Senior Director, Industry Affairs

Job Description

Job Description

fairlife, LLC is a Chicago-based nutrition company that creates great-tasting, nutrition-rich and dairy products to nourish consumers.

With nearly $3B in annual retail sales, fairlife's portfolio of delicious, lactose-free, real dairy products includes : fairlife® ultra-filtered milk ;

Core Power® High Protein Shakes, a sports nutrition drink to support post-workout recovery; fairlife® nutrition plan™ , a nutrition shake to support the journey to better health.

A wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola company, fairlife, LLC has been recognized by both Fast Company and Nielsen for its industry leading innovation.

To learn more about fairlife and its complete line of products, please visit fairlife.com.

This position is responsible for strengthening industry partnerships and fairlife's reputation as an industry leader specifically in the areas of with key external audiences on animal stewardship and farm issues and policies.

Purpose :

• Strengthen fairlife's reputation as the industry leader in animal agriculture and on-farm environmental stewardship practices.
• Build relationships with agriculture industry stakeholders to create a positive business environment for continued fairlife growth.

Responsibilities

fairlife Corporate Policy and Reputation Communications :

• Establish a strong link between fairlife's commitment to agricultural excellence as it relates to the brand's high-quality, nutritious product offerings.
• Consult with R&D, leadership, sustainability, communications, veterinarians, etc. on establishing and communicating goals and commitments in animal care, environmental stewardship, and other responsibility pillars (workers, communities, food safety, nutrition, etc.) as appropriate.
• Partner with internal teams to clearly outline fairlife's goals in animal care and environmental stewardship, measurement for those goals, and the outcomes expected as a result progress toward those goals.
• Advance / clarify / publicize 3rd party animal care goals / audits / certifications across the fairlife supply chain.
• Advance / clarify / publicize specific environmental progress and commitments on-farm, in processing, and on-product (packaging, etc.).
• Work with communications and leadership on strategic publication and distribution of corporate and brand sustainability progress reports.

Industry Issues Analysis :

• Implement advanced tracking and analysis of key agricultural and food production issues and influencers with an emphasis on animal care (especially dairy), farm policy, food policy, environmental stewardship in food production, food / beverage animal ag / dairy activism.
• Brief executive team periodically (and as needed) on key developments, opportunities, and watchouts.
• Keep current on industry events relevant to the fairlife sustainability story.
• Recommend event attendance and / or participation / speaking as necessary.

Strategic Partnerships :

• Identify key partnerships with food and ag industry organizations, NGOs and other stakeholders that will advance fairlife's stewardship and animal care reputation.
• Examples include state and national farm bureaus, Animal Agriculture Alliance, national and global dairy organizations (DMI, IFDA, GDP, etc.)
• Formalize relationships based on mutual goals.

Legislative / Regulatory :

Track animal care and sustainability developments in legislative / regulatory affairs across species (cage-free, animal medication / housing, etc.

with a focus on dairy.

Work alongside Coca-Cola corporate teams to identify issues, legislative, regulatory, and lobbying opportunities.

Competitive / Industry :

• Partner with internal teams to maintain a relevant competitive set focusing on animal care / sustainability in dairy, dairy alternative, and other better-for-you brands / B-corps.
• Summarize / categorize sustainability attributes / claims / reporting / goals / commitments.
• Keep current on animal care / stewardship developments throughout food production : retail, foodservice, manufacturers, international / EU.

Media Relations :

• Collaborate with PR team on relationships with key food / ag policy media.
• Create / fine-tune dashboards with internal and external partners to monitor influential and consumer content relevant to the brand and category on animal care and stewardship issues.

Skills / Qualifications Required

• 20+ years of communications experience with increased responsibility throughout food / beverage production, with deep familiarity with animal agriculture, agriculture policy and food / agriculture sustainability.
• Communications experience on the agency and brand sides with ag-aligned food / beverage brands and relevant industry organizations.
• Working knowledge of food and agriculture national business media, policy media, and relevant trade media groups.
• Issues management experience, especially related to animal agriculture / livestock housing, medication, handling, and stewardship issues.
• Deep familiarity with forces driving modern food / beverage production including legislative / regulatory, special interest, media, advocacy, sustainability commitments, and consumer.
• Strategic thinker that is focused on winning today AND building for the future.
• Exceptional leadership and team mentoring skills.
• Ability to build, drive and inspire a high performing team across a growing organization.
• Able to thrive in a dynamic and fast-moving environment, eager to partner, create value-based relationships with team members up, down and across the organization.
• Undergraduate degree required.

position location : Chicago, IL

reports to : CEO

travel requirements : >

fairlife, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

All qualified applicants and employees will be given equal opportunity. Selection decisions are based on job-related factors.

In addition to its nondiscrimination commitment, the Company will also provide reasonable accommodation of qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the Company.

If you have a disability and would like to request accommodation in order to apply for a position with us, please email [email protected] .