Advocate

PIRG

Food and Agriculture Advocate

Chicago, IL

PIRG is hiring an advocate to work on our food and agriculture campaigns to help us reshape our food system into one that produces enough nutritious food for everyone, without threatening our health, the environment, or the ability of future generations to meet their dietary needs. 

As an advocate, you’ll push for solutions to the most urgent problems our current food system creates, such as rampant food waste or pollution from factory farms. One way you’ll do this is by identifying and working with farmers who agree with our vision but encounter political, economic, or other obstacles that prevent them from making the changes to their farming practices that they want to. You’ll work with these farmers and other stakeholders to advocate for changes that make our food system work better for people and the planet rather than special interests. 

Representative Responsibilities

• Program Development: Help develop programs and campaigns, including researching the issue, identifying viable policy solutions, and proposing smart political strategy and messaging.
• Advocacy: Make the best case for our policies directly to decision-makers. Build relationships with players in regulatory agencies, corporate boardrooms, state houses across the country, or in Congress.
• Campaign Strategy: Develop plans to win on our campaigns, and assess opportunities for building political support through grassroots organizing, media coverage, endorsements and message development.
• Coalition Building: Meet with other groups who are concerned about this issue. Work together in order to maximize our impact.
• Fundraising: Write grant proposals, build relationships with foundation staff, and meet with major donors to fund your campaigns. 
• Media Outreach: Serve as the spokesperson for our campaigns through media events, press releases and opinion writing. Keep abreast of important developments, and raise the profile of our efforts in the media. 
• Staff Recruitment and Development: Recruit new staff, interns and volunteers and provide training and leadership development opportunities. Potential to oversee campaign associates.

This position requires exercising discretion and independent judgment in making decisions in matters of significance.

Qualifications

Candidates must have at least 3-8 years of relevant professional experience. Qualified candidates will have a demonstrated commitment to public interest, consumer, or environmental issues and to citizen-based social change, as well as a track record of leadership. We’re looking for people who are goal-driven and results-oriented, who have excellent verbal, written and analytical skills, the ability to speak persuasively in a charged atmosphere, and who want to make positive policy change. Organizing and advocacy experience is a must.

Compensation and Benefits

The starting compensation range for this position is $36,000-$45,000 and depends on relevant experience, education, and location. Candidates on the lower end of directly relevant experience should expect to be on the lower end of this range; candidates on the higher end of relevant experience are likely to be on the higher end of this range. PIRG offers an excellent benefits package. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, paid time off, our commuter benefit program, a 401(k) plan with employer match, parental leave, long term disability insurance, and may include needs-based student loan assistance. We also offer an excellent training program and opportunities for advancement. 

Location: Chicago, IL

About PIRG

PIRG is an advocate for the public interest. We speak out for the public and stand up to special interests on problems that affect the public’s health, safety and wellbeing.

How is it possible that, in the richest country the world has ever seen, dissatisfaction is rising and life expectancy is dropping? Is it just inequality? Or could it be that, in the name of producing and consuming more “stuff,” we’ve lost sight, as a society, of what really matters — including health, wellbeing, community, and a clean environment? 

PIRG’s mission is to spotlight these problems and find new solutions. Let’s make more stuff reusable, repairable and recyclable, instead of single-use and designed for obsolescence. Let’s choose conservation and renewable energy over fossil fuels. Let’s value clean air and water over short-term profits and lower costs. Let’s grow food that nurtures us as well as the land, with fewer pesticides, antibiotics and other quick fixes. 

Getting governments and corporations to make these choices is hard, and steps in the right direction are almost always small. But we have a 50-year track record of training and putting even our newest staff in a position to overcome powerful interests and win real results for the public interest.

Our Mission and Values

Why work with PIRG? Check out 10 reasons on our website.

PIRG is part of The Public Interest Network, which operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to social change. Visit our website for things you should know about our network when you apply.

PIRG is an equal opportunity employer.

COVID-19: We take COVID-19 safety very seriously. Employees must follow our COVID safety protocols and be fully vaccinated and boosted. Accommodations are provided to the extent required by law.