Policy Advisor - Agriculture

What We Can Achieve Together:

This position is based in and must reside in Alberta, Manitoba or Saskatchewan.

The Policy Advisor, Agriculture develops and implements government relations and policy strategies to advance Nature United's agriculture priorities with the governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and with the Government of Canada.

Our 2030 conservation goals include advances in Natural Climate Solutions, Indigenous leadership and authority, conservation financing, and improved natural resource management for the benefit of people, nature and climate. In the Prairies region, a specific priority is supporting producers in adopting sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices. The Advisor may also contribute to policy and government relations priorities related to grassland conservation and stewardship as this work evolves.

The Policy Advisor reports to the Director of Government Relations and works closely with the Agriculture and Communications & Marketing teams. They identify policy barriers and influencing opportunities,  lead the development and implementation of strategies and tactics for influencing public policies and public funding to advance Nature United and partners’ goals; participate in government consultation processes to provide Nature United expertise to policy development; develop relationships with bureaucratic and political leaders and offices; and lead, support and facilitate Nature United’s engagement with government officials, political leaders and staff. They will work with agricultural producers and producer organizations, NGOs, industry and supply chain actors, Indigenous governments, and others to influence policy and funding decisions related to agriculture. This includes developing appropriate communications materials.

Nature United is committed to working in partnership with Indigenous communities to support increased authority of Indigenous peoples to steward their lands and waters. The Policy Advisor will work to ensure Nature United’s engagement with Crown governments and other partners is in alignment with our rights-based approach and Principles of Government Relations, and is carried out in collaboration with Indigenous communities, industry sectors, governments and other civic organizations.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE

• Develop and implement government relations and policy strategies that advance Nature United's agriculture priorities across Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and with the Government of Canada.

• Build and maintain relationships with government officials, Indigenous governments, producer organizations, industry, and other key partners to support policy and funding outcomes.
• Monitor and analyze legislative, regulatory, and political developments affecting agriculture, natural climate solutions, and related conservation priorities, and provide strategic advice.
• Lead or support advocacy initiatives, government consultations, and the development of policy positions, briefing materials, and submissions.
• Collaborate across Nature United, The Nature Conservancy network and with external partners to advance shared policy objectives and conservation outcomes.

• Ensure compliance with lobbying and government relations requirements and organizational policies.
• Represent Nature United in meetings, events, and forums related to agriculture and conservation policy.

• May manage contractors, oversee project budgets, and support fundraising efforts.

• Travel within Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and occasionally elsewhere in Canada and internationally is expected (approximately 15-20% of time). Evening and occasional weekend work may be required.

We’re Looking for You:

Are you looking for work you can believe in? Nature United is a workplace where we care about each other and know that what we do matters, and that our work makes a difference. We currently have a vacancy for Policy Advisor, Agriculture We’re looking for someone with excellent organizational, analytical, communication and strategy development and execution skills and experience in coordinating multiple projects. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the ongoing mission of conservation by supporting the work of our team. Join us as we impact conservation across Canada and 80+ countries and territories around the globe!

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in public policy, political science, agriculture, environmental studies, economics, law, public administration, or Indigenous studies, and 4 years related experience, or an equivalent combination
• Experience developing and implementing policy, government relations, advocacy, or stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Knowledge of federal and provincial government decision-making processes and public policy development.
• Experience working in or with the agriculture sector, including understanding the role of government policy in shaping agricultural outcomes.
• Experience building relationships with governments, industry, Indigenous Nations, producer organizations, NGOs, or other external partners.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, priorities, and timelines.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience working with provincial governments in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba and/or with the Government of Canada.
• Knowledge of agriculture policy, natural climate solutions, grassland conservation, conservation finance, or natural resource management.
• Demonstrated success influencing public policy, government programs, legislation, or public funding decisions.
• Experience building coalitions or multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• Experience working with Indigenous governments, Indigenous-led organizations, or Indigenous communities.
• Familiarity with lobbying compliance and government ethics requirements.

Salary Information:

This position is based in Alberta, Manitoba or Saskatchewan. The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is within the range of $106,000 - $113,000 CAD for annual base salary. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate’s location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

Who We Are:

Nature United’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube   to hear stories from staff or visit  Glassdoor.

One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”

What We Bring:

Nature United offers a comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.

We’re proud to offer a work environment that is supportive of the health, well-being, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!

Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Employees must submit their application by logging into Workday and applying via the Jobs Hub.