Director / Vice President of Policy and Programs Position De…

• Lead the development and implementation of innovative new programs;
• With the President and Vice President, External Affairs maintain relationships with critical funders, partners and stakeholders;
• Lead the Foundation team to deliver first-class Round Table Membership Events;
• Ensure ongoing programmatic excellence;
• Attract, manage, and retain high-performing contractors for project specific responsibilities.
• Provide expertise on ongoing public policy discussions as they relate to Foundation program opportunities;
• As a member of the senior leadership team, contribute to consistent and progressive steps toward organizational and programmatic consistency and high-quality project management;
• Effectively communicate project work plans, priorities, accountabilities, objectives, and associated budgets to Foundation volunteer project leaders and partners;
• Enhance organizational excellence by establishing operational benchmarks, timelines, and resources needed to achieve program goals, proactively recommending and driving improvements as necessary;
• Oversee program evaluation activities including data collection and measurement; set standards for accountability and measurements of success for the Foundation and its partners;
• Communicate and prepare all summary reports and evaluation updates for the President, board of directors, and staff.
• Engage and communicate proactively with a wide range of internal stakeholders.

• With the senior staff, enhance and implement organizational vision/strategy;
• Communicate strategic goals to potential project partners;
• Promote Farm Foundation in the agricultural community;
• With the VP, External Affairs, establish and promote relationships with universities, government, industry groups, interest groups and other non-profit organizations;
• Serve as a spokesperson for Farm Foundation with a wide variety of audiences.

• Identify and assess emerging policy issues affecting the food and agricultural sector including

but not limited to trade, regulation, technology, farm bill, legal, immigration and labor;

• With the Director of Communications, develop dissemination system to share Foundation

learning with a broad range of communities;

• Ensure that key project outcomes and/or policy options and consequences are evaluated and leveraged for maximum impact.

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in government, political science or related field;
• Experience developing and delivering partnerships and programs;
• Experience writing and managing grants;
• Experience presenting in diverse public settings;
• Experience supervising others directly or indirectly;
• Fluency in English, written, spoken and graphically.
• Broad knowledge of public policy issues related to food, agriculture and rural communities.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of stakeholders and manage dialogue among

competing interests on complex and controversial issues.

• Experience in setting and achieving strategic objectives.
• Experience in management of complex programs.
• Experience in budgeting, business planning, and financial management.
• Experience in representing an organization, company or institution in a successful, public facing manner.
• Work from either our DC or Chicago office. Travel estimated at 15%.

• Masters/terminal degree in law, public policy or related field;
• Experience and relationships in Washington, DC and the national agricultural community;
• Broad international knowledge and understanding as it relates to our body of work.