Job Description

Director Government Relations Biomanufacturing & Food Security - Washington DC

The role will lead federal advocacy and policy engagement on biomanufacturing and food security issues. This role requires direct lobbying before Congress and federal agencies, as well as strategic alignment with global government relations teams to ensure consistency across international business segments. The Director will monitor U.S. legislative and regulatory developments, shape policy positions, lead advocacy strategies, and cultivate relationships with policymakers, regulators, industry partners, and civil society stakeholders. This is a U.S.-focused role with responsibility for coordinating with global counterparts.

The position will undertake the following:
Federal Advocacy & Lobbying

• Represent the organization before U.S. Congressional offices, committees, and federal agencies on biomanufacturing, bioeconomy, and food security issues.
• Build and maintain relationships with Members of Congress, staff, and Executive Branch policy leads.
• Prepare and deliver lobbying materials including legislative asks, bill language suggestions, briefings, testimony, and position statements.

U.S. Legislative Monitoring & Influence

• Track, analyze, and influence bills, hearings, amendments, and appropriations relevant to:
  • biomanufacturing incentives, R&D, scale-up
  • bioeconomy infrastructure and standards
  • nutrition programs, affordability initiatives, and food system regulations
  • workforce, supply chain, tax, and trade issues affecting the sector
• Develop legislative strategies that support organizational priorities; manage Hill days, briefings, and targeted advocacy campaigns.
• Provide clear, actionable analyses and recommendations to senior leadership and internal technical teams.

U.S. Regulatory Policy & Agency Engagement

• Monitor and shape rulemaking, guidance, standards, and regulatory processes at agencies including: FDA, USDA, HHS, DOE, EPA, DOD, NSF, and relevant offices in the White House and others as relevant.
• Draft, coordinate, and submit comments and provide technical input.
• Interface between regulatory/policy staff and internal R&D, science, and commercial teams to ensure accuracy and alignment.

Stakeholder & Association Engagement

• Represent the organization with U.S. industry associations, think tanks, advocacy groups, academic partners, and NGOs.
• Identify and advance coalition opportunities to strengthen policy influence.
• Organize and lead stakeholder meetings, panels, roundtables, and Hill/agency visits.

Global Coordination & Multilateral Alignment

• Collaborate closely with global government affairs teams to:
  • ensure consistent messaging across countries and regions
  • share intelligence on international standards, global regulatory trends, and multilateral nutrition or bioeconomy initiatives
• Provide U.S. insights to inform global policy planning, particularly where U.S. regulatory, trade, or funding decisions have international implications.

Issues Management, Communications & Leadership Support

• Prepare executive briefing materials, talking points, stakeholder maps, advocacy strategies, and policy risk assessments in memo and/or power point/slides.
• Support thought-leadership engagements that intersect with policy goals.
• Maintain high standards of accuracy, policy rigor, and organizational representation.

Governance, Ethics & Compliance

• Ensure all advocacy activities comply with federal lobbying laws, gift rules, conflict-of-interest policies, and internal ethics frameworks.
• Maintain accurate logs of meetings, actions, and outcomes for reporting and compliance.
• Support budgeting and planning for memberships, consultants, events, and travel.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MPA/MPP, JD, MS) strongly preferred.
• 8–12+ years of U.S. federal government relations experience, including direct lobbying.
• Strong working knowledge of Congressional processes, federal rulemaking, and bioeconomy/nutrition policy landscapes.
• Demonstrated ability to influence policy with Congress and U.S. agencies.
• Excellent communication skills, with ability to translate complex science and technology issues for policymakers.
• Track record of effective coalition building and stakeholder engagement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in biomanufacturing, industrial biotechnology, food systems, nutrition security, or related domains.
• Established networks in relevant committees, agencies, advocacy groups, and associations.
• Experience coordinating U.S. and global policy activities.

Key Competencies

• Strategic advocacy and lobbying
• Legislative and regulatory analysis
• Relationship-building and association leadership
• Policy writing and executive communication
• Sound judgment, discretion, and political acumen
• Ability to operate with urgency and navigate ambiguity
• Advanced collaboration and communications skills required

Before applying for an exempt, non-exempt or hourly job opportunity, you are expected to initiate a discussion and share your intentions with your supervisor. * If you’ve been in your current position for more than 18 months, supervisor approval is not required. * If you’ve been in your current position for less than 18 months, verbal supervisor approval is required.
​Hiring Manager- Maria Pica ​
Recruiter- Amy Schroeder

City

Washington

State

DC - Washington DC

Location Country

United States

About ADM

At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We’re a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com.

Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours.

If hired, employees will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

The pay range for this position is expected to be between:

$174,000.00 - $324,000.00

Salaried Incentive Plan

The total compensation package for this position will also include annual bonus and a long-term incentive plan