Director, Farm Animal Legislation

Summary:

The Director of Farm Animal Legislation will drive the ASPCA’s policy agenda to reform the animal agriculture system and help better the lives of farm animals – the largest category of animals on earth who experience extreme cruelty. The ideal candidate for this role is an effective, determined, and resourceful advocate with strong experience in collaboration who is passionate about working to fix our broken food system and improve conditions for farm animals.

The majority of the more than 10 billion animals farmed for food each year in the U.S. currently live in grossly inhumane conditions. The ASPCA identifies and supports legislative and regulatory policies that diminish the number of animals suffering in factory farms and reduce the negative consequences to people, animals, and the environment associated with industrial animal agriculture. As our society focuses on the need for reforms, there are enormous challenges and opportunities for change-making.

The Director of Farm Animal Legislation will lead the ASPCA’s farm animal welfare legislative campaigns, identify and capitalize on opportunities to reach the ASPCA’s farm animal policy goals in agriculture-related legislative, regulatory, and policy work. The Director will contribute to compelling public messaging and education campaigns to highlight the need for farm welfare reforms. The Director will report to the Senior Director of Federal Affairs, working closely with Farm Animal Welfare and Legal Advocacy Teams to develop, strategize, coordinate, lobby for, manage, and implement legislative and regulatory policies. This position will also work with the Vice President of State Affairs on any state-related strategies.

Compensation

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future. 

• The target hiring range for this role is $118,000 - $125,000 annually

For more information on our benefits offerings, visit our website.

Benefits

At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you can live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental, and optional vision coverage.

• Flexible time off that includes vacation time, sick and bereavement time, paid parental leave, 10 company paid holidays, and paid personal time off that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.

• Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — we match dollar for dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.

• Robust professional development opportunities including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field, and so much more.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

 

Policy Development/Strategy/Implementation

• Track, analyze, and research pending legislation related to animal welfare

• Identify, devise, initiate, and drive strategies to achieve the organization’s farm animal welfare legislative and regulatory goals, in consultation with the VP of Federal Affairs

• Drive policy efforts in conjunction with internal and external subject matter experts to ensure they advance larger ASPCA goals

• Build strong relationships with Congressional Offices and allied partners and collaborate with them to advance our policy goals

• Lobby federal legislators and their staff to drive our policy agenda, serving as the ASPCA’s main point of contact with Hill offices on this issue 

• Direct and oversee research and draft advocacy materials, including letters, backgrounders, testimony, fact sheets, and other materials

• Research, develop, and work with Farm Animal Welfare and Legal Advocacy, to draft legislation and regulations to strengthen legal protections for animals 

• Work with Legal Advocacy colleagues to identify issues where legislative and regulatory work can be enhanced or supported through litigation and other legal strategies

• Collaborate with federal affairs and cross departmental teams, establish blueprints for strategic planning, including identification, development, and achievement of all federal goals   

• Initiate, coordinate, and participate in briefings, events, and panels to raise awareness and support our priority issues.

• Direct farm animal welfare related policy work with special focus on federal strategies and collaborate closely with State Directors to advance complementary legislative and/or regulatory policies within priority states

• Participate in regular internal and external meetings with other lobbyists, regulatory staff, Legislative Engagement, campaign colleagues, and interns 

• Work with relevant staff on filing federal lobbying reports, as needed

 

Communication and Outreach 

Intradepartmental Communication:

• Lead regular conversations with colleagues and managers within the department regarding needed resources, significant updates, and coalition efforts related to policy reforms

• Collaborate with the Legislative Engagement team to create outreach plans, update targets, and oversee plan implementation 

Interdepartmental Communication:

• Orchestrate analysis, information sharing, and cross-fertilization of work with Farm Animal Welfare and Legal Advocacy colleagues

• Work with all relevant colleagues to ensure that the tone and accuracy of materials sent out from Government Relations to the public is consistent and supportive of legislative objectives

Public Communication

• Lead efforts in collaboration with Farm Animal Welfare, Legal Advocacy, and media teams to devise communication strategies to support federal and state legislative and regulatory goals

• Coordinate with the communications team regarding planning, needs, tools, and goals for assigned issue and legislation

• Offer presentations, trainings, research projects, and updates on issues

• Attend workshops, briefings, conferences, and meetings as needed

• Represent the ASPCA in a professional, courteous, and congenial manner at all times while advancing reforms

 

Special Projects

• Provide projects as needed for interns

• Participate in internal working groups as needed to facilitate policy development and provide guidance to other departments

• Participate in planning for department’s involvement in national tradeshows and exhibits as needed

Exemplifies the ASPCA’s Core Values:

• Has Commitment and dedication to improving the lives of animals

• Demonstrates Ownership and feels responsible for outcomes

• Believes in Team – that we are stronger together

• Seeks to Elevate others and reimagine what is possible

• Focuses on Impact, specifically making change for animals

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required

• Juris doctor or graduate degree preferred

• 3+ years of experience in a large non-profit, legislative office, or in a government agency that focused on government affairs functions required

• 3+ years of experience in federal legislative work required

• Experience with farm animal welfare and food policy issues, highly preferred

• Experience with animal protection issues a plus

• Experience in state legislative work a plus

 

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of legal analysis, interpretation, and significance of legislative proposals

• Knowledge of the federal legislative process, committee structure, leadership positions, House and Senate procedures, and political trends on the Hill

• Knowledge of administrative law, agency structures, authorities, and policies

• Knowledge and ability to aid in the drafting of complex legislation and regulatory policies

• Knowledge of animal welfare issues, laws, and regulations

• Able to articulate and summarize issues and speak extemporaneously

• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills

• Highly organized with acute attention to detail

• Strong writing and media skills

• Ability to prioritize responsibilities, multi-task, delegate, supervise others, manage time, and address time sensitive projects in a professional and responsible manner 

• Commitment to work for animal protection

• Intensely driven to see positive change for animals

• Willingness and ability to travel nationally when needed

• Displays enthusiasm for teamwork and high levels of energy and tenacity

• Ability and willingness to travel up to 5% annually, as needed

Stay Connected – Join Our Talent Community:

If you are interested in joining our team but do not see a position listed that fits your experience or interests, please join our Talent Community to stay connected to future opportunities with the ASPCA.

Qualifications:

See above for qualifications details.

  

Language:

English (Required)

Education and Work Experience:

Bachelors, Doctorate: Law

  

Our EEO Policy:
The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA’s standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA. Please inform the ASPCA’s People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).

About Us:
The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.

The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.

The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.

At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA’s vision – that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.

Your Employee Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act:
Pursuant to regulations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), we provide this notice to applicants about eligible employees’ protected leave for certain reasons. Click on the link to learn more.

Applicants that are residents of Colorado and Oregon: Per CO Senate Bill 23-058 and ORS 659A.030, we cannot generally request or require any age-related information (i.e., age, DOB, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution) on an initial employment application; this includes any age-related inquiries through completion of the initial interview. We can require/request additional application materials; if those materials contain any age-related information, an applicant should redact the information before submitting an initial employment application.

Indiana Applicants: Pursuant to Indiana law, we are providing notice that it is an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discriminate against a prospective employee on the basis of status as a veteran by: (1) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States; or (2) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a member of the Indiana National Guard or a member of a reserve component. Should you feel that you were a victim of discrimination on the basis of veteran status, please let us know at careers@aspca.org. Alternatively, you can file a complaint with the following agencies at any time: Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N103, Indianapolis, IN 46204; Office: (317) 232-2600 | Toll Free: (800) 628-2909; Hearing Impaired: (800) 743-3333 | Fax: (317) 232-6580; E-mail: icrc@crc.in.gov | Website: www.in.gov/icrc. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Indianapolis Field Office; 115 W. Washington Street South Tower Suite 600; Indianapolis, IN 46204; Phone: 463-999-1240; Fax: 317-226-7953; TTY: 1-800-669-6820;ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122.