How to apply for Director of Policy, Food, Agriculture & Rural Economies

About State Innovation Exchange

The State Innovation Exchange (SiX) works with state legislators to develop and advance progressive policy. The FARE program focuses on rural, agriculture, and food systems issues, and the role involves partnering with regional leads and outside organizations to move policy in the states. This is a remote, full-time position for someone who wants to shape policy strategy and support rural organizing and advocacy.

About the role

The Director of Policy, Food, Agriculture & Rural Economies leads SiX's policy strategy on rural, agriculture, and food systems issues. You will work with the Director of Organizing and the program's Senior Director to set the program's direction, lead rural organizing and advocacy work, and partner with regional leads and outside organizations. The role requires comfort working with rural legislators across political ideological lines and connecting legislators with constituents and coalitions to move proposals forward.

A typical day

A typical day might involve meeting with the Director of Organizing and Senior Director to align on FARE program priorities, working with regional leads and outside organizations on state-level policy, and connecting legislators with constituents or coalitions to build support. You may also spend time developing policy proposals, preparing materials for legislators, and coordinating with organizers to bring community priorities into policy development.

Who State Innovation Exchange is looking for

• Deep policy expertise in rural, agriculture, and food systems issues.
• Strong understanding of the legislative process with hands-on experience in rural grassroots organizing and coalition building.
• Comfortable working with rural legislators and across political ideological lines.
• Experience working with organizers and partner groups to bring community priorities into policy development.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific examples of policy work you have done on rural, agriculture, or food systems issues, including bills or proposals you helped advance.
• Describe your experience working with rural legislators, including any work across political ideological lines.
• Show how you have connected legislators with constituents, farmers, food and farm workers, or rural residents to build support for policy.
• Explain your understanding of how organizing builds power and how you have worked with organizers or coalitions to move policy.
• Note your familiarity with SiX's approach and any experience working with state legislators or state-level policy.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your direct policy experience on rural, agriculture, and food systems issues, with concrete outcomes.', 'Your ability to work with rural legislators across political ideological lines.', 'Your experience with rural grassroots organizing and coalition building, and how you have brought community priorities into policy development.', 'Your understanding of how organizing builds power and how you have connected legislators with constituents and coalitions.']

Research before applying

• Review SiX's FARE program materials and any published policy priorities or legislative work on rural, agriculture, and food systems.
• Look into SiX's overall mission and how it works with state legislators, including any recent campaigns or publications.
• Research the Director of Organizing and Senior Director roles at SiX to understand how the FARE program is structured.
• Find examples of SiX's partnerships with regional leads and outside organizations on rural issues.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you would set the FARE program's policy strategy and direction in partnership with the Director of Organizing and Senior Director.
• Your experience working with rural legislators across political ideological lines and how you handle disagreements.
• A specific example of how you worked with organizers and partner groups to bring community priorities into policy development.
• How you connect legislators with constituents, farmers, food and farm workers, and rural residents to move proposals forward.
• Your understanding of the legislative process and how you have navigated it to advance policy in the states.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on federal policy experience without showing state-level legislative work.
• Ignoring the organizing aspect of the role and presenting yourself only as a policy analyst.
• Failing to show comfort working with rural legislators across political ideological lines.