Job Posting: Program Officer, Global Agriculture (Chicago, IL)

See the original posting from the Foreign Policy Association here.

Program Officer, Global Agriculture

Organization:

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs

Location:

United States (Chicago, IL)

Email:

hr@thechicagocouncil.org

Description:

POSITION: Program Officer, Global Agriculture DEPARTMENT: Global Agriculture REPORTS TO: Director, Global Agriculture
SUMMARY The primary responsibility of the Program Officer is to work with the Global Agriculture team, including the Director, Senior Editor/Research Analyst, and Project Coordinator, to manage and implement multiple facets of the Global Agricultural Development Initiative. The Program Officer will report to, and work closely with, the Director, Global Agriculture.

RESPONSIBILITIES Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: •Execute all Initiative events including meetings of the Initiative's advisory group, consultations with senior policymakers and experts, working group sessions, etc.; this includes issuing and tracking invitations, developing, in consultation with the Director, background materials, and ensuring all meeting logistics are arranged •Plan and execute all aspects of the Annual Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food Security in Washington, D.C. including working closely with Initiative leadership on the event's concept paper and agenda, identifying and securing speakers and cosponsors, building audience, designing media and outreach strategies, putting together background materials, and executing all event logistics •Plan all aspects of Initiative leadership's delegation trips and involvement in special events •Manage the editorial, design, and publication processes for all Initiative publications •Help identify, build, and maintain relationships with key individuals and organizations •Draft correspondences, project marketing materials, and opeds/articles as needed or upon request •Coordinate closely with other Chicago Council staff members on project related plans, topics, and activities •Occasionally assist at the front desk to relieve the Receptionist/Registration Assistant in meeting/greeting Council constituents and handling incoming calls •Provide support at Council events approximately 3 - 4 times monthly (registration, ushering, etc.), requiring some evening and early morning hours •Other projects as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS •A bachelor's degree with a focus on international affairs or related field of study and at least 5 years experience in the political arena, preferably experience working in the foreign, development, and/or agriculture policy realms •Familiarity with the U.S. policymaking process and the geography of Washington, D.C., including experience working with Congressional and Administration staffs •Significant experience planning and executing meetings and events for distinguished individuals (domestic and foreign dignitaries, CEOs, senior policymakers, Members of Congress, etc.) •Demonstrated ability to work closely with others to effectively manage and carry out various portions of complex projects with multiple activity streams being realized under tight timelines with minimal supervision •Superior verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex concepts and topics clearly, thoroughly, and succinctly and support decision making in consensus-based processes •Strong writing and editorial skills, preferably experience with policy-relevant writing •Excellent organizational and time-management skills, strong attention to detail, and professional maturity •Ability to work effectively and efficiently in a fast-paced, demanding environment with competing and changing priorities; flexible schedule in working late evenings/early mornings on occasion •Great initiative, innovative problem-solver, and a proactive spirit

The Chicago Council's Global Agricultural Development Initiative (GADI), launched in 2008 and expanded in 2010, purposes to build support in public, policy, and political circles and provide policy innovation and accountability to develop and sustain a long term U.S. commitment to agricultural development and food security as a key strategy to alleviate global poverty and advance economic development. The Initiative is led by cochairs Catherine Bertini, former executive director of the UN World Food Program, and Dan Glickman, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and supported by an advisory group of distinguished development, agriculture, and gender experts from government, civic, NGO, business, and academic leadership circles.
GADI activities support the goals of maintaining the policy impetus towards a renewed U.S. focus on agricultural development, providing technical assistance and innovation to U.S. agricultural development policies' formulation and implementation, and offering external evaluation and accountability for U.S. progress on its policy commitments. In all activities, GADI seeks to work closely with other organizations doing critical and complementary work on issues related to agricultural development and food security. The project pays particular attention to the critical of role smallholder farmers, women, and girls in the agriculture and food sectors of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

The expanded initiative, launched in August 2010, builds upon the Council's previous work in global agricultural development. In 2009, the Council released the report, Renewing American Leadership in the Fight Against Global Hunger and Poverty, to provide a strategic plan for how the United States could better support the alleviation of global poverty through a refocusing of assistance on agricultural development. For more information, please visit the project's website: www.thechicagocouncil.org/globalagdevelopment.
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, founded in 1922 as The Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, is a leading independent, nonpartisan organization committed to influencing the discourse on global issues through contributions to opinion and policy formation, leadership dialogue, and public learning. The Chicago Council brings the world to Chicago by hosting public programs and private events featuring world leaders and experts with diverse views on a wide range of global topics. Through task forces, conferences, studies, and leadership dialogue, the Council brings Chicago's ideas and opinions to the world. Learn more at www.thechicagocouncil.org.

TO APPLY Please e-mail a cover letter and résumé as Word documents to hr@thechicagocouncil.org. You can also apply via the Council's Web site at www.thechicagocouncil.org in the Career Opportunities section. EOE