Senior Government Affairs Manager

BIODEGRADABLE PRODUCTS INSTITUTE (BPI)

Job Title: Senior Government Affairs Manager
Position Type: Full Time, Salaried
Location: Remote (home office), must have reliable internet access. Must be located in the United States with preference for candidates near major airports. Up to 50% travel for policy meetings, hearings, conferences, and events.
Reports To: Executive Director

Vision:

A World Without Organic Waste

Mission:

We champion a transition to the circular bioeconomy by advancing policy, standards, research, and the systematic science-based verification of compostability and biodegradability. BPI is the leading organization for compostable products in North America, working to reduce food waste and associated food packaging in landfills by ensuring composters can trust compostability claims. As a member-based nonprofit, BPI promotes a shift towards the circular bioeconomy through its certification, education, and policy programs. Today over 700 companies have BPI certified compostable materials, with more than 40,000 items listed in BPI’s online public catalog.

Position Overview:

BPI is a dynamic place to work, with a fully remote staff that is highly collaborative and engaged on environmental topics. The Government Affairs Manager will work closely with the Senior Policy Manager to collectively be responsible for implementing BPI’s public policy strategy and serving as the primary liaisons between BPI, policymakers, and members on legislative and regulatory matters. This role is designed with intentional overlap to build redundancy and resilience across the team, which is especially important during this particularly dynamic time for the compostables industry.

This government affairs team has responsibilities grouped into six core functional areas: Legislative & Regulatory Monitoring, Member Engagement & Input, Public Comment Development, Advocacy Campaigns & Policymaker Engagement, Policy Position Management, Responsiveness & Member Support.

BPI values diversity in background and experience, continuously building a welcoming and inclusive work culture. BPI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate.

Core Responsibilities:

1. Legislative & Regulatory Monitoring

• Track and analyze federal, state, and local legislation and rulemaking that impacts compostable products, labeling, PFAS, EPR, organics recycling infrastructure, and related areas.
• Maintain real-time tracking system for relevant bills, regulations, and policy trends.
• Provide weekly or twice-weekly policy digests to internal stakeholders and members.

2. Member Engagement and Input

• Facilitate regular communication with BPI members to gather input on legislative and regulatory issues, and make internal recommendations on how BPI can best leverage their expertise.
• Lead structured policy feedback processes (e.g., surveys, policy calls, member roundtables).
• Ensure member perspectives are integrated into BPI’s policy responses and strategies.

3. Public Comment Development

• Draft public comments, letters, and testimony in response to proposed legislation and regulatory actions.
• Coordinate with internal staff and legal advisors to ensure technical accuracy and alignment with BPI’s certification program and mission.
• Manage the member review process for public comments to reflect shared positions.

4. Advocacy Campaigns and Policymaker Engagement

• Represent BPI in direct outreach to policymakers, legislative staff, and regulatory agencies.
• Coordinate advocacy campaigns in support of (or opposition to) key legislation, including member mobilization and coalition engagement.
• Organize member Hill Days, sign-on letters, and other direct lobbying deliverables.
• Prepare talking points and support development of factsheets and briefing materials for meetings with legislators and regulators in coordination with the Marketing team.

5. Policy Position Management

• Manage processes for maintaining and updating BPI’s policy position library, including identifying needs for new official stances, informing the composition of broader policy principles, and developing background documents and priority issue briefs for advocacy efforts in coordination with the Senior Policy Manager.

6. Responsiveness and Member Support

• Serve as a primary point of contact for member policy questions and requests.
• Provide timely responses to member inquiries related to specific legislation, regulatory actions, or advocacy strategy.
• Support member participation in hearings, comment submissions, and grassroots advocacy.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in government affairs, legislative tracking, or regulatory policy (ideally in environmental policy, waste, packaging, or sustainability sectors).
• Strong understanding of legislative and regulatory processes at the state and federal levels. International experience a plus.
• Excellent writing, research, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects independently in a fast-moving policy environment.

Preferred, not required

• Familiarity with composting, compostable materials, labeling standards, and circular economy principles.
• Experience working with industry associations, environmental or consumer nonprofits, or coalitions.

Compensation:

$90,000 – $110,000 pay scale for the position plus bonus potential; starting salary commensurate with experience and level of training required.

Benefits:

401k with up to 5% employer match, paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick leave, volunteer days, birthday), health/dental/vision insurance, reimbursement for phone and internet expenses, and monthly health/wellness and composting stipends.

To Apply:

Send a resume and cover letter by October 17, 2025 to [email protected] outlining your policy experience and interest in compostable products and sustainable materials. Writing samples (e.g., public comments, policy memos) are encouraged and may be requested during the interview process. Please indicate how you found the job posting (BPI’s Website, LinkedIn, etc.) in the subject of your application email.

Disclaimers:

1. Tools like ChatGPT, Bard, and other AI-based assistance programs are powerful and valuable tools. We believe there is a place for them in helping you generate ideas, but your ultimate submission should be your own. As with all other sources, you should not copy and paste content you did not create directly into your application. Instead, if you choose to utilize AI-based assistance, we encourage you to take the same approach you would when collaborating with people. Use it to brainstorm, edit, and refine your ideas.
2. Per Colorado employment law, you may redact information on your application materials that identify your age, birth date, or dates of schooling if desired.