Policy Campaign Coordinator

Time: Full-time 

Location: Central, Kentucky

Salary: $35,000 – 40,000 (varies with experience) with generous health, dental, vision and other benefits

Starting Date:  January – February 2021

Community Farm Alliance is seeking a dynamic, creative, and hard-working individual capable of critical thinking about sustainable agriculture, food systems, economic and social justice, in support of Kentucky farmers and Kentucky communities for the position of Policy Campaign Coordinator.

About Community Farm Alliance (CFA):

CFA is a statewide grassroots membership organization that strives to bring a voice on issues affecting family farmers and local food consumers to both state and national policy makers. Since 1985 Community Farm Alliance has led major innovations in Kentucky’s agriculture, food and community policy development. 

CFA has over a thousand passionate, committed members from across the Commonwealth. CFA members are a mix of urban, rural, farmers and non-farmers, rich, poor, young and old. The “community” in Community Farm Alliance is not defined by geography but by values that govern good stewardship of land, family, and community. 

Community Farm Alliance has a long history of working on farm and food policy, from market development to institutional procurement, and food access. CFA’s most recent work has been centered on the priorities of a) Increasing sales and income to Kentucky farmers, b) Increasing access to local food, especially fresh and healthy, to low-income populations, and c) leveraging federal food and nutrition program funds to support priorities a & b.

At CFA, we start from the core belief that everyone has a right to a safe and healthy food system and that thriving family farms are critical to this end. We are grateful to live in a country where our government is mandated to operate responsively and democratically.  In recent years, we have worked tirelessly to make these rights a reality by providing a voice for family farmers and Kentucky consumers through our direct advocacy work in Frankfort and Washington DC.  CFA has also focused its energies on providing support for local and statewide programs that have expanded the availability and access of fresh, local food in this state.  

Job Description

The Policy Campaign Coordinator helps CFA identify and support policy strategies that address food system inequity, initially focusing on CFA’s statewide Healthy Farm and Food Incentive Fund (HFFIF) campaign.  The Policy Campaign Coordinator will a) work alongside collaborators, leading the further development and implementation of HFFIF campaign strategies, timelines, and execution; b) provide oversight and management of the HFFIF statewide issue campaign; and c) provide leadership and direction for the HFFIF Steering Committee and Subcommittees.

As a member of the Policy Team, the Policy Campaign Coordinator works closely with CFA’s Executive Director, Organizing Director, and Communications Director to develop and implement a range of strategies to expand outreach efforts, increase awareness, develop policy, and build a coalition supporting the Healthy Farm & Food Incentive Fund.

General Responsibilities: 

  • Collaborates with the Organizing Director;
  • Regularly communicates with the Executive Director and Communications Director;
  • Provides communication content as requested;
  • Collaborates with CFA staff, CFA members, allied organizations, businesses, community leaders, institutions, policy makers, and the media to advance the mission and goals of CFA;
  • Assists in coalition-building by fostering connections with local organizations to bring in more membership and partners;
  • Develops relationships with individuals in both rural and urban communities that result in the recruitment of additional CFA members and the development of CFA leaders; and
  • Assists CFA staff with additional duties including, but not limited to, preparing for the annual membership meeting and fundraising events. 

CFA Policy Team Responsibilities:

  • Regularly and actively attends and participates in relevant community meetings related to healthy food access, including active engagement in the Kentucky Food Policy Network;
  • Identify strengths and gaps in Kentucky’s food system specifically policy related to food-insecure populations;
  • Introduction of legislation for the Healthy Farm and Food Incentive Fund to the Kentucky General Assembly.

Campaign Coordinator Responsibilities: 

Healthy Farm and Food Incentive Fund Campaign Development & Implementation

  • In collaboration with key stakeholders and the Campaign Team, leads and facilitates the further development and implementation of the HFFIF campaign
  • Compiles research on the economic impact of healthy food access programs, both statewide and in specific congressional districts
  • Builds upon CFA’s analysis and strategic engagement of legislative committees, executive branch influencers, and target legislators, identifying potential campaign supporters and/or opposition
  • Leads power-mapping research efforts and helps identify and build relationships with potential legislative sponsors, co-sponsors, campaign champions, and supporters
  • Creates a Healthy Farm and Food Incentive Fund guide outlining the proposed legislation and impact on Kentucky’s communities
  • Convenes a campaign working group, and facilitates monthly Campaign Steering Committee calls, and bi-weekly Campaign Subcommittee calls
  • Attends and engages in legislative committee meetings and hearings during the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions, providing regular updates to the Campaign Team
  • Submits written campaign updates for the monthly Policy Newsletter
  • Establishes benchmarks and metrics to illustrate campaign progress and success
  • Evaluates and provides reports on progress towards campaign goals and the success of campaign strategies
  • Regularly communicates with Voices for Healthy Kids funders, including monthly conference calls.

Community Engagement

  • Builds relationships with community organizations, community members, and key stakeholders
  • Facilitates leadership development trainings and community meetings (virtually, or in person when it is safe to do so)
  • Keeps the KFPN updated on legislative activities regarding the HFFIF Campaign and other food policy related activities,

Professional Qualifications

  • Must possess a sophisticated understanding of the state and national social, economic, and political landscape in which CFA must work.
  • Experience working with the Kentucky State Legislature.
  • Experience facilitating meetings and working with diverse coalitions.
  • Must have successful experience in community organizing, leadership development, and issue strategy.
  • Capable of being a registered lobbyist with the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
  • Must have strong analytical skills;
  • Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills;
  • Must be able to self-organize and multi-task;
  • Must be comfortable with the suite of Microsoft Office applications and web-based applications such as Facebook, WordPress, and online database management systems.

A strong candidate will have:

  • Experience lobbying legislators.
  • Experience running or contributing to a legislative campaign.
  • A comprehensive understanding of the legislative and policy-making process in Kentucky.

Additional helpful qualifications:

  • Candidate has knowledge of and/or has participated in the Kentucky Double Dollars program, federal nutrition incentive programs (SNAP, WIC, Senior FMNP), or other healthy food access initiatives.
  • Candidate has a background in political science, public health, and/or agriculture.

Personal Qualifications

  • Committed to the values inherent in community organizing and leadership development;
  • Committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion;
  • Able to perform in a variety of environments and diverse social settings. 
  • Able to initiate contact with persons not known, in person and by phone;
  • Able to occasionally travel throughout the state and accommodate a work schedule that will include occasional evening and weekend commitments;
  • Must have reliable transportation and a mobile phone;
  • Able to take the initiative; be self-motivated; able to work independently as well as in a team; work well under pressure; be a creative thinker and; be a good problem solver;
  • Open and honest – must enjoy working with people!

For more information about Community Farm Alliance please visit www.cfaky.org 

To apply, send resume, cover letter, along with two writing samples, 3 professional references, and 2 personal references to 

Martin Richards, Executive Director, P.O. Box 130 Berea, KY 40403

or 

Deadline extended to end of day on Monday, January 11th, 2021. Email (preferred) cfaadmin@cfaky.org with subject line of “CFA Policy Campaign Coordinator.” Questions regarding the position can be submitted to this email address as well. Please no phone calls about this job. 

CFA is actively seeking to diversify its staff – People of color are strongly encouraged to apply