Policy Director

Job Title: Policy Director

Position Type: Full Time, Salaried

Location: Remote (home office), must be located in United States and have reliable internet access. Up to 40% travel.

Vision: A World Without Organic Waste

Mission: We champion a transition to the circular bioeconomy by advancing policy, standards, research, and the systematic science-based verification of compostability and biodegradability.

Overview: BPI is the leading organization for compostable products in North America, working to reduce food waste and associated food packaging in landfills by ensuring composters can trust compostability claims. As a member-based nonprofit, BPI promotes a shift towards the circular bioeconomy through its certification, education, and policy programs. Today over 600 companies have BPI certified compostable materials, with more than 15,000 items listed in BPI's public database.

BPI is a dynamic place to work, with a fully remote staff that is highly collaborative and engaged on environmental topics. BPI’s policy work covers topics that intersect climate (methane, food waste, regenerative agriculture), plastics (microplastics), and chemicals (PFAS, additives). BPI’s Policy Director will be an experienced public policy and government affairs leader with vision, expertise, and a firm understanding of associations and stakeholder engagement.

The Policy Director role represents a unique opportunity to influence and lead the development of legislative and regulatory efforts as an expert stakeholder, creating positive change in our world, including significant reduction in plastic pollution, meaningful diversion of organic materials from landfill, and lasting circular bioeconomic models.

Job Description:

1. Lead BPI’s Policy Department (internal)
   1. Drive effective policy work at the state, federal and international level that successfully implements the organization’s strategic objectives.
   2. Develop and execute clear policy principles, priorities, and goals for the organization with the right combination of high-level strategy, tactics, and speed that ensures a future for the compostable and biodegradable products industry.
   3. Advise on and implement the department’s long-term strategic planning.
   4. Manage and shape the policy team (staff), providing guidance and professional development, and set expectations that result in individual and organizational success.
   5. Oversee contractors and relationships with lobbyists, firms providing bill tracking and intel services, and work with sister associations on policy. Ensure organizational compliance in these interactions.
   6. Identify and act upon capacity and capability resourcing needs to continue growing a robust policy team.
   7. Facilitate the development of robust principles and policy positions.
   8. Operate in partnership with internal departments to assist in expanding BPI member benefits, engagement, and long-term success of BPI’s certification program.
2. Engage stakeholders to build confidence in BPI’s ability to be impactful (external)
   1. Shape BPI’s membership forums (e.g. committees, working groups, website tools, hill days) to facilitate two-way dialogue with members, including developing common messages, prioritizing goals, garnering trust, and empowering Member action.
   2. Develop operational practices for rapid two-way communication with external stakeholders (e.g. sister associations, government, etc.), showing responsiveness, the ability to navigate opposing views, and lead an industry through complex policy negotiations.
   3. Expand information-gathering capabilities to position BPI as an organization that is quick to learn about new policy developments and can present consolidated information on the policy landscape.
   4. Lead communication strategies that distill complex and technical topics into approachable and transferable narratives for both stakeholders and members.
3. Lead Public Affairs and Advocacy
   1. Identify and lead advocacy efforts to influence audiences that impact policy development, such as PR campaigns that rally support for compostables in California policy, including introduction of bills.
   2. Work in the gray area outside of active legislative and regulatory sessions and formal comment periods, building relationships with key government and business stakeholders, organizing meetings and positioning BPI as the go-to expert.
4. Represent the organization externally
   1. Speak on behalf of the industry on key topics, with a firm understanding of compostable materials and products and the policies that affect them.
   2. Grow the department’s breadth and depth of partner relationships to avoid duplicative work in the industry, leaning on partners for their expertise, and creating amplification of BPI’s work.
   3. Attend and participate in relevant virtual and in-person meetings and events across industry, legislative, and regulatory spheres.
   4. Anticipate and plan for future challenges, opportunities, and gaps within the organization by identifying early trends that could impact our industry, and knowing when and how to connect the dots on these trends to BPI’s work.
5. Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• 10+ years of policy experience, with at least 5 years in a senior role, with a high degree of competence in all aspects of public policy and government affairs.
• Experience working on policy with industry associations and/or ENGOs, either as a staff person, engaged committee leader, or Board Member.
• Experience managing and coaching staff, and/or a company department.
• Clear verbal and written communication skills, with an ability to confidently lead discussions on complex, scientific, and controversial topics, balancing strategic and tactical approaches.

Preferred, not required:

• Masters Degree in Public Policy, or related field.
• Expertise and professional connections in the compostable products, packaging, and waste management industries.