FCS is seeking a Director of Policy to steward the FCS federal policy program on climate in agriculture, develop tools for policy advocacy, engage with the sector on policy priorities, and support in government relations.

EXPERIENCE WE ARE SEEKING

The list below describes the mandate of the Director of Policy, and the experience/qualifications needed to succeed in the job. If you possess approximately 80 percent of the essential experience/qualifications, we encourage you to apply.

The Director of Policy will report to the Executive Director, take direction from and support the Policy Working Group, and collaborate with the rest of the FCS team. 

Steward the FCS policy program by

• Facilitating or co-facilitating the FCS Policy Working Group
• Supporting in the development of the FCS policy strategy, identifying policy priorities and opportunities that align with annual goals and broader strategic outcomes of FCS
• Implementing the strategy, while applying results from ongoing monitoring, evaluation and learning
• Keeping up to date with research and sector priorities, and integrating these into what FCS is generating
• Identifying new opportunities and precedents, and assessing emerging opportunities and challenges
• Integrating regional diversity, consideration for scale, and provincial specificity into national strategy
• Considering and advancing equity and sector diversity in policy strategy and priorities

Experience/qualifications

• 10-12 years combined experience in university and/or professional environment in a related field (ESSENTIAL)
• Strong understanding of Canadian policy, as it relates to agriculture and climate change (ESSENTIAL)
• Up-to-date understanding of the diversity of Canadian agriculture, and opportunities and challenges for climate action (ESSENTIAL)
• Understanding of research on climate change, agronomy, agricultural economics, and behavioural social science in agriculture. Experience strategically integrating research findings into policy priorities (ESSENTIAL)
• Experience developing policy priorities (ESSENTIAL)
• Experience facilitating groups, listening carefully to diverse perspectives, and integrating ideas to meet the goals of a collective strategy (ESSENTIAL)
• Experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning of policy programming (ASSET)
• Experience working in Canadian prairie agriculture (ASSET)
• Solid computer skills and experience using Google Workspace (ESSENTIAL)

2. Develop tools that effectively substantiate and communicate FCS policy priorities by:

• Conducting and gathering analysis on priorities
• Coordinating research projects with farmers and other experts, like agricultural economists, climate modelers
• Identifying tools and tactics that best leverage policy ideas
• Developing policy tools, like reports, briefings, articles, consultation submissions, presentations, etc.
• Experience/qualifications
• Excellent English writing and editing skills for both long and shorter form (ESSENTIAL)
• Experience integrating diverse ideas into policy proposals and communicating complex ideas clearly through compelling messaging (ESSENTIAL)
• Experience writing policy proposals (ESSENTIAL), about agriculture and/or climate change (ASSET)
• Experience working with academics, farmers, and policy experts (ESSENTIAL)
• Experience facilitating collective research projects with diverse stakeholders (ASSET)
• Understanding of a diversity of policy tools, and when and where to use them (ASSET)
• Experience managing work and deadlines independently, while ensuring colleagues and partners are informed and able to contribute as needed (ESSENTIAL)

3. Engage with farmers, members, sector leaders and other relevant stakeholders to understand diverse perspectives, share FCS views, and foster alignment where possible by:

• Developing and maintaining relationships with key sector stakeholders
• Working with FCS team to ensure member perspectives are integrated into policy strategy and implementation
• Working to secure member and sector buy-in for policy priorities
• Experience/qualifications
• Strong skills in engaged listening, diplomacy and verbal communication (ESSENTIAL)
• Experience reaching and engaging with farmers and other sector leaders in Canadian agriculture (ESSENTIAL), specifically  across the Prairies (ASSET)

4. Steward government relations strategy, and support in government relations by:

• Following and providing insight to relevant government consultations and advisory groups
• Supporting the Executive Director, Board Chair, farmer leaders and others in government relations
• Fostering positive relationships as a trusted and credible stakeholder with the federal government, and where possible, with provincial governments
• Maintaining and building network to ensure government contacts are up to date with FCS priorities
• Supporting members in provincial Government Relations where necessary
• Stewarding the Government Relations strategy, and applying ongoing monitoring, evaluation and learning
• Communicating FCS priorities effectively to decision-makers
• Experience/qualifications
• Ability to organize and equip farmers and other leaders to lead and participate in government relations (ESSENTIAL)
• Clear and compelling communicator (ESSENTIAL)
• Strong ability to prioritize key discussion points, listen carefully to feedback, and pivot where necessary (ESSENTIAL)
• Ability to craft messaging in diverse ways based on audience (ESSENTIAL)
• Experience tracking and measuring government relations, and adapting strategy according to results (ASSET)
• Maintaining a network of government contacts (ASSET)
• A strong understanding of Canadian governments and the ways in which they work (ASSET)
• Experience conducting government relations (ASSET)
• Experience working with government (ASSET)

TERM OF EMPLOYMENT AND BENEFITS AVAILABLE FOR THIS POSITION

This is a full time permanent position. You must be based in and have the legal right to work in Canada. Benefits available for this position include: 

• Extended health, pharmaceutical, and dental coverage
• Life and disability insurance
• Defined contribution pension plan
• 4 weeks of annual vacation, as well as emergency and sick leave (plus office closure between Dec 25th and Jan 1st)
• Parental leave 
• Flexibility regarding working hours and location
• Salary of $94,486.45 per annum

FCS staff work remotely from locations across Canada. Staff require reliable internet service that allows for smooth online video and audio communication. FCS staff receive a computer if requested, a contribution to a phone plan, and other support to facilitate work from home.

All FCS staff are currently hired by SeedChange, the Secretariat of FCS. All staff receive the benefits of SeedChange employment (as described above) and are required to adhere to SeedChange policies. As a result of rapid growth, FCS is currently making a transition to becoming its own organization, independent from SeedChange. The Director of Policy will be hired by SeedChange, as an employee of SeedChange, but will be part of FCS’ transition to become an independent organization. As FCS transitions to its new organization, the conditions offered at SeedChange are the baseline for what will be expected at our new organization. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of our organization and build a workplace that works for our team.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY

FCS works within, and is representative of, a Canadian agricultural sector that has significant work to do to advance action for reconciliation and decolonization, improve intersectional analysis, and amplify the voices and leadership of equity-deserving farmers (i.e. young farmers, women farmers, farmers with disabilities, Black farmers, Indigenous farmers and food providers, farmers of colour, small-scale farmers, and 2SLGBTQ+ farmers). FCS is committed to policy and programming that acknowledge and serve the diversity within our sector, and this ongoing work is being implemented through FCS’ Equity Project.

FCS believes that our sector, and our work as a coalition, will be stronger with decreased barriers to entry and better opportunities to succeed for equity-deserving individuals. We encourage people who belong to an equity-deserving group to apply to join our team, and to self-identify in your application if you wish. If you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact info@farmersforclimatesolutions.ca. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

To apply for the position please click on this application link: https://weseedchange.bamboohr.com/careers/27

Please include a cover letter and a CV referencing your motivation to apply for this role, reflections on your relevant experience and skills, and any other information you would like to share. Please also include two writing samples with your application that showcase your ability to speak to issues related to agriculture, climate change and/or policy.  

SeedChange/ Farmers for Climate Solutions is committed to promoting justice, non-discrimination, equal opportunity and equal participation on  employment matters.  SeedChange recognizes that the process of preparing for a job interview not only requires investment of valuable time and effort but is stressful on the part of the candidates and might involve incurring financial costs. In this regard, as a token of our appreciation for your efforts all candidates who participate in a job interview with SeedChange/ Farmers for Climate Solutions will receive an amount of CAD$100.

The deadline for applications is April 24, 2023. Interviews of short-listed candidates are anticipated to be held during the weeks of May 8 and 15, 2023. We appreciate your understanding that only candidates short-listed for the position will be contacted. We are unable to accept questions about the position or recruitment.

Thank you for your interest in working with Farmers for Climate Solutions !