NOFA-Mass Policy Director, APPLY BY SUN. DEC 3

Hiring Policy Director for Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA), MA Chapter

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.

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.