Company description

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for the organic industry in North America. Our mission is to promote and protect organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy. We envision organic products becoming a significant part of everyday life, enhancing people's lives and the environment. 

We represent businesses across the organic supply chain and address all things organic, including food, fiber/textiles, personal care products and new sectors as they develop. Over 60 percent of OTA trade members are small businesses. OTA has an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) research and education organization, The Organic Center (TOC), which operates under its administrative auspices

Job description

Position Summary:  Working under the supervision of and in collaboration with the CEO/Executive Director, the Director of Legislative Affairs manages OTA legislative activities, informs and engages OTA members in political activity, and assists in projects as requested.

Functions as a creative member of OTA’s team; shares information effectively to assist others in doing OTA’s work.  Demonstrates personal responsibility in job performance.  Supports OTA’s mission and purpose through the activities of the department.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement OTA policy events to increase OTA’s relationships and political impact, including annual Hill Visit Day and potential targeted member fly-ins. Plan, convene, and host OTA members and allied groups when visiting Washington for hearings, meetings, or direct lobbying; executive event planning for DC fly-ins as needed
• Develop and deliver targeted issue campaigns on legislation
• Develop relationships with legislative and key administration staff; educate on all aspects of organic agriculture, industry, and trade and the potential impacts of legislation on organic
• Develop relationships with allied organic groups
• Deliver results in advocacy goals
• Maintain database of congressional contacts and activity
• Conduct legislative research and analysis to inform OTA policy strategy and development; prepare clear and concise analytical pieces including bill summaries and side-by-side analysis, hearing summaries, member alerts, updates, and memos. Work collaboratively with OTA’s communications team to ensure professional quality public communications, and with OTA’s membership team to accurately identify members impacted by legislative developments
• Facilitate, manage, and implement OTA member involvement in legislative activities to increase OTA’s relationships and political impact; facilitate member consensus and position development through formal staffing of OTA Task Forces, Working Groups, and informal member stakeholder discussions as assigned
• Monitor relevant state activity, organize and manage targeted state campaigns, and develop relationships with state Departments of Agriculture
• Draft correspondence, policy communications, and public comments as needed; other research, policy, writing, and other support as needed

Represent OTA’s policy positions at meetings and through public/conference presentations as assigned Compensation this position is : salaried, varies DOE, $80,000.00 - $100,000.00 Application instructions DeadlineOctober 31, 2016