Description:
- NSAC advocates on a wide range of federal farm and food policy issues, including conservation, food systems, farm programs, research, and food safety.
- Each Policy Specialist focuses on a variety of those issues and interacts with coalition members through issue-specific policy committees.
- The open position focuses on agricultural conservation and environmental issues, with a specific focus on working lands conservation programs, climate change, renewable
- energy, and farmland protection programs.
- In addition, each policy specialist also supports the rest of the policy team and helps to further our racial equity efforts through engagement with NSAC’s Diversity Committee.
- Act as the lead staff to NSAC’s Conservation, Energy, and Environment (CEE) Issue Committee, helping the Committee develop and advance administrative, regulatory and legislative priorities; and interface with NSAC grassroots staff and Coalition members on campaign strategy and actions.
- Advocate with executive branch agencies (USDA, EPA, etc.) and on Capitol Hill on a regular basis.
- 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 and through its external campaigns and policy goals.
- Represent NSAC at partner meetings, coalitions, conferences, and to the media in DC and nationwide.
- An understanding of and passion for sustainable agriculture and food systems.
- Four or more years of legal, regulatory, agency, legislative, or lobbying experience, or other significant agricultural policy experience.
- Strong grasp of federal working lands conservation programs and related issues.
- A strong working knowledge of the federal policy-making process.
- Experience working with global majority communities, and an understanding of how racial inequality impacts American agriculture and politics.
- Excellent written and verbal communications and public speaking skills, including ability to translate complex federal regulations and policies into farmer-friendly materials and talks.
- Commitment to working collaboratively with a wide, diverse range of partners and colleagues.
- Willingness to travel domestically several times a year.