What are the responsibilities and job description for the VP Government Affairs & Media Relations position at School Nutrition Association?
Job Description
Job Description
The Vice President (VP) of Government Affairs and Media Relations (GAMR) reports to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and has a wide range of responsibilities for the association’s government affairs and media relations initiatives. The VP serves as the Association’s principal lobbyist and Staff Liaison to Public Policy and Legislation (PPL) Committee.
Position ResponsibilitiesPublic Policy
Provides strategic counsel and planning for the association’s public policy initiatives and works with the CEO, GAMRs staff, PPL Committee and the Board in developing and implementing a comprehensive legislative plan involving grassroot involvement of members to address legislative and regulatory issues for school nutrition programs; including development of the Annual Legislative Position Paper.
Establishes and maintains effective relations with Members of Congress, Congressional Committees and staffs and USDA officials and staff.
Serves as point of contact for information on Federal legislative / regulatory issues.
Monitors, tracks and reports on all key child nutrition initiatives and issues impacting SNA members, including important and relevant proposed legislation, legislative markups and information in the Congressional Record, new proposed rules in the Federal Register, state legislation, and Politico and a variety of other legislative / nutrition websites and / publications critical for CEO, PPL Committee, the Board, SNA members and relevant staff.
Covers and reports on Congressional legislation, hearings and legislative markups.
Writes and directs the preparation of written testimony, letters, position papers, regulatory comments, articles, and presentations, and prepares SNA members to testify before Congress and regulatory agencies.
Monitors legislative initiatives of allied organizations and media stories and shares relevant information with CEO, PPL Committee, and staff.
Oversees tracking, reporting and analysis of state child nutrition legislation and advocacy support for state affiliates.
PPL Committee
Provides staff support to the Chair in enabling the Committee to accomplish priorities in the Annual Plan of Action, the Legislative Action Plan and the SNA 3-year Strategic Plan.
Researches and develops appropriate background materials for use by Committee members.
Oversees planning of the schedule, agenda, invitations to guest speakers, breakout sessions and events for the annual Legislative Action conference (LAC) along with the PPL Chair and Committee, as well as other planned / ad hoc meetings of the Committee at NLC, Committee Days and ANC.
Political Action Committee (PAC)
Oversees PAC, including PAC fundraising, records management, compliance and filing SNA quarterly / mid-year / end-of-year Contribution and Lobbying Disclosure Reports.
Works with SNA PAC Board in developing, implementing and managing PAC fundraising activities.
Represents the Association at political fundraisers and other events.
State Agency
Oversees the State Agency Advisory Council in coordination with the State Agency Advisory Council liaison and works closely with the State Agency Representative to ensure perspective of State Agency members is captured.
Provides support to the Chair in enabling the Council to accomplish priorities in the Annual Plan of Action and the Strategic Plan.
Provides input and support for education sessions and meetings for State Agency Section members at SNA meetings based on input from the State Agency Advisory Council.
Allied Organization Relations
Establishes and maintains effective relationships with other nutrition, hunger, education and health and wellness Associations, trade and coalition groups important to SNA including attending meetings with representatives of Associations and advocacy groups in the Washington, D.C. area to represent SNA and advocate for SNA policy positions on child nutrition.
Maintains list of primary, secondary and tertiary allied groups, and distributes relevant SNA information to the groups.
Leads the coordination of Partner Summits held throughout the year with key allied organizations and industry partners as needed.
Works with the CEO to draft annual allied relations plan to identify to which allied group conferences SNA volunteer leaders or staff should submit presentation proposals, and / or exhibit at or attend, and oversee submissions for those conferences.
Media Relations
Directs the development of the annual public relations and media plan and oversees responses to media questions about public policy and corrections to inaccurate or critical press about school nutrition programs.
Identifies opportunities through legislative publications, press, op-eds, letters to the editor, and other communication mechanisms for highlighting and sharing SNA activities.
Communications
Works with the MarCom & Industry Relations Center to plan, manage and evaluate SNA’s communication efforts with various stakeholders on SNA public policy positions.
Partners with various Centers to develop toolkits, presentations, and other resources on school nutrition programs for members to utilize.
Oversees and contributes to the preparation of the weekly legislative newsletter Tuesday Morning and other newsletters containing advocacy information, and ensures the Legislative Action Center on SNA’s website is kept current.
Works with the Career Development & Conference Center to provide content for SNA webinars, moderate panels, and / or speak at meetings and conferences.
Leadership
Participates in and provides preparatory materials for Board of Directors sessions for strategic planning, annual goal setting, and mega-issue discussions.
Maintains confidentiality on all sensitive and proprietary matters, in accordance with Association policy and as directed by the CEO.
Responsible for annual Center budget, including detailed accurate projections and planning for revenue and expenses; tracks data monthly alerting CEO and Vice President Finance & Administration of any issues or concerns that may impact revenue and expense goals; tracks historical experience data; and meets budget goals.
Coaches, trains and evaluates staff to deliver programs and services to meet strategic plan goals.
Stays current in Association and non-profit trends in areas of responsibility; makes recommendations to CEO for changes or updates.
Manages areas of responsibility to reflect understanding and sensitivity to the importance of broader Association issues and concerns beyond immediate area of responsibility.
Represents CEO with members, SNA leadership, allied organizations and other stakeholders, as requested.
Position Relationships
Works with SNA staff, SNA leadership and members.
Communicates with Congressional staff members of relevant committees and USDA staff.
Serves as liaison to a variety of allied organizations, the U.S. Congress, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Represents SNA on advisory boards as needed.
Responds to inquiries from the public regarding laws and policies affecting child nutrition programs.
Supervision
Receives general direction from the CEO. Exercises independent judgment and discretion regularly. Decisions generally not reviewed in advance.
Positions Supervised : Director, Media Relations and Senior Manager Government Affairs
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