Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy

Ocean Spray is hiring for a(n) Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy! We’re a team of farmers, thinkers, creators, and doers. Whatever your title, whatever your role — it always comes back to this: we’re a farmer-owned co-op where everyone rolls up their sleeves to get the job done. Three maverick farmers started it all — and we’ve been making our own way ever since. 

The Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy will lead the Cooperative’s global engagement with government officials, policymakers and other key players in legislative and executive government bodies across key markets. This role is responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive government affairs strategy that supports the Cooperative’s business objectives and enhances its global reputation. The Director will serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, proactively identifying geopolitical, legislative, regulatory and policy risks and opportunities, and advocating for policies that benefit the Cooperative, its grower-members, and the broader agricultural and consumer packaged goods (CPG) sectors.

Position Location(s): This is a hybrid role based in Lakeville, MA or Remote in Washington D.C.

A Day in the Life...

Global Strategy & Policy Leadership

• Develop and lead a global government affairs strategy that aligns with the Cooperative’s business priorities across North America, EMEA, APAC, and LATAM regions.
• Analyze and monitor legislation, proposed regulations, and political activity relating to issues that may impact the Cooperative and our grower-members.
• Advise executive leadership on international legislative, regulatory and policy trends that impact the Cooperative’s business.
• Shape and influence public policy through direct engagement, coalition-building, and strategic partnerships.

International Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain high-level relationships with government offices, regulatory agencies, trade associations, and multilateral organizations worldwide.
• Coordinate efforts among various organizations, as appropriate, including trade associations, political action committees, industry organizations, and public interest groups; and oversee the Cooperative’s membership in advocacy organizations to ensure strategic alignment and consistency across policy work and external messaging, in partnership with Communications team.
• Represent the Cooperative in coalitions, trade associations and other policy-related forums to advocate on behalf of the Cooperative.
• Lead and oversee company-wide advocacy efforts at all levels of government and oversee engagement with government officials.

Legislative & Regulatory Intelligence

• Monitor and analyze relevant global legislative, policy and regulatory developments, including trade policy, environmental regulations, food safety standards, and labor laws.
• Translate complex policy issues into actionable insights for internal stakeholders.
• Lead engagement with cross-functional teams and oversee analysis of proposed legislation/rules/policies to assess potential impact to the business or grower-members and develop advocacy approach as needed.
• Develop and maintain in-depth understanding of relevant legislative and regulatory processes.

Enterprise Collaboration

• Partner with cross-functional teams, including Legal, Compliance, Communications, Grower Relations, and Commercial teams, to ensure alignment on public policy issues.
• Effectively work with cross-functional teams to gain in-depth understanding of Cooperative’s business priorities and identify opportunities to further short- and long-term goals​.
• Support global business growth and assist cross-functional teams in identifying potential government/policy roadblocks and enablers to business objectives and advise on likelihood and timing.
• Provide strategic guidance to cross-functional teams on relevant public policy matters.

Organizational Leadership & Governance

• Lead and mentor a global government affairs team, including internal team members and external consultants.
• Engage and oversee third-party partners, such as contract lobbyists, to assist and support the Company’s government affairs efforts.
• Oversee management of Company’s Political Action Committee (PAC), including supervising and guiding political activities, ensuring compliance with applicable laws.
• Promote a culture of civic engagement, legislative and policy making literacy, and ethical advocacy across the organization.

What We Are Looking For:

Required

• 10+years of progressive experience in government, public policy and/or government affairs; experience within the CPG, agriculture, or tra