an average of 20 hours per week at CAFS throughout the duration of the fellowship. 

Candidates should have  a JD from an ABA-accredited law school, one to three years of relevant legislative, legal, or policy experience, including judicial clerkships (experience or interest in transactional law preferred), admission to (or currently enrolled in) the LL.M. in Food and Agriculture Law program at Vermont Law and Graduate School (application for LL.M. admission can occur concurrently with application for CAFS Fellow position), and admission to Vermont Bar (can be obtained within first year of position).

Salary: $40,000 / year

Apply here!

NASDA - Manager / Assoc. Director / Director, Public Policy (Arlington, VA)

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture is seeking a new team member to join its Public Policy team who is passionate about American agriculture and the policies that affect the agricultural industry. This position serves as NASDA's lead federal policy advocate for food systems and nutrition. This position will have the opportunity to travel across the U.S. for meetings and conferences with the possibility of international travel. 

Responsibilities include leading NASDA's federal policy portfolio for food systems and nutrition, serving as staff lead for the Food Systems and Nutrition Committee, translating member priorities into legislative, regulatory, and appropriations strategies and advocate those positions before Congress and federal agencies, and building trusted relationships with commissioners, secretaries, directors, and staff of state departments of agriculture and facilitate consensus across diverse state interests.

Candidates may be considered at the Manager, Associate Director, or Director level based on the depth, scope, and relevance of their experience.

1. Manager, Public Policy: At least two years of relevant experience, with demonstrated ability to support policy analysis and advocacy, manage defined issues and projects, cultivate stakeholder relationships, and produce clear, accurate written materials with appropriate guidance. The Manager is expected to grow toward greater independence and may assume additional policy or committee leadership based on demonstrated readiness, performance, and organizational needs.
2. Associate Director, Public Policy: At least four years of relevant experience, with demonstrated ability to manage policy issues, relationships, and projects with increasing independence.
3. Director, Public Policy: At least six years of relevant experience, including demonstrated ownership of complex policy strategy, senior level external representation, and independent committee or portfolio leadership.

Salary Range: $65,000 - $100,000

Apply here!

SiX - Director of Policy, Food, Agriculture & Rural Economies (remote)

SiX is seeking a Director of Policy of the Food, Agriculture & Rural Economies (FARE) Program. As the program's policy lead, this person will also help set the program’s direction and lead SiX's rural organizing and advocacy work, partnering with regional leads and outside organizations to advance it in the states. 

Responsibilities include policy strategy and program execution, legislative tracking and analysis, rural organizing and advocacy, building strong relationships with national-/state-based coalition partners, serving as a spokesperson in the media and at conferences, and ensuring that reporting requirements for the program are met on time.

In their day-to-day work, the Director of Policy of FARE should demonstrate a set of core competencies that include equity and inclusion, strategy and implementation, staff management, external partner management and movement building, external communication and brand management, and financial oversight. 

Salary: $110,000 / year 

Apply here: Director of Policy, Food, Agriculture & Rural Economies - Job - Idealist

Policy Analyst, Food Systems and Agriculture, Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator (Nashville, TN, hybrid)

The Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator (VPA) in the Law School at Vanderbilt University is seeking a Food Systems and Agriculture Analyst. Operating within the Food Systems and Agriculture Policy workstream, this policy analyst conducts research and policy writing in the food systems and agriculture policy portfolio, supporting the Director of Food Systems and Agriculture Policy in: i) cultivating, developing, and spreading foundational policy-relevant research; ii) building the proposals and infrastructure for policy impact; and iii) driving public narratives to rapidly advance these topics.

Responsibilities include producing research, white papers, policy briefs, and other policy communications like op-eds on key VPA priorities, factchecking and copyediting white papers and other policy products, and managing / supporting programming and public events related to VPA priorities, including academic conferences and meetings and briefings with academics, public officials, and other stakeholders.

Candidates should have an advanced degree (i.e., master's) in food policy, agriculture, environmental law, public policy, or a related field, five years of experience in food systems regulation, agricultural policy, rural economic development, or related areas, with familiarity with federal and state agriculture programs, USDA policy, and/or food supply chain governance is preferred.

Apply here!