The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is seeking a Grassroots Advocacy Coordinator to support and grow our Coalition’s grassroots organizing efforts. The Grassroots Advocacy Coordinator will help plan and implement winning campaigns to build grassroots power, achieve NSAC’s policy goals, and advance racial equity in agriculture and food systems. This role will support our 130+ member organizations nationwide in organizing grassroots campaigns and expanding opportunities for grassroots voices to be heard in Washington, DC. If you are passionate about organizing and relationship-building and excited to collaborate and build power with farmers and advocates nationwide toward a more sustainable, equitable farm and food system, join us!

This is a full-time, exempt position that offers benefits as outlined in the NSAC personnel handbook and reports to NSAC’s Grassroots Director. All staff are currently remote due to the COVID-19 pandemic; we strongly prefer that candidates be able to work at least partially from our Capitol Hill office at 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 209, Washington, DC when public health and safety guidelines allow for full office reopening; we will consider strong candidates based elsewhere.

The Organization

NSAC is an alliance of grassroots organizations that advocates for federal policy reform to advance the sustainability of agriculture, food systems, natural resources, and rural communities. For over 30 years, NSAC’s stellar track record of policy accomplishments has been guided by a vision of agriculture where a safe, nutritious, ample, and affordable food supply is produced by a legion of family farmers who make a decent living pursuing their trade, while protecting the environment, and contributing to the strength and stability of their communities. Racial justice – an understanding and acknowledgment of historical and ongoing racial inequities and a commitment to actions challenging those inequities – is a core NSAC tenet we seek to embed in our structure, analysis, policy development, and advocacy.

Position Responsibilities

Grassroots Strategy, Campaigns, and Communications

• Collaborate with the Grassroots Team to develop and execute comprehensive, strategic grassroots campaigns in partnership with a coalition of 100+ member organizations; key tasks include:
  • Engage NSAC supporters and the broader public in sustainable agriculture advocacy through digital and field organizing efforts
  • Assist with managing farmer/ advocate story collection efforts
  • Implement strategic grassroots campaign tactics for campaigns, including action alerts, hotlist development, call-in days, resource toolkits, and more
  • Develop advocacy materials, including calls to action, talking points, and social media posts
  • Assist with planning and execution of NSAC events, including 2-4 yearly farmer/ advocate lobby days in Washington, D.C. along with coalition-wide meetings in varying locations
  • Track relevant data around grassroots campaign efforts
• Represent NSAC at conferences, partner meetings, and to the media
• Assist with organizing and supporting regional coalition member cohorts and projects
• Maintain NSAC’s online advocacy CRM (EveryAction), including preparing and launching action alerts and petitions
• Support NSAC Issue Committees with agenda development around grassroots campaign topics

Coalition Building

• Support the Grassroots Team in planning and facilitating monthly Grassroots Council conference calls to discuss grassroots strategy and action with NSAC members
• Assist with NSAC member services and support, including member renewals, contact updates, and general inquiries as needed
• Build accountable relationship and partnerships with peer organizations and partners at the national and local level, including with organizations led by and primarily serving people of color

This role is suitable for someone with grassroots or community organizing experience, particularly in food and agriculture, with the opportunity for growth and development in other areas. We strongly encourage interested candidates to apply if they meet at least 75% of the qualifications. We also strongly encourage applications from people of color, people from working class backgrounds, women, LGBTQ people, or those who are members of other marginalized communities.

• An understanding of sustainable food and agriculture issues and passion for NSAC’s mission
• 2+ years of grassroots organizing, advocacy campaign, and movement-building experience, or community-based farm and food system experience
• Demonstrated understanding of how racial equity intersects with agriculture and food systems and a commitment to building power for those most marginalized from policy processes.
• Strong project management skills, capable of planning, prioritizing, and troubleshooting efforts in an ongoing manner and working on variable, sometimes fast-paced project timelines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen well, build trust, and model healthy conflict resolution
• A strong team player oriented toward collaboration, shared success, accountability, and learning
• Ability to work effectively with, value differences of, and incorporate the experiences and policy impacts on, diverse groups of individuals, including race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socioeconomic circumstances.
• Self-motivated, organized, and able to stay on task when managing multiple projects.
• Willing to travel domestically several times a year (no travel required while operating under COVID-19 safety precautions).

Additional Experience That Will Help the Coordinator Excel:

• Experience with large, multi-organization grassroots coalitions or networks with diverse membership
• Experience and training as a facilitator to develop consensus among diverse stakeholders
  • Experience with online advocacy tools and CRMs (EveryAction, etc)
  • Experience in cultivating lasting relationships and accountable partnerships with a diverse body of stakeholders and decision makers
  • Cross-cultural communication skills, including but not limited to fluency in a language other than English
  • Experience with social media in a professional context

Salary and Benefits

NSAC offers a competitive non-profit salary, dependent on qualifications and experience, $60,000-65,000+.

This position offers excellent benefits (as per the employee handbook), including generous vacation and other time-off policy, health, dental, and long-term disability insurance, contributions after two years in a retirement plan, and financial support for professional and personal development.