VP Government Affairs & Media Relations

The Vice President (VP) of Government Affairs and Media Relations (GAMR)

The VP of Government Affairs and Media Relations (GAMR) reports to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and has a wide range of responsibilities for the association’s government affairs and media relations initiatives. The VP serves as the Association’s principal lobbyist and Staff Liaison to the Public Policy and Legislation (PPL) Committee.

Position Responsibilities

Public Policy

• Provides strategic counsel and planning for the association’s public policy initiatives.
• Works with the CEO, GAMR staff, PPL Committee, and the Board to develop and implement a comprehensive legislative plan involving grassroots member involvement to address legislative and regulatory issues for school nutrition programs, including the development of the Annual Legislative Position Paper.
• Establishes and maintains effective relations with Members of Congress, Congressional Committees and staff, and USDA officials and staff.
• Serves as the point of contact for information on federal legislative/regulatory issues.
• Monitors, tracks, and reports on all key child nutrition initiatives and issues impacting SNA members, including proposed legislation, legislative markups, and relevant information in the Congressional Record, Federal Register, and other legislative/nutrition publications.
• Covers and reports on Congressional legislation, hearings, and legislative markups.
• Writes and directs the preparation of written testimony, letters, position papers, regulatory comments, articles, and presentations.
• Prepares SNA members to testify before Congress and regulatory agencies.
• Monitors legislative initiatives of allied organizations and media stories and shares relevant information with the CEO, PPL Committee, and staff.
• Oversees tracking, reporting, and analysis of state child nutrition legislation and advocacy support for state affiliates.

PPL Committee

• Provides staff support to the Chair in enabling the Committee to accomplish priorities in the Annual Plan of Action, the Legislative Action Plan, and the SNA 3-Year Strategic Plan.
• Researches and develops appropriate background materials for use by Committee members.
• Oversees planning of the schedule, agenda, invitations to guest speakers, breakout sessions, and events for the annual Legislative Action Conference (LAC) along with the PPL Chair and Committee, as well as other planned/ad hoc meetings of the Committee.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

• Oversees PAC fundraising, records management, compliance, and filing of SNA quarterly/mid-year/end-of-year Contribution and Lobbying Disclosure Reports.
• Works with the SNA PAC Board to develop, implement, and manage PAC fundraising activities.
• Represents the Association at political fundraisers and other events.

State Agency

• Oversees the State Agency Advisory Council in coordination with the State Agency Advisory Council liaison.
• Works closely with the State Agency Representative to ensure the perspective of State Agency members is captured.
• Provides support to the Chair in enabling the Council to accomplish priorities in the Annual Plan of Action and the Strategic Plan.
• Provides input and support for education sessions and meetings for State Agency Section members at SNA meetings based on input from the State Agency Advisory Council.

Allied Organization Relations

• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with nutrition, hunger, education, health and wellness associations, trade and coalition groups important to SNA.
• Attends meetings with representatives of associations and advocacy groups in Washington, D.C., to represent SNA and advocate for SNA policy positions on child nutrition.
• Maintains a list of primary, secondary, and tertiary allied groups and distributes relevant SNA information.
• Leads coordination of Partner Summits with key allied organizations and industry partners as needed.
• Works with the CEO to draft an annual allied relations plan, identifying key conferences for SNA volunteer leaders or staff to submit presentation proposals, exhibit, or attend.

Media Relations

• Directs the development of the annual public relations and media plan.
• Oversees responses to media questions about public policy and corrections to inaccurate or critical press about school nutrition programs.
• Identifies opportunities through legislative publications, press, op-eds, letters to the editor, and other communication mechanisms to highlight SNA activities.

Communications

• Works with the MarCom & Industry Relations Center to plan, manage, and evaluate SNA’s communication efforts regarding public policy positions.
• Partners with various Centers to develop toolkits, presentations, and other resources for school nutrition programs.
• Oversees and contributes to the preparation of the weekly legislative newsletter Tuesday Morning and other advocacy-related newsletters.
• Ensures the Legislative Action Center on SNA’s website is kept current.
• Works with the Career Development & Conference Center to provide content for SNA webinars, moderate panels, and speak at meetings and conferences.

Leadership

• Participates in Board of Directors sessions for strategic planning, annual goal setting, and mega-issue discussions.
• Maintains confidentiality on all sensitive and proprietary matters per Association policy and CEO direction.
• Manages the annual Center budget, including revenue and expense planning, monthly tracking, and alerts the CEO and VP of Finance & Administration of any financial concerns.
• Coaches, trains, and evaluates staff to deliver programs and services aligned with strategic plan goals.
• Stays current in association and non-profit trends related to areas of responsibility and makes recommendations to the CEO for changes or updates.
• Represents the CEO with members, SNA leadership, allied organizations, and other stakeholders as requested.

Position Relationships

• Works with SNA staff, leadership, and members.
• Communicates with Congressional staff members of relevant committees and USDA staff.
• Serves as a liaison to various allied organizations, the U.S. Congress, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• Represents SNA on advisory boards as needed.
• Responds to public inquiries regarding laws and policies affecting child nutrition programs.

Supervision

• Receives general direction from the CEO and exercises independent judgment and discretion regularly.
• Positions Supervised: Director of Media Relations and Senior Manager of Government Affairs.
• Supervises consultants and project contractors.

Learn more here