Program Officer

The Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF) is seeking a Program Officer (PO) to support its work to protect the public’s health and the environment by advancing healthy, equitable and sustainable food systems. The PO will contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of a selection of projects and activities that support CLF’s mission and strategic goals, advance policies for food systems change, and promote the engagement and mobilization of public health professionals and allies in agriculture and food systems policy. Priority topics of focus include industrial food animal production, regenerative agriculture, and food systems policy initiatives at the local, state, federal, and international levels. The PO will support activities involving multiple CLF focus area teams. The successful candidate will possess strengths in project management and backstopping; organizational skills; problem solving; interpersonal skills; and oral and written communications.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• This position requires active engagement in fulfilling the duties and responsibilities outlined below, although determining the degree of urgency and prioritization will be dynamic and involve ongoing communication and coordination with the supervisor and reflect work plan objectives.
• Essential roles, duties, and responsibilities are described below, and others may be assigned as needed.

Project Management

• Demonstrated ability to coordinate projects independently and work effectively as member of a team.
• Provide detailed project management support for programmatic initiatives involving multiple CLF focus areas, actively participating in meetings, technical discussions workplan development.
• Support focus area team leads in implementing work plans, tracking timelines, and monitoring progress. As assigned, the PO may also provide support to CLF cross-cutting initiatives and work groups.
• Develop and execute project management processes to ensure projects are completed on time and result in high-quality work products.
• Manage competing project and activity demands and prioritize and adapt when changes are necessary to meet both programmatic and organizational needs.
• Coordinate with finance and administrative staff and contribute information regarding budgets, spending, procurement, and contracts as necessary.
• Generate and coordinate processing of internal CLF approval and communication documents to ensure adherence to policies and procedures of CLF, EHE, BSPH, and JHU.

Technical Work

• Conduct active surveillance of food policy and agriculture issues with implications for public health and in alignment with CLF strategic goals, in particular issues related to industrial food animal production and sustainable agriculture.
• Track and disseminate pertinent legislative and regulatory actions related to CLF focus areas with CLF staff and key partners.
• Generate content and contribute as needed to CLF reporting and proposal development.
• Develop, write and /or co-author policy papers, comment letters, op-eds, fact sheets, communication materials and other work products as needed in support of CLF workplan objectives.
• Participate in selected relevant coalitions and assist with outreach, organizing and relationship-building activities among CLF’s network of organizations focused on the nexus of public health, food, and agriculture.
• Support CLF outreach to policymakers and government agency staff when appropriate.
• Support focus area team lead in coordinating efforts of a working group of Food Policy Councils (FPCs) engaged in advocacy for federal food policies.
• Participate in CLF research and evaluation projects as appropriate, which may include preparing grant submissions, designing and implementing relevant policy research, and public opinion polling.
• Assist the focus area team lead in developing Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications and ensuring compliance with research protocols.
• Work closely with CLF’s communications and public affairs teams to produce science translation materials and social media products that aim to advance workplan objectives, etc.
• Maintain ongoing communication program coordination with CLF staff to achieve synergies of effort, increase efficiencies and strengthen capacity for center-wide policy engagement.
• Assist with organizing and convening policy-oriented meetings and events for CLF.

Professional and Organizational Growth

• Able to adjust and perform within a flexible, dynamic work environment and foster collaboration among team members.
• Serve as a reliable source of sound judgment, critical thinking, problem solving, initiative and constructive contributions.
• Represent CLF as assigned in select arenas and key events, including with advocacy groups, government agencies and policymakers.
• Serve as a liaison and collaborator with multiple organizations and coalitions that complement CLF’s resources and expertise.
• Contribute to center-wide initiatives and collaborate with colleagues across the Center (and at times JHU more broadly).
• Seek opportunities to expand leadership and management capabilities and other personal development skills, including through JHU courses and seminars, conferences, etc.

People Management

• May independently manage work of student employees.
• Assist in orienting and training new staff members.
• May manage team’s work with support, including task coordination and management.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's Degree in a related field.
• Three years related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for experience and additional experience may substitute for education to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in food system policy work at multiple levels, including global.
  
• Master’s degree in a related field (e.g.. public health, environmental sciences, environmental policy, agriculture, law, economics, public policy, sociology).
• Advocacy, campaign, political office or agency experience.
• Experience with project planning and management.

Special Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Skilled in communicating information for different purposes, including research, policy analysis, and advocacy.
• Understanding of the public health implications of the food system and ability to assess scientific evidence.
• Ability to read and interpret a variety of reports and to synthesize information in the preparation of oral and/or written presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate projects independently and work constructively as part of a team.
• Strong organizational skills, analytical and problem-solving abilities, and attention to detail.
• Skills or abilities related to the following would be a plus but not required.
• Familiarity with U.S. agricultural landscape and production practices.
• Knowledge of formal project management methodologies.
• Experience with program evaluation.
• Experience in data visualization.
• Background in economic analyses.
• Ability to conduct data analysis, using STATA, SAS, or other research software.
• Experiencing publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
• Occasional domestic and international travel may be required.

Classified Title: Program Officer
Role/Level/Range: ACRP/04/MD
Starting Salary Range: $54,080-$74,390 Annually (Commensurate with experience)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Mon-Fri 8:30 - 5:00
Exempt Status: Exempt
Location: ​​​​​​​Hybrid/JH at 111 Market Place
Department name: ​​​​​​​Center for a Livable Future
Personnel area: School of Public Health

Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines:

*JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.

**Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate’s conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.

The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

EEO is the Law
Learn more:
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf

Accommodation Information

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit accessibility.jhu.edu.

Johns Hopkins has mandated COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, as applicable. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional provisions may apply, depending on campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.

Note: Job Postings are updated daily and remain online until filled.

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check.

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HR Business Services Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711.

The following additional provisions may apply depending on which campus you will work. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.

During the Influenza ("the flu") season, as a condition of employment, The Johns Hopkins Institutions require all employees who provide ongoing services to patients or work in patient care or clinical care areas to have an annual influenza vaccination or possess an approved medical or religious exception. Failure to meet this requirement may result in termination of employment.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Note: Job Postings are updated daily and remain online until filled.

EEO is the Law
Learn more:
https://www1.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf
Important legal information
http://hrnt.jhu.edu/legal.cfm