Manager/Associate Director/Director, Public Policy

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO for vacation, sick leave, and volu

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development

401k - 100% match up to 4%

Job summary

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) is seeking a lead federal policy advocate for food systems and nutrition. You will translate member priorities into legislative, regulatory, and funding strategies, lead the Food Systems and Nutrition Committee, and build relationships across state departments of agriculture.

You will monitor federal actions, prepare policy materials, and collaborate with NASDA teams to advance priorities. A hybrid schedule with travel is expected.

Qualifications

• Experience with federal agricultural policy and Congress or federal agencies (USDA/FDA).
• Ability to track and analyze legislation, regulations, funding proposals, and emerging issues.
• Translate complex issues into concise briefs, testimony, letters, talking points, and presentations.
• Build credibility with NASDA members, congressional and government officials, partners, and coalitions.
• Manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and deliverables with accuracy and accountability.
• Collaborate across teams and represent NASDA with sound judgment and nonpartisanship.

Responsibilities

• Lead NASDA’s federal policy portfolio for food systems and nutrition, focusing on funding/implementation of state-led programs.
• Serve as staff lead for the Food Systems and Nutrition Committee; prepare agendas and policy materials.
• Translate member priorities into legislative, regulatory, and appropriations strategies and advocate before Congress and agencies.
• Monitor federal legislation, regulations, funding opportunities, and emerging issues; provide guidance to members and leadership.
• Build relationships with state agriculture officials; facilitate consensus across state interests.
• Develop partnerships with stakeholders to advance NASDA priorities.
• Draft high-quality policy briefs, testimony, letters, talking points, and presentations.
• Manage projects, timelines, deliverables, and reporting with sound judgment.
• Demonstrate readiness for increasing responsibility and broader committee leadership.
• Collaborate across NASDA’s policy, communications, trade, and partnerships teams; travel as required.

Skills

Congressional policy

Policy analysis

Advocacy

Relationship building

Project management

Collaboration & integrity

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

ABOUT NASDA

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. The role converts member priorities into coordinated legislative, regulatory, and funding strategies; leads the Food Systems and Nutrition Committee; and builds the relationships needed to elevate the voice of state departments of agriculture food systems and nutrition policy. Depending on qualifications, experience, and capacity demonstrated, the portfolio may expand to include leadership of the Marketing and International Trade Committee and associated policy issues, providing a defined opportunity to take on broader responsibility over time.

This position will have the opportunity to travel across the U.S. for meetings and conferences with the possibility of international travel.

Members of the Public Policy team earn a competitive salary and enjoy an excellent work culture at an organization with exceptional perks, including a flexible schedule and an incredible mission.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Lead the development, implementation, and communication of NASDA's federal policy portfolio for food systems and nutrition, with primary emphasis on funding and implementation of state led farm-to-table programs; additional priorities may include food safety (e.g., FSMA and food safety inspection), in close coordination with and support of NASDA's Food Safety team, as well as food labeling, nutrition, food waste, food access and security, and food supply chain issues.
• Serve as staff lead for the Food Systems and Nutrition Committee, coordinating priorities with the committee's Chair and Vice‑Chair, preparing meeting agendas, policy materials, recommendations, and follow‑up actions.
• Translate member priorities into legislative, regulatory, and appropriations strategies and advocate those positions before Congress and federal agencies.
• Monitor and analyze federal legislation, regulations, funding opportunities, and emerging issues; provide timely, concise, decision‑ready guidance to NASDA members and leadership.
• Build trusted relationships with commissioners, secretaries, directors, and staff of state departments of agriculture and facilitate consensus across diverse state interests.
• Develop and sustain partnerships and coalitions with agricultural, food systems and nutrition stakeholders to advance NASDA priorities and elevate the roles of state departments of agriculture in those spaces.
• Draft high-quality policy briefs, testimony, comment letters, talking points, presentations, and member communications.
• Manage projects, timelines, deliverables, and reporting with sound and strategic judgment.
• Demonstrate readiness for increasing responsibility by building subject matter knowledge, independently managing assigned issues, and developing the judgment and stakeholder relationships needed to assume additional committee and policy leadership.
• Collaborate across NASDA's policy, communications, trade, partnerships, and other key teams and represent NASDA at meetings and events, including travel as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

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.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Congressional and federal policy expertise: Relevant federal agricultural policy experience with Congress or federal agencies (primarily USDA and FDA), including legislative, appropriations, or regulatory policy, as well as an understanding of the roles of Congress, federal agencies, and state departments of agriculture. Relevant government affairs work in these areas is also acceptable.
• Policy analysis and strategic judgment: Ability to track and analyze legislation, regulations, program guidance, funding proposals, and emerging issues; identify implications for states; and recommend and execute practical courses of action.
• Advocacy and communication: Demonstrated ability to translate complex issues into concise, audience‑appropriate briefs, testimony, letters, talking points, presentations, and oral advocacy.
• Relationship building and diplomacy: Ability to establish credibility with NASDA members, congressional and government officials, partners, and coalitions; navigate differing state perspectives; and build consensus without relying on formal authority.
• Project management: Experience managing multiple priorities, deadlines, deliverables, or related responsibilities with accuracy, accountability, and follow‑through.
• Collaboration, adaptability, and integrity: Ability to work effectively across teams, respond productively to changing priorities, learn new issues quickly, and represent NASDA with sound judgment, discretion, and nonpartisanship.
• Education: A bachelor's degree is required. Desired area of study in agricultural policy, food policy, political science, public policy, economics, law, or related agriculture, food, or nutrition field. An advanced degree may substitute for a portion of relevant experience where appropriate.

WORK SCHEDULE

This is a full‑time (40hrs/week), exempt position at the NASDA headquarters at 4350 N Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA. We offer a hybrid work schedule, with three days in the office and two days working from home. Working hours are generally Monday - Friday, 9 am - 5 pm local time.

Benefits

• PTO for vacation, sick leave, and volunteer hours
• Tuition reimbursement
• Professional development
• 401k - 100% match up to 4%

SALARY

The hiring range is $65,000 - $100,000 annually based on experience.

NASDA does not discriminate in employment practices or programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

You will have to pass a background check