Company description

NYFC represents, mobilizes, and engages young farmers to ensure their success. We envision a country where young people who are willing to work, get trained and take a little risk can support themselves and their families in farming. In order to achieve this vision, we are building a coalition of farmers, ranchers, and supportive consumers of all racial, ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds.

Job description

The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) seeks a full-time, Sacramento-based California Policy Associate to develop and implement strategic grassroots initiatives in California. The key responsibilities of this role will be to oversee state policy campaign research, development, and implementation; represent NYFC among partners, coalitions, and the California Legislature and agencies; and train NYFC members in advocacy tools. This position reports to the Western Program Director.

Responsibilities will include:

• Support the strategic development and implementation of NYFC grassroots state policy campaigns in California in close partnership with the California Organizer and NYFC policy team;
• Conduct in-depth policy research and create and update policy whitepapers;
• Develop and update NYFC’s California state campaign plan based on the CA Young Farmer Platform, NYFC farmer-members and chapter engagement;
• Lead NYFC members in advocacy, including facilitating farmer policy and advocacy trainings, advocacy days, and in-district meetings with farmers and elected officials;
• Elevate policy objectives through outreach activities, such as regular communications with members and partners, and writing press releases and op-eds;
• Track, attend, and testify before key committees;
• Work closely with the California Organizer to cultivate farmers to take action with NYFC;
• Represent NYFC on key coalitions, councils, and committees, and invest in long-term partnership and coalition development with advocacy groups, services providers, government staff, and more;
• Pursue modifications to existing legislation, propose new legislation, and recommend changes to program administration to achieve policy objectives;
• Partner closely with members of the NYFC policy team to identify opportunities to bring supportive policy to other states and federal policy reform.

Qualifications:
The candidate must:

• Strongly identify with NYFC’s Mission, Vision and Guiding Principles;
• Have demonstrated commitment to equity and experience working with diverse communities;
• Have experience with federal and/or state policy analysis;
• Have at least two years experience crafting and implementing legislative campaigns;
• Be bold and willing to meet new people and make introductions to farmers, elected officials, business owners and funders;
• Be highly organized with a strong attention to detail;
• Be an excellent and creative communicator with diverse audiences, both in writing and in front of groups;
• Be invested in grassroots, farmer-driven policy change;
• Take initiative to identify and carry out the work that needs to be done to a high standard of excellence;
• Be self-directed and able to work independently while also being a strong team player;
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment;
• Be based in Sacramento.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, varies DOE, $50,000.00 - $55,000.00

Application instructions

Deadline

November 16, 2018