Program Associate

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is seeking a Program Associate to support our administrative and program functions across the organization. In this role, you will support key cross-team scheduling, note-taking, data management, logistical, and office management functions. If you thrive in roles that focus on supporting a team’s administrative functions and care about building a more sustainable, equitable farm and food system, this is your opportunity.

This is a full-time, non-exempt, bargaining unit position that offers benefits as outlined in the personnel handbook and reports to NSAC’s Operations Manager. This position is based in our Capitol Hill office at 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 209, Washington, DC. NSAC operates with a flexible work policy allowing for hybrid/remote work when possible; we strongly prefer that candidates for this role be able to work at least 40% time from our Capitol Hill office.

The last day to apply will be April 18th, please plan to get your applications in before then! Applications submitted after the closing date will not be considered.

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 35 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

Administrative Support – Organizational (50%)

• Support overall organizational file management and recordkeeping

• Support online and virtual scheduling for key internal meetings with staff and partners, along with managing organizational calendar of events

• Assist in maintaining and updating NSAC website content and internal file systems

• Assist operations and development staff with data entry and maintaining CRM contact records

• Monitor and maintain internal listservs for staff and coalition members, including making contact updates as requested and conducting periodic contacts review

• Maintain up to date membership contacts and key materials in CRM and internal tracking systems

Program Support – Policy and Grassroots Programs (20%)

• Lead note taking efforts for internal team meetings and external partner meetings (at least 16 hrs/month)

• Support the administrative development, dissemination, and data management of key member surveys and evaluation tools, including annual priority setting surveys

• Lead the administrative CRM steps for preparation and publishing of NSAC’s Weekly Roundup newsletter, periodic Hill blasts, and action alerts as needed

• Track Congressional bill introductions and log legislation in internal tracking systems

• Track and log key Congressional deadlines in internal tracking systems

• Support scheduling Congressional Hill visits during twice-yearly stakeholder lobby days

Program Support: Events (10%)

• Support operations staff in planning twice-annual Coalition meetings, including assisting with registration, site logistics, and on-site staffing

• Support grassroots and operations staff in lodging, food, and logistics planning for twice-annual lobby days in Washington, DC

• Provide reception support during lobby days or other occasional events at NSAC office in Washington, DC

Office Management (10%)

• With operations staff, collect, sort, and process incoming postal mail

• With operations staff, monitor, manage, and sort phone and general intake email inbox

• With operations staff, monitor and organize office supplies; resupply as needed, including kitchen and one-off event materials

• Lead on-site office conference room reservations and room setup as needed

Organizational - (10%)

• Provide input to grant proposals and grant reports and evaluations

• Participate in recurring staff and team meetings, and other ad hoc meetings as needed

• Participate in racial affinity caucusing (staff and coalition)

• Assist as needed with organizing and facilitating NSAC meetings, including taking turns rotating facilitation of monthly equity lunch discussions and staff meetings

Qualifications

We are open to highly organized, motivated early-career candidates with the potential to fully grow into this role as well as professionals with more experience and skills to offer. We 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.

• A passion for NSAC’s mission to build a more sustainable, equitable farm and food system through federal policy reform

• 1-2+ years of administrative or program support experience

• Strong project management skills, capable of planning, prioritizing, and troubleshooting efforts in an ongoing manner and working on variable, sometimes fast-paced project timelines

• Proficiency with EveryAction or similar CRMs for records management and data entry

• Proficiency with Google Suite, Wordpress, Adobe CreativeSuite, and Canva

• Highly detail-oriented and organized, able to stay on task when managing multiple projects

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Exceptional interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen well, build trust, and model healthy conflict resolution

• A team player oriented toward collaboration, accountability, and learning

• Ability to work effectively with and value differences of diverse groups of individuals, including people of varied race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socioeconomic circumstance

• Willing to travel domestically several times a year

Additional Experience That Will Help the Associate Excel:

• Membership management experience with large, multi-organization grassroots coalitions or networks with diverse membership

• Experience planning and coordinating events for 10-150 people, including vendor management, registration, and travel booking

• 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

• An understanding of federal food and agriculture policy issues and grassroots engagement opportunities within the federal policymaking process

Salary and Benefits

NSAC offers a competitive non-profit salary, dependent on qualifications and experience, $62,000-$73,000.

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.

Application Process
Communications are treated confidentially. Resume review begins immediately. No phone calls, please.

NSAC is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce and strongly encourages applications from groups that have been historically under-represented, including but not limited to women and people of color. Please also see NSAC’s Statement on Racial Equity. NSAC makes hiring decisions without regard to gender, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify.