Food First/The Institute for Food and Development Policy is a progressive, independent, non-profit think tank in the San Francisco Bay area. We have been working for 30 years against hunger and for ecologically and socially sustainable agriculture, economic and social human rights, and alternative trade and development policies for the global South and North, with wide influence and many supporters worldwide.

The Policy Analyst will engage in socio-economic research, documentation, and analysis, writing, advocacy, public speaking, media appearances, and coalition building. She or he will report to and set a research agenda and work plan in consultation with the executive director.

Responsibilities include:

• Conduct research on some of the following issues: hunger and human rights in the U.S. and/or the global South, food sovereignty; land reform, racial and gender dimensions of malnutrition, agriculture-environment linkages, sustainable farming and policies to support it, alternative food systems and producer-consumer networks, industrial agriculture and crop genetic engineering, corporate concentration in the food system; trade policy; privatization of seeds and knowledge, and defense of the commons.
• Produce and help disseminate analytical reports putting forth and backing up Food First's positions on such issues.
• Participate in grant writing and fundraising.
• Advance alternative policy options consistent with Food First's mission and in coalition with social movements for justice and sustainability.
• Write for a variety of audiences: scholars, students, policy makers, print media, activists, Food First's more than 8,000 members, and the general public.
• Speak on behalf of Food First in a variety of public forums and in the media.
• Help develop networks of research and media collaborators, partner organizations and activists in the global-justice and environmental movements, and funders.

Qualifications:
Required:

• Record of excellence in research, analysis, writing for diverse audiences, public speaking, and networking.
• Experience working actively for social change.
• Demonstrated commitment to the values and mission of Food First.
• Cooperative, energetic and collaborative team player, with leadership qualities.
• Flexible, willing and interested to work on diverse issues as described above.
• Able to juggle multiple projects efficiently.
• Comfortable with common computer applications and interested in making creative use of the internet.

Desired:

• English fluency is required; fluency in a second language is strongly preferred.
• Preferred: a graduate degree in a related field (ideally a PhD, or MS, or MA).
• Experience living and working outside the U.S. is a strong plus.

Salary and Benefits

Starting salary: low - mid-$40s. Benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision coverage and retirement contribution.

To Apply

The search will remain open until the position is filled. Send cover letter, resume or CV, complete contact information for three references, samples of popular and academic writing, and any media coverage of you and your work to

Search Committee, Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy, 398 60th Street, Oakland, CA 94618. Materials may be sent electronically as .doc, .rtf, .pdf, or plain text files to search@foodfirst.org.

Food First is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color and international applicants are especially encouraged to apply.