Job description

Position: The Berkeley Food Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, works to catalyze and support transformative change in food systems, to promote diversity, justice, resilience, and health, from the local to the global. The Policy Coordinator at the Berkeley Food Institute will be responsible for implementing BFI’s policy program activities that are aimed to increase the usefulness, application, and impact of research (and education) at UC Berkeley that can inform or support policies for sustainable food and agriculture systems. The Policy Coordinator will serve as a liaison between BFI and relevant policy organizations, government agencies, and legislators who deal with food systems. She/he will help facilitate effective multi-directional exchange of information on key policy issues, by communicating research needs that are identified by policy-makers, and summarizing and disseminating findings of BFI/UC Berkeley studies that can inform policy making or effect change in this field.

Responsibilities:

• ·Identify and track research undertaken at UC Berkeley that can inform local, state, federal or international policy issues and reviewing publications/presentations.
• Coordinating with BFI staff, help prioritize topics that have strong policy relevance and can contribute to BFI’s mission to catalyze or support transformative change in food systems, and develop efforts to integrate policy outcomes into faculty and BFI research efforts.
• Develop and draft policy fact sheets (briefs) on priority issues related to food and agriculture systems, coordinating with faculty and BFI staff.
• Develop methods to consistently and effectively communicate and disseminate the policy fact sheets/briefs and other policy news to key policy decision-makers and other contacts.
• Monitor federal, state, and local policy and regulatory issues regarding food and agriculture systems; identify important emerging and likely future policy issues, and identify related research needs.
• Attend and participate in priority meetings, public hearings and congressional/agency meetings (in Sacramento and Washington DC) to understand and contribute to critical policy issues in food systems.
• Synthesize and communicate summaries of critical policy issues and/or meetings with external constituents to BFI staff and to relevant faculty affiliates, to help stimulate new needed research.
• Explore opportunities for collaborative activities (and or funding) with government agencies, scientific societies and nongovernmental organizations and networks (such as the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, California Climate Action Network, California Food Policy Advocates), and UCB government relations group.
• Communications: o Assist with the design and development of presentations of policy issues and giving presentations of those issues for relevant groups/audiences. o Update and maintain the Policy program pages of the BFI website, working with other BFI staff. o Respond to policy questions from BFI faculty affiliates and staff, and stakeholders, including media, and assist in other BFI communication functions related to policy issues.
• Other tasks as needed, such as: o Help develop grant and funding applications focused on policy issues. o Develop contact lists of people at state/national/international levels who should be target audiences and provide advice and input to BFI.

Required Qualifications:

• Thorough knowledge of basic concepts, principles, and procedures of building and maintaining effective relations with internal and external constituencies.
• Thorough knowledge of the campus, its mission, goals, objectives, programs, achievements, infrastructure and issues of concern.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, especially ability to synthesize and summarize complex information; thorough skills in interpersonal communications, tact and political acumen to effectively represent the campus and the Berkeley Food Institute.
• Experience in writing outreach materials or other public communications.
• Strong experience and ability with public speaking and communication at meetings and conferences, with a diversity of audiences and people.
• Thorough research, analytical and critical thinking skills, including sound judgment and decision-making skills and skill to correctly identifying real and potential problems, advising management as required, and proposing effective strategic resolutions.
• Skill in project management, including meeting deadlines.
• Thorough knowledge of public policy: At least 3 years of experience working on food and agriculture policies and regulations at the state and federal levels. In addition, knowledge of international level policy issues is also preferred.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team on multiple projects.
• Ability to work independently and to foresee, identify, design and/or recommend solutions to needs, issues, and/or problems in the position’s areas of responsibility.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and set priorities.
• Knowledge computer/software technology; knowledge of social networking platforms preferred.

Some ground and air travel required.

Education/Training: Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public administration, political science, law, food systems analysis, or other relevant areas. Masters degree (or JD) preferred. Driver’s License Required.

Salary: The salary range for this position is $60,000 - $85,000, commensurate with experience.

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University visit: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

Compensation

this position is: salaried

Application instructions

Deadline

September 06, 2014