The Senior Manager of Federal Government and Industry Relations reports to the Director of Federal Government and Industry Relations and leads the development and execution of federal advocacy strategies for assigned enterprise priorities. This role serves as a senior advisor to corporate and business unit leadership, translating complex legislative and regulatory developments into business implications, policy recommendations, and coordinated advocacy strategies.

This position represents Land O’Lakes before senior federal policymakers, congressional leaders, administration officials, national trade associations, and external coalitions. The Senior Manager directs the work of consultants and external partners, builds alignment across business units and functions, and leads high-impact engagements designed to influence policy outcomes, manage enterprise risk, and advance the cooperative’s long-term business and member-owner interests.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND GRASSROOTS ENGAGEMENT:

• Lead the Land O’Lakes policy and engagement strategy at the federal level.
• Provide strategic direction to with the Land O’Lakes Federal Affairs team, consultants, and lobbyists to position and drive progress on the cooperatives key policy priorities to advance the cooperative’s key federal policy priorities.
• Advise and prepare corporate leadership for high-impact engagements with key federal policy, decision, and influence makers to advance policy priorities, elevate brand awareness, and strengthen corporate thought leadership.
• Determine and prioritize engagement opportunities that position key corporate leaders, business unit leadership and the cooperative’s members before key policy audiences who are most critical to business and advocacy outcomes.
• Build and leverage strong influential relationships between federal elected officials, policy staff, Land O’Lakes leadership and members and the broader business community.
• Lead grassroots and member advocacy engagement opportunities to influence federal legislative priorities.
• Ensure advocacy activities comply with applicable lobbying, ethics, disclosure and reporting requirement, and exercise sound judgement on sensitive or high-risk matters

PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT:

• Build and lead strategic coalitions with trade associations, policy makers and other businesses to shape policy positions, increase Land O’Lakes influence, and achieve desired policy outcomes.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of external advocacy resources and recommend where the organization should invest, engage, escalate or change course.

COMMUNICATION:

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior corporate and business unit leaders by translating federal policy developments into clear business implications, enterprise risk and recommended actions to our member owners and colleagues.
• Develop and deliver executive level briefings, policy recommendations, testimony, written advocacy materials and presentations before key audiences.
• Recommend policy positions and advocacy actions to senior management, and cooperative leaders; report on progress of legislative efforts and adjust strategies based on legislative, political, and business developments.

Required Experience/Knowledge/Skills:

• 10+ years of federal government relations, lobbying, legislative affairs, public policy, or administrative government experience
• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, public affairs, political science, journalism, communications, or related fields

Required Competencies & Other Skills:

• Executive Communication – Expresses complex policy, political and business issues clearly and persuasively in written briefings, presentations and discussions.
• Integrity and Trust - Sets a high standard through personal conduct.
• Composure under pressure, is considered mature, holds things together during tough times, is a settling influence in a crisis.
• Organizational Agility, knows how to get things done through formal channels and the informal network, understands the origin and reasoning behind key polices, practices, and procedures.
• Strategic judgement – exercises independent judgment, anticipates policy and reputational risks and makes timely recommendations in complex, ambiguous or politically sensitive situations.
• Self-starter, ability to work well independently or as a team
• Ability to travel; up to 20%

$123,921-$185,880.  In most cases, candidates offered employment can expect to be hired at a pay rate near the middle of our salary ranges. 

About Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Join us and be part of a Fortune 500 company, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named #17 on Fast Company's Best Workplaces for Innovators 2026 list and recognized as a winner in the Skilled Laborers category, as well as a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and included on the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.

We provide a broad portfolio of benefits to keep you and your family at your best. Land O'Lakes is Where Your Future Takes Root.

Land O’Lakes and our global entities support diversity in employment practices.

Neither Land O’Lakes, nor its affiliates or search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.    

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