Hiring: Policy Director – Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA)

Make a meaningful impact on organic, food and environmental policy! We’re seeking someone with experience in organic farming to join our team for this 15 hour/week, work from home position. Consider applying or forward it to a friend or colleague.

Read job description below or here: https://www.nofamass.org/content/2017-nofamass-policy-director

Application Deadline: Sunday, December 3, 2017

Through education and advocacy NOFA/Mass promotes organic agriculture to expand the production and availability of nutritious food from living soil for the health of individuals, communities and the planet.  The NOFA/Mass Policy Director has overall responsibility for organizational advocacy.

Major Responsibilities Include:

Internal Communication:

• Be a resource for NOFA/Mass board and staff with questions about relevant new movements and campaigns, legislation, regulations, technologies, coalitions, news articles, etc.
• Regular communication with other NOFA state chapters through bi-monthly policy calls and emails
• Maintain lobbyist registration and stay up to date on lobby disclosure requirements

External Communication:

• Write a regular column in the NOFA/Mass newsletter to keep members up to date on important issues.
• Speak to press, other organizations, public officials, general public, etc. about NOFA/Mass positions and activities related to political and social issues
• Share ideas, resources, contacts, energy with the other NOFA chapters, MOFGA, and similar organic farming-based groups around the country. Work to magnify our impact by inspiring similar organizations to work with us
• Maintain policy portion of the NOFA/Mass website; contribute to social media when appropriate
• Act as the primary contact for NOFA/Mass with organizations involved in related advocacy work such as the National Coalition for Sustainable Agriculture and the National Organic Coalition

Issue Development:

• In consultation with the Executive Director, policy committee, board, and staff, develop policy positions on issues relevant to our members and Massachusetts organic farmers and gardeners
• In consultation with committee, develop an action strategy for using the limited NOFA/Mass resources (organizational credibility, committed membership, special relationship to the issue, etc.) to achieve progress on selected issues
• Direct the use of those resources in the fulfillment of that strategy

Current and past policy campaigns have included:

• Fighting to regulate and label GMO seeds and ingredients in food
• Lobbying for policies that encourage soil carbon restoration
• Lobbying for legislation to enhance food sovereignty, including raw milk
• Encouraging local ordinances and zoning codes that allow for local food production
• Joining with groups around the country to stop the National Animal Identification System from requiring every livestock animal or bird be tagged and recorded in a national database.

Qualifications include:

• Applicant should have at least 5 years of experience in organic farming
• Strong research skills, including the capacity to analyze issues and develop appropriate organizational responses to them
• Strong communication skills, both in speaking and in writing
• Experience in developing communication materials such as website, pamphlets, and policy papers
• Ability to work collegially as a team member as well as independently from home, with minimal supervision
• Basic office management and computer software skills

Position Details:

• 15 hours per week with generally flexible schedule
• Starting pay: $14-$19 per hour, dependent on experience
• Employee must maintain a current NOFA/Mass membership
• Employee must attend NOFA/Mass board meetings, retreats and staff meetings, the winter and summer conferences, and education department conference calls
• Employee must provide appropriate basic office equipment to facilitate working from home
• Employee must submit weekly staff reports to the Executive Director, participate in peer reviews of other centrallyhired NOFA/Mass staff, maintain monthly timesheets, and craft an annual work plan
• We are not able to offer health insurance at this time

Application procedure:

By Sunday, December 3 send resume, cover letter, and three references to Julie Rawson, Executive Director, julie@nofamass.org. If you have questions, email julie@nofamass.org or call (978) 355-2853.

NOFA/Mass is an equal opportunity employer who does not discriminate in employment and contracting practices based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability.