Manager of Government Affairs and Public Affairs

Come join the Tillamook Team, one of the fastest-growing dairy brands in the US, where we Play to Win to create over 200 dairy products in 7 different categories: cheese, ice cream, yogurt, sour cream, butter, cream cheese and frozen meals. Our Uncompromising Quality has led us to become the #1 Cheddar, #2 Cream Cheese and #3 Family Size Ice Cream brand, but we’re not stopping there. We’re loading up for our best years to come and want you to join us. 

As a farmer-owned cooperative since 1909, we know that being Good Stewards for our stakeholders and doing a little extra always pays off. We’re looking for team members with a One Team and Genuine Care mindset who are inspired to share the delight of the Tillamook brand with each other and others every day. 

What you will do:

The Manager of Government Affairs leads Tillamook's government affairs function, setting strategy and directing the cooperative's response to legislative, regulatory, and political risk and opportunity affecting Tillamook's ability to operate. The position is accountable for enterprise-level policy issues impacting the cooperative's farmer-owners, manufacturing facilities, employees, and brand across the state, federal, and other jurisdictions in which Tillamook operates.

The role establishes and manages Tillamook’s external policy presence through direct engagement with elected officials, regulators, contract lobby teams, trade associations, and coalitions. Internally, the role serves as the cooperative's primary subject matter expert on legislative and political matters— advising the CEO, executive leadership, and Board, and coordinating cross-functional policy engagement across Legal, Communications, Environment & Community Impact, Farm Services, Operations, R&D, Packaging, and other affected functions.

Here’s a day in the life:

• Set the strategic direction and priorities for the government affairs function. Develop Tillamook's approach to government affairs priorities across enterprise risk, strategic positioning, and political capital. Translate enterprise goals into actionable government affairs strategy and allocate the function's capacity across direct engagement, contract lobby teams, trade associations, and other functions.

• Lead Tillamook's response to enterprise-risk policy issues and multi-stakeholder situations. Direct political strategy, coalition coordination, and internal alignment on issues with material impact on the cooperative's ability to operate.

• Manage Tillamook's contract lobby teams and the function's legislative monitoring. Set scope, cadence, and deliverables for Oregon, federal, and specialty lobbyists, and lead recurring strategy calls to align external work to Tillamook's priorities. Triage legislative activity and coordinate with relevant internal leaders.

• Represent Tillamook externally and build the cooperative's policy relationships. Build and maintain direct relationships with elected officials, legislative staff, regulators, and agency leadership across Tillamook's operating geographies. Lead the cooperative's engagement across trade associations and coalitions.

• Develop Tillamook's policy positions and lead executive, member, and Board engagement on policy. Author and approve Tillamook's testimony, public letters, coalition sign-ons, and internal policy memos. Brief and prepare the CEO, executive leadership, and Board to represent Tillamook in policy-facing settings, and staff the Board Legislative Working Group as the primary forum for member-owner engagement on policy issues.

• Develop Tillamook's policy positions and lead executive, member, and Board engagement on policy. Author and approve Tillamook's testimony, public letters, coalition sign-ons, and internal policy memos. Brief and prepare the CEO, executive leadership, and Board to represent Tillamook in policy-facing settings, and staff the Board Legislative Working Group as the primary forum for member-owner engagement on policy issues.

• Coordinate cross-functional policy work across the enterprise. Engage with relevant affected functions to align on policy positions and ensure issues are routed appropriately.

• Steward Tillamook's political giving and consulting budgets. Direct political contribution strategy across candidate donations, caucus support, sponsorships, and trade association investments. Manage the function's operating budget, including state and federal consulting contracts and association memberships.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, Law, Business, Agriculture, Communications, or a related field preferred

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in government affairs, public policy, legislative affairs, regulatory affairs, advocacy, public affairs, or related external affairs work required; corporate, trade association, agency, legislative staff, or lobbying experience strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated experience developing and executing government affairs strategies, monitoring and analyzing legislative and regulatory activity, and translating complex policy issues into clear business implications, recommended positions, advocacy plans, and executive-ready communications.

• Strong knowledge of Oregon legislative, regulatory, and political processes required, with working knowledge of federal, state, and local policy environments affecting food, agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, labor, environmental, packaging, sustainability, tax, or cooperative business issues preferred.

• Proven ability to build credibility and influence with internal and external stakeholders, including elected officials, agency leaders, legislative staff, trade associations, coalition partners, contract lobbyists, executives, Board members, and farmer-owners.

• Experience managing contract lobbyists, consultants, coalitions, association relationships, or other external partners preferred; strong judgment, discretion, ethics, communication skills, and political acumen required.

OTHER:

• Ability to travel regularly within Oregon and periodically to other jurisdictions, including for legislative sessions, regulatory meetings, industry forums, coalition activity, member-owner engagement, and site visits.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications required; experience with legislative tracking, policy monitoring, stakeholder management, or advocacy tools preferred.

• Familiarity with lobbying disclosure, political contribution, ethics, public records, and related compliance expectations preferred.

Industry leading benefit and reward programs:

We offer outstanding benefits to our employees. For more information, please visit the careers page: www.tillamook.com/careers.

We are committed to creating a culture of inclusion where all employees are heard, valued and feel a sense of belonging.  We rely on different perspectives, thoughts, backgrounds and cultures to inform our work, to help us be better as a brand and as an employer and to fuel our success.  We are seeking talent from a wide range of diversity, perspectives, and backgrounds to join our exceptional organization and help us build our future.   

Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) is a Drug-Free Workplace.   EEO

TCCA prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability status (including those related to pregnancy and childbirth), protected veteran status, membership/non-membership in a labor organization, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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