U.S. Policy Engagement Specialist

Alliance to Feed the Earth in Disasters – ALLFED is an international non-profit focused on ensuring humanity can feed itself during global catastrophic events that disrupt the food system. Our research team works at the frontier of disaster preparedness for food systems, producing scenario analysis, legal research, and policy frameworks that no other organisation is generating at this level of detail.

This role sits within ALLFED’s U.S. Biofuels Engagement Programme, which aims to ensure the U.S. government can rapidly redirect biofuel feedstocks to food production during a catastrophic supply shock. The legal and administrative pathways exist - the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has broad authority to waive or reduce renewable fuel obligations under the Clean Air Act. The challenge is political, not legal. ALLFED’s strategy is to build a coalition of partners with genuine food security exposure who would advocate for emergency flexibility if conditions warranted it.

Summary:

We are looking for someone who can translate ALLFED’s technical analysis into effective partner relationships and, where opportunities arise, direct engagement with U.S. government agencies. This is not a lobbying role. ALLFED provides the analytical foundation - GCR scenarios (Global Catastrophic Risk), legal research, evidence frameworks—while coalition partners determine how to deploy that analysis through their own channels. Your job is to build and maintain those relationships, understand what materials partners actually need, and ensure ALLFED’s work reaches the people who can act on it.

The right candidate will be comfortable operating in a politically sensitive policy space (U.S. biofuels policy), working with trade associations and corporate government affairs teams, and engaging opportunistically with federal agencies when introductions arise.

Reports To:

Head of Policy.

Duration and Hours:

Full-time equivalent (40 hrs/week). Part-time arrangements considered for exceptional candidates. 10 months (July 2026 – May 2027), with possibility of extension subject to funding.

Remuneration and Structure:

The total budget for this role is up to USD 80,000 for the 10-month contract period. We are flexible on structure - this could be a salaried position, an independent contractor arrangement, or a part-time role at a higher rate for a candidate who brings exceptional existing networks. If you have a strong existing book of relevant relationships and can deliver impact in fewer hours, we’re open to discussing that.

ALLFED is a non-profit with limited resources. We cannot compete with K Street salaries. We can offer meaningful work on a genuinely important problem, significant autonomy, and the opportunity to shape a programme from its early stages.

Location:

Washington DC, (or East Coast U.S. with ability to travel to DC multiple times a month)

Key Responsibilities:

Partner Cultivation and Management:

Identify and develop relationships with priority partner organisations, including food industry trade associations (e.g. American Bakers Association, Consumer Brands Association), major protein producers (e.g. Tyson Foods, Smithfield Foods), and other stakeholders with direct food/feed price exposure.
Understand each partner’s existing renewable fuel standard (RFS) engagement, government affairs capacity, and policy channels. Tailor ALLFED’s offering to their specific needs and concerns.
Manage ongoing partner relationships through regular contact, responsiveness to information requests, and adaptation of materials based on feedback.
Monitor secondary contacts (merchant refiners, large consumer packaged goods companies, retail/food service) for intelligence and opportunistic engagement, while maintaining appropriate distance from organisations whose agendas differ from ALLFED’s.

Materials Development and Adaptation:

Lead the development and iteration of partner-facing materials: briefing documents, legal summaries for non-specialists, evidence frameworks, and scenario analyses tailored to specific partner concerns (e.g. feed cost impacts for protein producers, input cost exposure for manufacturers).
Adapt ALLFED’s FGCR (Food-related Global Catastrophic Risk) scenario analysis for business audiences, connecting catastrophic risk to near-term supply chain concerns that make the case more tangible.
Support potential co-authored publications (e.g. a white paper with the Consumer Brands Association on RFS flexibility for catastrophic food security risks).

Government Engagement (Opportunistic):

Where opportunities arise through partner introductions, conferences, or other channels, engage with relevant federal agencies: USDA (Economic Research Service, Chief Economist) on data and methodology; EPA (Office of Transportation and Air Quality) on waiver procedures; DOE (Department of Energy) on energy security framing.
Prepare ALLFED to contribute effectively when partners facilitate government-facing conversations.
Track RFS political developments, administration decision-making dynamics, and any policy shifts relevant to the programme.

Strategy and Reporting:

Contribute to ongoing refinement of the engagement strategy based on what you learn from partner conversations and the political landscape.
Provide regular updates to the Head of Policy on partner engagement progress, emerging opportunities, and risks.
Document institutional knowledge so that partner relationships and programme learning can persist beyond the funded period.

OTHER TASKS AS REQUIRED

What We’re Looking For:

Essential:

Demonstrated experience in U.S. federal policy engagement, government affairs, or stakeholder management in a policy-adjacent role. You understand how Washington works and how trade associations and corporate government affairs teams operate.
Familiarity with U.S. agricultural policy, energy policy, or the RFS. You don’t need to be an RFS specialist, but you need to be able to get up to speed quickly and navigate a politically sensitive space.
Strong written communication: ability to produce clear, concise briefing materials and adapt technical content for corporate and government audiences.
Relationship management skills: you can build trust with senior government affairs professionals and sustain productive working relationships over time.
Comfort with ambiguity and a pragmatic approach. This is a small organisation working on an unusual problem. You’ll need to exercise judgment about where to invest time and when to pivot.
Self-directed and reliable. ALLFED is a globally-remote organisation. You’ll need to manage your own workload and deliver without close supervision.

Desirable:

Existing relationships with U.S. food industry trade associations, protein producers, or CPG companies.
Experience working on RFS policy, biofuels regulation, or related EPA/USDA processes.
Familiarity with global catastrophic risks, existential risk research,
Experience in coalition-building or multi-stakeholder advocacy campaigns.
Understanding of food security policy, supply chain risk, or commodity markets.

Essential (must have):

FOR ALL ALLFED ROLES:

A mature attitude - we are trying to help feed the world;
Reliable, hard-working, able to get along with people.
Self-motivated and able to work with little supervision to deliver project objectives in a timely manner.
Excellent record-keeping and organizational skills.

Comfortable with working remotely and online collaboration systems.

Able to give/take constructive feedback about work to/from other team members.
Willingness to learn new tools, methods, software.
Awareness of a significant responsibility that comes with ALLFED’s work, especially when it comes to outreach and public media presence.
Good English spoken and written language skills.
Access to high speed Internet (for your research and video conference calls).
Headset (microphone + headphones) for calls.

ROLE-SPECIFIC

A policy-related degree, ideally relevant to Disaster Risk Reduction.
Excellent attention to detail, analytical and reporting skills.
Excellent project management and self-initiative.
Excellent presentation skills; able to present and discuss work at conferences.
Flexibility: as Einstein said, "If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?" We frequently reprioritise our approach based on updated understanding to remain most effective.
Ability to cultivate an overall organizational environment that allows team members to achieve their goals.

DESIRABLE (NICE TO HAVE)

Familiarity with specific policy process and institutions.
Familiarity with Bayesian updating.
Big picture thinking / ability to see how research interlinks with communications and preparedness planning.
Experience delivering workshops and scenario exercises.
Familiarity with Global Catastrophic Risks.
Familiarity with Effective Altruism and its core principles.

How to Apply:

After submitting the Expression of Interest form (see below) we will follow-up with an invitation to the Application Form. Among other questions the form will ask of you to provide:

A CV or resume,
A cover letter (max 2 pages) addressing: why this role interests you, what relevant experience and relationships you bring, and how you would approach the first 90 days.
Optionally, a short writing sample relevant to policy engagement or stakeholder communication (e.g. a briefing note, stakeholder memo, or policy summary you’ve produced).

We value diversity of experience, perspective, and background, and encourage candidates to apply even if they do not meet every listed requirement. We welcome applications from individuals of all genders, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, ages, abilities, religions, nationalities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. We believe inclusive teams drive better decisions and stronger, more resilient solutions.

To express your interest in this role, please kindly complete our Expression of Interest form (which confidentially gathers your personal details for blind recruitment purposes).

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