About Kellen

Kellen stands as a global leader in providing management and services to professional and trade organizations. We empower Board leaders by offering operational frameworks and strategic guidance to better serve their organization's mission and vision.  

As a dedicated professional services company, we offer solutions to organizations, such as association management, public affairs, marketing, meeting management, education, and strategic communication. Leveraging our expertise across diverse industries including healthcare, food and beverage, buildings and materials, and technology, as well as our global perspective with a presence in North America and Europe, we collaborate with over 100 organizations to help achieve their goals.  

Understanding the importance of a strong and effective Board of Directors, we offer customized management solutions that address the unique needs of each organization we partner with. 

Position Summary

Are you interested in making an impact on the Food and Nutrition Industry? Kellen is an association management firm seeking an experienced professional to serve as a Director of Regulatory Affairs to support clients in the food industry. A successful candidate will be a key contributor to the Public Affairs team, developing and executing strategies to achieve client objectives with a deep knowledge of the complex regulatory landscape. They will maintain effective liaison with designated federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and relevant coalitions involved in issue-related programs. Interested candidates should have a strong understanding of the food industry regarding regulatory processes as this individual will play a crucial role in representing client priorities and ensuring that client policies and positions are effectively communicated to government officials and other relevant stakeholders.

Key responsibilities include:

· Serving as the regulatory lead for multiple associations in the food industry, overseeing day-to-day execution of the policy agenda, offering strategic guidance on association priorities.

· Monitoring, evaluating, interpreting, and summarizing complex regulatory information related to food products of interest to clients.

· Communicating directly with clients and key stakeholders, including regulators and policymakers, on critical issues impacting clients.

Essential Functions

• Lead execution of priorities for regulatory committees and working groups for multiple food association clients representing industry food categories and/or ingredients as well as packaging. This role includes the development of strategic action plans, addressing specific industry issues, and collaborating with internal teams and client members to achieve objectives.
• Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• • Manage regulatory and government affairs issue scope, including development of client materials in relation to activity from federal agencies (e.g., regulatory comments).
  • Develop accurate comment letters influencing policies based on analysis of current and proposed regulations, ensuring comments are incorporated into policies. Engage policymakers to clarify or refine client comments, as needed.
  • Provide input on strategy for client activities and priorities to respond to dynamic policy environment.
  • Identify and analyze emerging issues in federal and state food and nutrition policy, including priority client objectives and their alignment with Administration and state legislature interests.
  • Manage relationships with policymakers and key stakeholders, including appropriate Administration officials and professional organizations to promote regulatory agenda and execute strategic objectives.
  • Prepare materials for clients to be utilized in official meetings. Brief stakeholders, client leadership, and government affairs colleagues on priorities for federal advocacy.
  • Attend meetings with federal agency staff, public policy or congressional hearings, briefings, coalition meetings, and other events to represent association clients and develop or circulate reports.
  • Identify and analyze emerging issues in proposed federal and state policy, including priority client advocacy objectives.
  • Build relationships with external organizations including identifying potential stakeholders or organizing conference participants and speakers.
  • Communicate frequently with clients and internal team to meet deadlines and recommend actions, as needed.
  • Lead multiple client regulatory committees, workgroups, and workstreams to direct progress for strategic priorities.

  Other duties that align with the mission and vision of the company, as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a discipline related to public policy or a related field. Master’s degree a plus.
• 8-10 years experience working in Congress, federal agencies, consulting firms, trade associations, or specialty societies on federal regulatory issues, including experience with food and nutrition issues.
• Strong expertise regarding federal regulatory policy is a must. Deep understanding of current domestic affairs and their political implications is also preferred. Knowledge of state regulatory and policy activity a plus.
• Food industry experience is a plus.
• Excellent interpersonal skills crucial for success, including relationship building and maintenance skills, demonstrating ability to act as a positive team player.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with attention to detail. A proven self-starter with the ability to direct and manage projects is ideal.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including strong presentation skills, which will aid in a multi-task oriented work environment.
• Computer experience including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams, with a “Can Do” approach to diverse software packages.
• Willingness to travel.

Physical Demands

This job can be located in Washington, D.C or Chicago, IL. Kellen operates in a hybrid working environment (i.e., working both in the office every Tuesday and Wednesday and remotely other days of the week). The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

· This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers and telephones. The ability to perform computer work for eight or more hours a day in an office setting is required.

· This is largely a sedentary role; however, some travel is required, and this would require the ability to lift, bend, or stand as necessary. This position requires frequent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

· Must be able to lift, move, and manipulate up to 30 pounds.

Travel Requirements

Travel is an essential duty of the position, up to 15% of the time.

Kellen EEO Statement

Kellen does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline. In addition, it is the policy of Kellen to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees who have protected disabilities to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances where a particular employee works.