Policy Strategist - Volunteer Position

Reimagine Agriculture is searching for a policy strategist and lobbyist to advise and support our food waste campaign in Canada, focused on developing regulations for pre-consumer stages. Working on a small, dynamic team, the Policy Strategist will report directly to the Executive Director. The role includes policy research and analysis, government relations and strategic advocacy, and communications in relation to our Food Waste policy campaign. It is an unpaid volunteer position with a required commitment of 3 hours per week.

We founded Reimagine Agriculture to address pressing food system issues like food waste and animal agriculture. These issues are not given enough attention in Canada. The farming sector is often overlooked in critical and ongoing conversations surrounding waste and climate change. As agricultural waste and demand for meat, dairy, and eggs continue to grow worldwide, their contributions to the already dire effects of climate change will worsen. Reimagine Agriculture is committed to reducing the negative impacts of this industry and spur the critical change needed to transform these systems in Canada and worldwide. 

We accomplish these goals through knowledge mobilization, building alliances, and policy change. This takes the form of presentations to various age groups and organizations, national campaigns with democratic engagement, and engagement with related stakeholders. We focus on being effective, using evidence-based reasoning and meeting people where they are.

• Significant Experience with political lobbying and advocacy
• Strong analytical/conceptual skills - big picture thinker with an understanding of the workings of government processes and legislation
• Superior verbal and written communications including presentation skills
• Highly organized, detail oriented and excellent planning skills
• Ability to work independently and cooperatively as a dynamic team player
• Ability to seek consultation and to use advice
• High level of initiative and flexibility

 

• Ability to communicate in French and English
• Media training/familiarity and comfort speaking to the media
• Demonstrated research skills
• Experience campaigning on related health, environmental and social issues
• Extensive up-to-date knowledge of environmental and national issues, in particular, the broader field of food policy and associated impacts

• Research and analysis of environmental and agricultural policy related to food waste
• Drafting position statements, briefs, press releases, and other external and internal documents
• Planning, coordinating, and implementing responses to Federal Government budgets and other announcements
• Planning, developing and managing lobbying/advocacy campaigns
• Regular monitoring of and reporting on the federal government’s activities (eg Committee studies and activities, progress of Bills) and monitoring of the general political landscape
• Responding to communications from team members and/or the public
• External stakeholder relations and relationship building with other national organizations
• External coalition and project work, eg sitting as Reimagine Agriculture’s representative on various coalitions and external projects
• Media outreach and ability to take media interviews if/as required  
• Managing internal projects related to policy campaign
• Working closely with other team members, on a variety of tasks
• Assisting the Executive Director with other tasks and initiatives as required

We want to find a volunteer who has a strong understanding of agricultural issues and a passion to address them. Applicants should be open-minded and thoughtful. It is absolutely not necessary to be vegetarian or vegan for the position (and may even be an asset as that is the primary population we work with).

To apply please submit your resume and at least two mock social media posts (graphics and text) to allow us to assess your ability to create materials in line with our brand. Interested individuals can fill out our form and attach the requested resume and supporting documents here: Volunteer Application Form