The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is seeking a Climate Policy Coordinator to coordinate our Coalition’s climate change policy work. Passionate about addressing the climate crisis? Love working in a collaborative context? This role will build on your skills and experience in sustainable agriculture and climate change policy, scientific and policy research, direct advocacy, and grassroots engagement. The Climate Policy Coordinator will engage in all elements of the Coalition’s climate change policy work in close collaboration with NSAC policy and grassroots staff and coalition members. In addition, the Climate Policy Coordinator will work with other members of the policy team on shared campaigns and help to further our racial equity efforts, including through engagement with NSAC’s Diversity Committee.

This is a full-time, exempt position that offers benefits as outlined in the NSAC personnel handbook and reports to NSAC’s Policy Director. All staff are currently remote due to the COVID-19 pandemic; we strongly prefer that candidates be able to work regularly from our Capitol Hill office at 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 209, Washington, DC when public health and safety guidelines allow for office reopening.

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 pursuing their trade, 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 a commitment to actions challenging those inequities – is a core NSAC tenet we seek to embed in our structure, analysis, policy development, and advocacy.

Position Responsibilities:

NSAC’s climate change work is carried out by a collaborative cohort of policy and grassroots staff and involves a wide array of organizational Coalition members in addition to external movement allies. The Coordinator will establish and maintain key channels internally and externally to coordinate on strategy, information-sharing, and campaign actions.

Policy and Campaign Coordination – 60%

• Act as primary staff to coordinate NSAC’s member-led Climate Change Subcommittee, supporting the Subcommittee’s work to develop and advance administrative, regulatory and legislative priorities.
• Lead cross-portfolio coordination and logistics efforts with conservation and research issue committee policy staff on climate change and agriculture-related policy development, advocacy, and membership engagement. No project is too big or small to tackle.
• Collaborate with NSAC grassroots staff, Coalition members, and external organizational partners to generate campaign strategy, materials, and actions and to build external partner relationships.
• 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.

Policy Advocacy, Analysis, Communications – 30%

• Advocate on Capitol Hill and with executive branch agencies (USDA, EPA, etc.) on a regular basis, including developing and executing an ongoing strategy on climate change policy issues and programs.
• Assemble and support the drafting of policy materials, including policy papers, testimony, legislation, rulemaking comment letters, and program analysis reports.
• Represent NSAC at relevant agency and coalition meetings, as well as Congressional hearings and briefings focused on climate change policy.
• Track and analyze federal legislation related to climate change.
• Write climate-related policy blog posts and storybank farmer experiences with climate change.

Cross-Organization Support – 10%

• Contribute to the organization’s annual priority setting, fundraising, and coalition meetings.
• Attend and present at farmer conferences, webinars, and roundtables as needed.
• Support NSAC interns and fellows on portfolio-relevant projects.

Salary and Benefits

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

This 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 applications must be submitted through this portal. Communications are treated confidentially. Resume review begins immediately. No phone calls, please.

Candidates interested in this position must submit a resume, answer 3 prompt questions, and provide the names and contact information for at least 2, and up to 3, references. Prompt questions are in lieu of a cover letter.

Deadline for applications is: May 16, 2021

Job requirements

Qualifications

This role is suitable for professionals with several years of relevant experience in policy advocacy and campaign contexts, with the opportunity for growth and development based on experience, and we encourage interested candidates to apply if they meet 75%+ of the qualifications.

• An understanding of and passion for sustainable agriculture and climate change solutions, and a strong grasp of federal policies and programs impact climate change and the working lands conservation programs and related issues, including but not limited to key Farm Bill programs.
• Significant knowledge of the federal policy-making process.
• Demonstrated understanding of how racial equity intersects with agriculture and food systems and an ability to apply an equity 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.
• Enthusiasm for and experience in cultivating lasting relationships and accountable partnerships with a diverse body of stakeholders and decision makers.
• 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.
• Self-motivated, organized, and able to stay on task when managing multiple projects.
• Willing to travel domestically several times a year (no travel required while operating under COVID-19 safety precautions).

Additional Experience

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 multi-organization grassroots coalitions, facilitation, and consensus building.
• Excellent research skills with strong attention to detail.
• Bilingual fluency in a language other than English.

To learn more and apply, click here!