Job purpose

The Public Policy Manager manages and facilitates with the Public Policy Director the policy development process and represents corn farmers and their policy positions at state and federal levels.  The position is responsible for issues management and effective communications to key audiences, especially farmer members. 

Duties and responsibilities

The incumbent is responsible for managing aspects of the organization’s policy development process as well as implementation of adopted policy initiatives.  The following are activities and/or action steps necessary for success:

• Gathering input on issues through membership surveys
• Coordinating regional roundtable discussions across the state
• Organizing the annual state policy conference
• Evaluate the challenges and opportunities for policy objectives and suggest strategies to go on offense for implementation
• Attending and assisting grower delegates at National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Corn Congress sessions
• Developing relationships with federal and state elected officials and their staff.

In addition, the incumbent serves as one of the staff liaisons to the:

• ICGA Industrial, Export, Grassroots and Political Action Committees (PAC)
• ICMB Industrial and Export Committee
• Lobbies on agricultural issues at state and federal levels
• Coordinates with farmer lobbying groups at state and federal levels
• Provides input for the IL Corn Communications Team to write PAC newsletter regarding legislative and policy issues for membership
• Contributes to organization communication (web site, newsletters, social media, etc.)
• Works with Membership and Grassroots Manager on the Grassroots Network Program
• Works with other state commodity legislative coordination groups
• Develops and maintains relationships with state and federal agencies, state universities and other agricultural groups
• Works closely with NCGA and other corn state organizations

The incumbent also:

The successful candidate will:

• Advise Public Policy Director, Executive Director and board of directors, as necessary, regarding federal & state policy positions beneficial to ICGA.  Serve as an internal expert on federal & state policy for ICGA.
• Implement ICGA policies by meetings and other communications with Members of Congress, administrative agencies and executive branch.  Major policy topics will include ethanol, farm bill, transportation, trade and environmental issues.  Agency interactions may include EPA, USDA, Army Corps of Engineers, DOE, DOT, and USTR.
• Communicates with national organizations, including NCGA and other partners such as agricultural or ethanol groups, as needed to implement ICGA policy.
• Review legislation or administrative proposals to determine its impact on corn farmers, and advises ICGA regarding what its policy positions should be.
• Provide information necessary to develop or implement policy, including research to provide factual information needed to support policy implementation efforts, and talking points for board or ICGA members.
• Work with our Committees by providing the committee members information for the Committee’s use in making decisions impacting policy and helping to carry out policy related to committee directives.
• Help coordinate ICGA director meetings for federal lobby trips throughout the year.
• Work with ICGA PACs to evaluate federal & state policy and federal & state candidates, and assist in PAC meetings, mailings, as well as fundraising.

• Provide information and updates on a regular basis to both ICMB and ICGA on activities, project status, issues impacting corn, and future challenges, opportunities and direction.  Report to the Boards on activities underway on their behalf.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with both federal and state agencies along with other stakeholders and environmental groups that impact corn utilization.

Qualifications

1. Education/Experience:  Bachelor’s degree (BA) in related field from four-year college or university plus three to five years’ related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience including lobbying/public policy experience.  Requires solid understanding of news media and process of press management.  Extensive knowledge preferred of U.S. agriculture, especially corn production, technology and use.  Knowledge also preferred of key information sources in agriculture (U.S. and state government, agricultural and general media).  Understanding and awareness of agricultural socio-economic and environmental issues necessary.
2. Language Skills:  Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex documents.  Ability to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints.  Ability to write articles using original or innovative techniques or style.  Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
3. Mathematical Skills:  Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. 
4. Reasoning Ability:  Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.  Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
5. Certifications, Licenses, and Other Registrations:  Valid Drivers’ License required.
6. Personal Computer/Office Skills:  Ability to create “table of content” documents, create and perform various data sorts on spreadsheets.  Advanced Internet search skills, advanced word documents skills; ability to assist others with basic software questions.  Ability to create advanced Power Point presentations.
7. Supervisory Responsibilities:  Supervisory experience beneficial to effectively work with the Government Relations team members.
8. Other Skills and Attributes:  Strong command of English language required in individual situations as well as in small and large group settings.  Must appear professional at all times.  Also must possess exceptional time management skills and the ability to multi-task.