Senior Manager: Food Systems

AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

Remote work opportunity

Travel opportunities

Job summary

American Farmland Trust is seeking a Senior Manager to lead efforts to strengthen local and regional food economies, focusing on federal policy, procurement, technical assistance, and infrastructure. The role collaborates with national and state policy teams to support bipartisan policy that grows local food markets.

The position is based at AFT headquarters in DC or remote with regular travel to Washington, DC.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 7+ years in food and agriculture policy, government relations, or coalition management.
• Experience building bipartisan coalitions across diverse organizations.
• Knowledge of federal legislative & regulatory processes; policy/government relations exposure.
• Strong communications, media relations, storytelling and message development.
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams in a fast-paced organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead coalition leadership and stakeholder engagement across broad partnerships.
• Monitor federal policy landscape and inform strategy with updates.
• Support outreach with congressional offices and federal agencies.
• Develop state-by-state impact data and educational materials for policymakers.
• Oversee workplan, budget, timelines; report progress to leadership.

Skills

Policy experience

Coalition management

Communication skills

Project management

Public policy advocacy

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Details

Level: Senior, Job Location: AFT Headquarters - WASHINGTON, DC 20006, Position Type: Full Time, Salary Range: $125,000.00 - $140,000.00 Salary/year, Job Purpose

Position Summary

The Senior Manager leads AFT’s work to strengthen efforts aimed at building local and regional food economies, with a focus on federal policy, procurement, technical assistance, and infrastructure needs. This role supports bipartisan coalition building, policy education, applied research, and strategic communications, partnering closely with AFT’s national and state policy teams in support of a durable, bipartisan policy environment that helps grow local and regional food markets.

Duties and Responsibilities

Coalition Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Work with national agriculture and food organizations to build alignment around shared priorities that support local and regional food economies.


• Build a broad, bipartisan coalition of organizations interested in local and regional food economies, including farm to school and nutrition organizations, farmer and commodity groups, chefs, and other food and agriculture stakeholders.


• Build and maintain relationships with a wide network of partners to broaden support for shared goals.


• Facilitate regular convenings to support consensus-building around a shared local food systems agenda and priorities.


• Provide direct support to food system stakeholders, including developing key messages and filling data and impact gaps in priority geographies.

Policy Support & Government Relations

• Monitor the federal legislative and regulatory landscape affecting local and regional food policy and relevant federal programs, sharing updates with AFT’s policy team to help inform strategy.


• Partner with AFT’s policy team to identify and help organize site visits for policymakers and staff.


• Support AFT’s policy team’s outreach and engagement with congressional offices and federal agencies, aligning coalition activity with key legislative moments.


• Serve as a resource for state/regional staff on local and regional food policy matters.

Research, Data & Impact Analysis

• Lead a comprehensive inventory and geographic mapping of impact data — including dollars invested, farmers served, and jobs created — across relevant federal programs, identifying data gaps and priority geographies.


• Develop state-by-state impact data and educational materials, including key messages, for policymakers and coalition members on the importance of local procurement for farmers, communities, and regional economies.

Communications & Storytelling

• Manage communications consultants and support a comprehensive communications plan focused on demonstrating the value of federal investment in local and regional food markets to farmers and families, rural communities, and local economies.


• Manage a robust story bank and build validators in priority geographies.

Project Management & Organizational Collaboration

• Manage the overall workplan, budget, and timeline for the initiative, adapting activities based on stakeholder feedback, funder expectations, and the evolving legislative landscape.


• Track progress against key milestones (3-, 6-, and 12-month) and report on outcomes to organizational leadership and funders.


• Collaborate closely with AFT’s policy, research, development, and communications teams to ensure alignment and consistency of message.


• Supervise and mentor project support staff, as assigned.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in food and agriculture policy, ideally including familiarity with federal food and agriculture programs.


• Proven track record building and managing bipartisan coalitions or multi-stakeholder partnerships across a diverse range of organizations.


• Working knowledge of the federal legislative and regulatory process; experience partnering with a policy or government relations team preferred.


• Strong communications and media relations skills, including experience with earned media, storytelling, and message development.


• Ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced, dynamic organization.


• A collaborative, entrepreneurial “team player” with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build consensus among partners with varied perspectives.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience in food and agriculture policy, government relations, coalition management, or a related field.

Working Conditions/Travel

• Based at AFT headquarters in DC or remote with regular travel to Washington DC.


• Occasional travel of up to 10% may be required, including for stakeholder convenings, site visits, and conferences.

Compensation

American Farmland Trust offers excellent vacation, medical, retirement and other benefits. The salary range for this position is from $125,000 to $140,000 based upon experience.

American Farmland Trust offers a full benefits package for full-time employees:

• Insurance coverage begins the 1st of the month following the date of hire.


• Medical & Prescription Coverage


• Dental Coverage


• Vision Coverage


• Company Paid Life Insurance & Long-Term Disability (LTD)


• Voluntary Life Insurance


• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) – Healthcare & Dependent Care


• Health Savings Account (HSA)


• 401k Plan


• Sick Leave: Regular full-time employees accrue 13 “sick days” per year.


• Vacation Leave: Accrue 15 days during the first year increasing by one day per year to 20 days per year maximum.


• Holidays: AFT observes twelve fixed holidays and a week between Christmas and New Years off during the year (all offices closed) plus a choice of up to three (depending on hiring month) floating holidays.

Why you should apply

• Be a part of a purpose-driven, committed, knowledgeable, high-performing, experienced and fun team


• A diverse and inclusive work environment


• A cause and mission you can be proud of


• Competitive compensation & benefits


• Remote work opportunity

Timeline

To be considered applicants must submit a resume, answer all screener questions and include a cover letter explaining what they are a right fit for both AFT and this role. Applications received by October 16th will receive priority consideration. Applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis thereafter.