Senior Policy Advocate, School Food Policy

Who We Are

Friends of the Earth is a national not-for-profit environmental organization driven by a passion for a healthier and more just world. We push for the bold reforms that are needed. It’s an approach that has worked for five decades to produce important victories that help protect our planet and its people. We’re part of Friends of the Earth International, a federation of groups working in more than 70 countries on today’s most urgent environmental and social issues.

To accomplish our mission, Friends of the Earth’s Food and Agriculture program is working to rapidly transition our food system to one that is sustainable, healthy, and just. We achieve success through a systems-based approach that weaves together market change and policy advocacy supported by intersectional organizing, cutting-edge science, and strategic communications.

What We Are Looking For

Are you passionate about ensuring students have access to healthy, climate-friendly meals at school? Are you skilled at designing and implementing strategic, cutting-edge policy advocacy campaigns? Can you work effectively in coalition and uplift the voices and perspectives of students, foodservice professionals, and other stakeholders impacted by child nutrition programs? Do you have a knack for cultivating strong relationships with Capitol Hill and relevant federal agency officials?

If so, this is the position for you. We want you to succeed and we pay a competitive wage that is in line with your experience. The salary range for this full-time remote role (Washington, DC area) is $83,000-$87,500. This position is part of the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU) at Friends of the Earth. Offers are determined based on the relevant skills and experience required for the position.

Who You Are

Transformational and Authentic Leader

Set the strategic direction and focus of the campaign to advance policies to better facilitate values-aligned, plant-forward menus and expand healthy, plant-based, and organic options in K-12 schools. Support efforts to expand our climate-friendly school food program into new states. Supervise and manage interns and consultants as needed.

Relationship Builder

Cultivate strong and enduring relationships with Capitol Hill offices, relevant agency officials, and state lawmakers, lobbying them in support of legislative and regulatory priorities. Manage and grow our coalition of school food stakeholders, helping to propel a grassroots movement for climate-friendly school food inclusive of youth, parents, school foodservice professionals, and farm-to-school advocates.

Results Oriented

Design and implement strategic campaign plans in conjunction with the Climate-Friendly Food team. Track, monitor, analyze, and report on legislation and regulations pertaining to priority issues. Develop and demonstrate expertise on K-12 school meal policies. Conduct research and develop reports, op-eds, briefs, factsheets, web content, and other campaign materials to educate allies, opinion leaders, policymakers, the press, and the public. Organize events and meetings such as webinars, policy briefings, and fly-ins.

Collaborative Communicator

Work with our communications department to advance campaign objectives via traditional and social media, including developing relationships with reporters, press monitoring, and drafting press releases and social media content. Represent Friends of the Earth in media interviews, conferences, public events, and lobby meetings to support campaign objectives and reach key audiences. Work with the Food and Agriculture team and the Development department to support fundraising, including contributing to foundation proposals and membership materials and cultivating relationships with donors and foundations.

Required Qualifications

• 6-8 years of experience in research, campaigning, or policy advocacy (not necessarily environmental or school food).
• Bachelor’s degree (in any field) or equivalent work experience.
• Expert knowledge around child nutrition programs, industrial animal agriculture and sustainable food systems, and/or the intersection between food and climate.
• Knowledge and understanding of legislative and executive branch processes and a strategic approach to both policy and politics.
• A demonstrated commitment to the environment and social and racial justice.
• Strong oral and written communication skills and comfort with presenting material to a wide range of audiences, including the public, the press, businesses, and government officials. The ability to produce clear, concise, persuasive, and powerful writing, sometimes on tight deadlines.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a fast-moving and results-oriented team, with a diverse group of coalition partners, and in a changing environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to balance and successfully complete a wide range of activities in a self-directed manner including advocacy, research, communications, and policy development.
• Ability to travel locally (20% of the time), as well as regionally and nationally (less than 15% of the time).
• A strategic mindset that grasps opportunities in both short-term and long-term contexts and a desire to have an impact.
• All candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. Friends of the Earth does not sponsor any employment-related visas.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least two years of experience on Capitol Hill.
• At least one year of management experience, including consultants and interns.
• Experience conducting policy research and quantitative analysis.
• Experience or familiarity with the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, USDA’s commodity food purchasing programs, Child Nutrition Reauthorization, and child nutrition meal patterns.
• Fundraising experience includes writing and securing foundation grants.
• Relationships with Capitol Hill offices and officials at the White House or U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Perks & Benefits

We are a generous employer with benefits that will take care of you. In addition to a competitive salary, we provide:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage (80% for eligible dependents)
• Disability and Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• 401(k) retirement program with a company match
• Generous Leave—twenty (20) vacation days to start, fifteen (15) paid holidays, twenty (20) sick days, parental leave, sabbatical, and more.
• Education Reimbursement and Employee Assistance Program

Friends of the Earth is an equal opportunity employer that encourages applications from women, people of color, and other members of underrepresented groups who will contribute to the diversity of its staff. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Learn more here