Legislative Affairs Specialist

Organizational Setting

The FAO Liaison Office for North America (FAOLOW), located in Washington, DC, plays a key role in advancing FAO’s mandate to end hunger, malnutrition and poverty worldwide, while achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Toward this end, the Liaison Office engages in partnership-building, policy dialogue, information sharing, and raising the visibility of the Organization in the region.

FAOLOW is also responsible for the communication, cooperation, and collaboration with the government agencies of the United States and Canada, each countries’ legislators and/or parliamentarians, civil society, academia, and the private sector in the region.

The assignment consists of two main responsibilities. The primary responsibility is supporting FAO partnerships with US Congress and Canadian Parliament. The secondary responsibility is to serve as an FAOLOW point of contact on a limited number of thematic issues. Both tasks are described in more detail below.

Reporting Lines

The Legislative Affairs will work closely with and report to the Senior Liaison Officer. The Liaison Affairs Specialist will also support the Director of FAO’s Liaison Office for North America. 

Technical Focus 

The Legislative Affairs Specialist plays a lead role in working with congressional and parliamentary offices and committees, as well as monitoring and reporting on congressional and parliamentary processes and developments. 

The Legislative Affairs Specialist has a demonstrated ability to conduct targeted outreach to Capitol Hill and Parliament Hill to raise awareness and support among staff and elected officials for key UN agency priorities.

Tasks and responsibilities

Supporting FAO Partnerships with US and Canadian legislatures (Congress and Parliament):

The Legislative Affairs supports the Senior Liaison Officer in interactions with US and Canadian legislatures to further FAOLOW strategic objectives. Working under the strategic direction of the Senior Liaison Officer and in close coordination with the FAOLOW communications team, the incumbent is expected to:

•    Understand the unique structure, culture, language, and priorities of each targeted Congressional and Parliamentary committee as related to sustainable agrifood systems.
•    Work with other FAOLOW programs staff to tailor FAO thematic issue resources (publications, speakers, data, etc.) to specific committee priorities and language.
•    Engage and build relationships with priority committee and member staff at a working level to build trust and message FAO value add.
•    Deep understanding of each committee’s structure and operations, including member influence and resources, to identify windows of opportunity.
•    Work with Senior Liaison Officer and Director of LOW to capitalize on opportunities to raise FAO’s profile and mobilize
•    When leadership or technical experts visit FAOLOW, if they are meeting with Congress or Parliament, the incumbent will provide support for the trip, including, but not limited to scheduling meetings, coaching visitors, and preparing agenda and briefing materials tailored to the stakeholder.
•    Support the Senior Liaison Officer at a strategic level and assist, as appropriate, when the Senior Liaison Officer or Office Director is unavailable.
•    Represent FAOLOW in UN weekly meetings in DC to discuss UN / Congressional dynamics.

The Legislative Affairs Specialist acts as a point of contact on a select number of thematic issues, including:

•    Cultivate strong working level relationships with issue area organizational counterparts in Rome and message FAOLOW value add.
•    Improve understanding of available FAO resources in a specific issue area and improve ease and speed of access to information.
•    Work with other FAOLOW program staff to identify and access materials tailored to the priorities of US and Canadian government agencies. Tailor these materials to agency interests, language, and culture.
•    In the US and Canada, engage with the broader community around specific thematic issues, including the private sector and NGOs. Identify which actors have the potential to be allies in advocacy to US and Canadian government agencies.
•    Be conversant (not expert) in thematic issue language and concepts relevant to sustainable agrifood systems, including “hot button issues”.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in areas of international affairs, political science, public administration, law, or a related field 
•    2 years of relevant experience in legislative affairs, outreach and analysis in the United States and Canada, including experience
working with the U.S. Congress and/or the Canadian Parliament  
•    Full proficiency in English.

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work 
•    Extent and relevant experience in USA and Canada Parliamentary processes, offices and committees
•    Extent and relevance of experience in monitoring and advising organizational leadership on crucial legislative matters, vote schedules and their significance
•    Extent and relevance of experience in preparing tailored materials for Congressional and Parliamentary audiences, including fact sheets and talking points

Selection Criteria 

•    Preferably English mother-tongue
•    Demonstrated ability to write clear and compelling communications for congressional and parliamentary offices and senior staff members.
•    Knowledge of a second FAO language will be considered an asset.
•    Knowledge of a second FAO language will be considered an asset.
•    Extensive knowledge of and experience on working with Capitol Hill in Washington, DC and Parliament Hill in Ottawa 
•    At least 2 years of relevant working or research experience in FAO and the United Nations, especially the UN agencies based in DC