What are the responsibilities and job description for the Legislative Affairs and Economics Specialist position at Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations?

While professional experience and qualifications are key for this role, make sure to check you have the preferable soft skills before applying if required.

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 communication, cooperation, and collaboration with the government agencies of the United States and Canada, each country's 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.

In addition, the incumbent will be responsible for several priority thematic issues in LOW. This position will have the lead role on the trade priority within LOW and liaise with FAO’s Economic and Social Stream. This work will include tracking trends around agricultural trade, supply and demand, and serving as the point-of-contact for the international standard setting bodies and treaties within LOW. The main interlocutors on the US government side for this position will be the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Trade Representative, and the US Department of State’s Economic and Business Bureau’s Division of Ag Policy. For Canada, the main interlocutors will be Agriculture and Agri-food Canada and Global Affairs Canada. This position will also be the main liaison for the World Bank for issues around agricultural trade, statistics, and investment.

Reporting Lines

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

Technical Focus

The Legislative Affairs and Economics 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 and Economics 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 and Economics Specialist 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, he / she 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.

Have a 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.

Provide support for trips, including scheduling meetings, coaching visitors, and preparing agenda and briefing materials tailored to stakeholders when leadership or technical experts visit FAOLOW.

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 and Economics Specialist acts as a point of contact on a select number of thematic issues, including :

Cultivating strong working-level relationships with issue area organizational counterparts in Rome and messaging FAOLOW value add.

Improving understanding of available FAO resources in a specific issue area and enhancing ease and speed of access to information.

Working with other FAOLOW program staff to identify and access materials tailored to the priorities of US and Canadian government agencies.

Engaging with the broader community around specific thematic issues, including the private sector and NGOs.

Being 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 International Affairs / Relations or International Monetary Policy.

At least 2 years of relevant experience working with the U.S. Congress and / or the Canadian Parliament and extensive expertise in legislative affairs, outreach, and analysis in the United States and Canada.

Full proficiency of English (or mother-tongue speaker).

Full proficiency / Working knowledge of French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian.

FAO Core Competencies

Results Focus

Teamwork

Communication

Building Effective Relationships

Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical / Functional Skills

Extensive knowledge of and experience in working with US Congressional and Canadian Parliamentary processes, offices, and committees.

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.

Experience in monitoring and advising organizational leadership on crucial legislative matters, vote schedules, and their significance.

Experience in preparing tailored materials for Congressional and Parliamentary audiences, including fact sheets and talking points.

Extensive knowledge of and expertise in international agricultural economics and trade and a demonstrated ability to prepare specialized normative resources relevant to legislators and partners.

Selection Criteria

Demonstrated ability to write clear and compelling communications for congressional and parliamentary offices and senior staff members.

Mother-tongue speaker of English is an advantage.

Full proficiency / Working knowledge of French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian is an asset.

Extensive knowledge of and experience (at least 4 years) working with Capitol Hill in Washington, DC and Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Extensive knowledge (at least 4 years) of FAO and the United Nations, especially the UN agencies based in DC.

Master’s degree in economics or related field.

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