5F62

PAY RANGE: EP23

FOOD POLICY COORDINATOR  

 

GENERAL DEFINITION

 

This is public health program work in food policy analysis, development, implementation and management to reduce the prevalence of obesity in Philadelphia by increasing access to healthy and affordable food and reducing access to unhealthy food. The employee in this class identifies priority policies, drafts policies, and develops and manages a strategic plan for adoption of policies.  Significant to the work is contact with the Public Policy Attorney and departmental managers to select and implement nutrition policy changes that closely align with core strategies.  This position serves as a representative for the Department of Public Health on food policy issues and includes the responsibility for supervision of one Food Policy Analyst.  Work is performed under the direction of the Nutrition and Physical Activity Program Manager.

 

ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to

be allocated to this class.)

 

  1. Position must analyze, develop, implement, and manage policies directly and through subordinate staff to reduce the prevalence of obesity and related chronic diseases in Philadelphia.
  2. Only one position will be allocated to this class in the Health Department.

 

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

 

      Researches complex issues to develop a range of policy options to address food access, affordability, and marketing issues; drafts policy solutions; develops strategies with appropriate timelines and action steps to ensure successful adoption or enactment of policies; monitors and reports on progress of key initiatives; coordinates meetings and reviews policies by departmental management and advisors.

Serves as a representative for the Department of Public Health on food policy

issues, including actively engaging in and speaking at conferences, participating in internal and external coalitions and working groups, etc.; participates in national networks addressing similar policy priorities; writes comments/responses to state and federal food policy rules and regulations; develops talking points for food policy events and drafts editorial comments for local, regional, and national press on food policy issues; assists in directing efforts to raise public awareness for new policies; participates in grant writing and manuscript development for peer-reviewed journals.

Coordinates citywide efforts to improve access to and quality of foods served

in governmental, community, and employer settings including: a healthy vending policy in all City-owned buildings, a healthy food procurement policy for all City-funded food purchases, systemic improvement in school and after school foods, nutritional standards development for food retailers, and other work as directed.

Supervises one Food Policy Analyst responsible for analyzing, developing and implementing food-related policies; assigns work; manages deliverables and timelines; reviews work products for completeness, accuracy, and clarity; and conducts performance evaluation for subordinate staff. 

     Establishes and maintains working relationships with civic leaders at the local, state, and national level; liaises with large employers, food producers, food suppliers, food retailers, food access organizations, anti-hunger organizations, and academic institutional partners.   

Assists the Nutrition and Physical Activity Program Manager in convening the

Healthy Eating-Active Living Coalition, including the subcommittee consisting of the Obesity Consumer Advisory Group.  

      Performs related work as required. 

 

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

 

KNOWLEDGE OF:

 

·                     food policies, laws, and regulations at the local, state, and national level

·                     food systems approaches to promote better nutrition

·                     needs and issues related to nutrition in the community

·                     interrelationships of social, cultural and economic factors as they affect food policy

·                     public health principles and the objectives of public health programs including chronic disease prevention programs

·                     administration principles and practices as they apply to health programs in the area of specialization

·                     public policy development process

·                     paradigms for coalition and partnership building

·                     data analysis and research methodology in the areas of policy planning, development and evaluation

 

SKILL IN:

 

·                     research methods and analysis

·                     interpreting and explaining food regulations and policies to various stakeholder groups

·                     writing and speaking effectively on public health food policy issues

·                     negotiation to achieve common goals and objectives

·                     the use of Microsoft Office, nutritional analysis computer software and data management

 

ABILITY TO:

 

·                     synthesize complex information concisely and clearly in written and oral communications to diverse audiences

·                     assess the advantages and disadvantages of various food policies and their effects on health, business, and sustainability

·                     adapt research developments and current concepts in disease prevention and general nutrition to resolve local problems related to food programs

·                     facilitate conversation and collaboration among various stakeholders with competing interests to develop and implement food policies

·                     accurately and appropriately represent the interests of the Department of Public Health in local, regional, and national coalitions

·                     manage policy implementation, including development of timelines, overseeing work of partner agencies, demanding accountability, and modifying approaches as the circumstances require

·                     work collaboratively and maintain effective relationships with associates and partners from other agencies

 

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests.  Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on /12.) 
 
EDUCATION:

 

Master’s degree in public health, public policy, political science or other related field.

 

AND

GENERAL EXPERIENCE:

 

Two years of experience analyzing, developing, and implementing nutrition policies relevant to large urban communities at the local, state, or national level.

 

OR

 

Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources which has included the completion of a Bachelor's degree in public health, public policy, political science or other related field as an educational minimum.

 

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

 

Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

 

Class Established:

CSC: 7/12

Ad. Board: 9/12

 

JL