Manager, Regulatory Policy--RISE

Position Description
Position Title: Manager, Regulatory Policy
Reports to: President, RISE
FLSA Status: Exempt
Prepared by: Aaron Hobbs
Prepared Date: March 1, 2012
Date(s) Revised:
Position Summary: Responsible for the proactive and innovative engagement with regulatory agencies at the federal and state level, close engagement with and leadership of our member company volunteers, open and active engagement with staff peers, and effective communication internally and externally regarding regulatory activities. Also, responsible for the development, implementation and management of effective regulatory policy strategies in support of RISE’s objectives, including matters that impact all levels of the specialty pesticide and fertilizer industry.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned. Under the ADA, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 Identify, build and maintain relationships with the appropriate individuals and divisions within the Environmental Protection Agency, the American Association of Fertilizer Control Officials, American Association of Pesticide Control Officials and others who have regulatory authority over the manufacture and use of pesticide and fertilizer products.
o Monitor, review and analyze all relevant regulatory initiatives, including the identification of emerging policy issues, to determine potential impacts on the specialty industry and communicate opportunities and threats to staff and members.
 Serve as the staff lead for the Regulatory Affairs Committee, Aquatics Committee, and other member volunteer workgroups as assigned. Responsibility includes scheduling, anti-trust compliance, serving as secretary, and leadership in close coordination with the committee chair and vice-chair.
 Work proactively and positively within the RISE team, collaborating effectively to achieve RISE goals and objectives in priority areas, authoring regular issue updates for the association newsletter, and communicating with staff about on-going projects, work and priorities.
Page 2 of 4
o Actively lead and/or participate on multi-disciplinary teams to develop strategic plans addressing current and emerging issues and implement strategies.
o Ensure effective communication with members and association staff on status of relevant regulatory policy initiatives.
 Initiate, provide leadership for and effectively work with key stakeholders and allied organizations to address specific issues of importance to RISE, including the ability to solicit commitments for such organizations.
 Ensure detrimental policy issues are acted upon in proactive and innovative ways in addition to agency discussion and/or public comments.
 Prepare effective advocacy materials including background papers, issue briefs, talking points, amendments, correspondence, and testimony for use by representatives and allied organizations.
 Actively pursue RISE leadership on priority issues at the federal, state, and local levels.
Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed here are representative of the knowledge, skill and ability required.
 Ability to read and understand the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and effectively advocate for its proper implementation and supremacy as the regulatory structure for the pesticide industry.
 Working understanding of regulatory issues of fertilizers and pesticides.
 Working understanding of and experience in dealing with legislative and regulatory processes, including rules and procedures of relevant legislative and regulatory bodies. Ability to draft comprehensive comments in response to regulatory initiatives on behalf of members.
 Strong analytical, interpretive, evaluative and constructive thinking skills.
 Strong project management skills.
 Possess and demonstrate sound judgment and diplomacy in dealing with association members, non-members and co-workers.
 Excellent interpersonal and team building skills.
 Proven ability at consensus building and trust/credibility maintenance a must.
Education, Work Experience and/or Licensure
 Bachelor’s degree in science and/or public policy preferred. Masters or doctoral degree a plus.
Page 3 of 4
 5+ years of experience and working knowledge directly related to the duties and responsibilities.
Language Skills
 Must have strong command of the English language.
Physical Demands
The physical demands listed here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of his/her job. Under the ADA, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 Ability to sit for long periods of time, stand, travel up and down stairs, crouch, stoop and reach.
 Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics listed here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Under the ADA, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 The position requires considerable concentration and creativity. It is subject to stress caused by a changing environment, tight deadlines and workload.
 Travel required for this position is minimal. Travel and other work-related assignments may include weekends.
 The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an individual assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified.
Please sign and date below, indicating that you have reviewed and understand the information presented in this job description.