Organization
ReFED
Job Description
About The Organization
ReFED is a U.S.-based nonprofit working to catalyze the food system to take evidence-based action to stop wasting food. We do this by cultivating and convening the food community, delivering actionable evidence and insights, and seeding and accelerating food waste solutions. Starting with the 2016 Roadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Waste, ReFED has produced first-of-their-kind tools and resources, providing a full-supply-chain picture of U.S. food waste, cost-effective solutions to reduce it, and methods to track progress. In 2021, ReFED launched the Insights Engine, an online data center serving as the next generation of data, insights, and guidance on U.S. food waste reduction. Reducing food waste will have a significant impact on mitigating climate change, optimizing the use of water, land, and other resources, and providing meals for the over 47 million people in the United States who currently face food insecurity. We are continuing to grow our team to further build our capacity to achieve our vision of a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food system that makes the best use of the food we grow.
We are a team of doers, and we get a lot accomplished. We create outsized impact, and everyone on the team contributes to accomplishing our shared goals. Learning and professional development are heavily embedded in ReFED’s culture. We promote cross-functional work to embrace diverse perspectives, experiences, and skills to ensure we are an inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
Learn more at www.refed.org.
We are seeking a Policy Director to join ReFED’s team. You will lead and manage ReFED’s policy initiatives, serving as the organization’s leading voice on policy to reduce food loss and waste. This role will act as the main representative to legislative and regulatory offices, and play a key role on the Steering Committee of the Zero Food Waste Coalition, of which ReFED is a founding member. Distinct from other traditional policy roles, the focus for this position is providing expertise and analysis rather than direct advocacy. This position will report to the Executive Director with a dotted line to the President.
In this role, you will:
- Serve as the organization's leading expert on policy related to food loss and waste, maintaining a comprehensive understanding of current and emerging state and federal policies.
- Represent ReFED and play a strategic role in the Zero Food Waste Coalition.
- Serve as a trusted resource for policymakers, regulators, and stakeholders by providing nonpartisan, evidence-based insights on food waste policy solutions. This includes providing expertise and technical assistance to legislative and regulatory offices pursuing food waste reduction policies, both in pre-legislative conversations as well as during program or legislation design and drafting.
- Engage in minimal, targeted lobbying activities such as sign-on letters, direct meetings with legislative offices, and public education efforts to support key legislative initiatives.
- Develop and implement ReFED’s policy strategy in alignment with its mission and goals. Identify and prioritize key policy issues and trends that may impact the organization and its stakeholders, and provide strategic guidance and support to senior leadership on policy matters.
- Collaborate with ReFED’s business partners to solicit input, provide feedback, and generate support for proposed policies.
- Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and community groups.
- Represent ReFED at meetings, conferences, and public forums to discuss policy issues and share research findings.
FT/PT
Full Time
Application Deadline