Policy Director

Policy Director

Center for Food Safety, Washington, D.C. Office

The Center for Food Safety (CFS) is a non-profit, membership organization established to address the impacts of our food production systems on human health, the environment and animal welfare. CFS is a leading advocate working to ensure consumer and environmental protection on a variety of issues, including food safety standards, genetic engineering, climate change, irradiation, aquaculture, mad cow disease, use of production hormones and organic food standards.

Position Overview: The Policy Director will guide all CFS's policy initiatives in all its programmatic areas including, but not limited to, organic agriculture, genetically engineered foods, food irradiation, sewage sludge, food safety, and climate change. This work will include legislative and regulatory advocacy and education in the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, and regulatory agencies. The Policy Director will develop and advocate for innovative legislation and regulations and have the opportunity to directly influence and affect national and state policymaking.

Responsibilities:

* Develop and Manage Policymaker Education Activities - Work with CFS senior management team to develop organizational strategy for policy and legislative campaigns. This will include establishing new contacts and maintaining CFS's relationships with Congressional staff and other legislative and regulatory offices, and undertaking all other actions necessary to represent CFS professionally and ethically in ongoing policymaker education matters.

* Take Actions Before Congress - Identify opportunities for CFS to advance its policy goals in all legislative and regulatory settings including the introduction of legislation and/or support of pending legislation. The Policy Director will work with CFS staff in drafting legislation and identifying sponsoring policymakers and allied organizations to advance our goals. This will include meeting with Congressional offices on an ongoing basis, attending and participating in meetings and hearings, and attending other events concerning legislative actions relevant to CFS's areas of practice. Other actions include: working with CFS legal, media and outreach staff to coordinate and engage the public in support of CFS policy efforts through activities such as action alerts, public speaking, grassroots campaign development and litigation priority setting.

* Monitor and Influence Regulations Implementation and Regulatory Agencies - The Policy Director will work with CFS legal staff to prepare comments in regulatory rulemaking and policy implementation. This will include identifying relevant policies or proposed actions in the Federal Register and organizing subsequent comments, campaigns and organizational action. The Policy Director will be expected to work with CFS legal, policy and outreach staff to coordinate efforts, and will also be expected to work with supporting organizations to provide comments and feedback on regulations.

* Manage Policy Staff - The Policy Director will manage all CFS policy initiatives, and staff involved in these activities.

* Build Coalitions - Maintain and promote cordial and mutually beneficial relationships with individuals and organizations that are allied, in coalition with, or may work in concert with CFS to achieve its policy goals. This includes attending briefings, strategy meetings, conferences and speaking engagements. It also includes providing technical assistance to state and local organizations working with CFS to achieve mutually shared goals.

Qualifications Include: All candidates should possess an excellent academic background, a strong commitment to CFS's mission, and at least 5 years policy or legislative experience. M.S. in policy or JD preferred but not required. Qualified candidates will be devoted to public education and advocacy for food issues and have a significant understanding of CFS's issues.

Salary commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits and work environment.

To Apply: Please e-mail letter of interest, resume, and references to Lorin Kleinman, lkleinman@icta.org. No phone calls please.

CFS is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.