COMMUNICATIONS/LEGAL - FOOD POLICY ANALYST COMMUNICATIONS/LEGAL - FOOD POLICY ANALYST 11 12 3. Food Policy Analysts Have Master’s Degrees in Public Policy Most employers require food policy analysts to have a minimum of a master’s degree in the fields of public policy, economics, political science, education, agribusiness or a degree related to field they are working in. Typically, their undergraduate degrees are related to the industry they are interested in joining. This position is typically not one that a student enters into as soon they graduate. Having work experience within their field of interest provides them with a more holistic view of the field which aids them in creating better quality recommendations. 4. Food Policy Analysts Critically Assess Issues and Make Recommendations Many of issues that policy analysts deal with are not black and white. Two individuals could look at the same problem and have two very different ways to approach it. Policies can affect people differently so it’s up to the analyst to find a medium that benefits those who need it the most. Food policy analysts assess current policies and recommend ways they can be improved. These recommendations must be both costeffective and feasible within a period. Through their daily work food policy analysts improve their critical thinking skills. They use key performance indicators to monitor how well a policy is working such as tracking the number of households still relying on food banks. 5. Food Policy Analysts Try to Influence Political Issues and Raise Public Awareness Food policy analysts must indulge in persuasive communication styles because to get a policy passed some one needs to be convinced. These professionals know how to navigate the scene going through the right channels and getting the right people to listen to their recommendations. They know how to change their communication styles based on who they are talking to. For some parties they might want to see convincing numbers while others would want to hear a convincing story. No matter what the communication style clear and concise messaging needs to be articulated. Communication goes both ways so the analyst must also be open to feedback, criticisms and questions in productive ways. 6. Food Policy Analysts collaborate Policies are not created alone by the policy analyst. Instead, they require collaboration between colleagues, elected officials, specialists and the individuals the policies affect. When collaborating their overall goal is to build relationships and trust. To create opportunities to collaborate policy analysts will organize public events, engage in public speaking and deliver presentations. During these times they can have conversations that allow them focus in on the needs and goals of those the policies affect. 7. Food Policy Analysts prepare communication materials The overall duty of a food policy analyst is to influence public policy. These professionals create a range of communication materials include reports, internal briefings, presentations, reports, documents and position papers. All these materials require different ways to present the information and it is up to the policy maker to decide what information to include. It is essential that they think about their audience and who they will be communicating to. Questions they need to consider are: • What is the technical level of the receiver? • What is the key message of my communication? • Is my message backed by enough information? • How much time do I have to complete the message? No matter the type of communication food policy analysts need to create clear concise messaging! 8. Food Policy Analysts are DetailOriented, Write Well and Manage Projects Effectively Being a Food Policy Analyst requires a wide range of skills. However, there are a few which are more essential than others. Important account manager skills include: • Detail-Oriented – Food policy analysts are consistently creating communication pieces (ex. reports, briefs) and it’s essential that they are error free. They demonstrate their detail orientated nature by proof-reading everything before they put it out. As well, they develop systems to manage all their data they collect for policy recommendations. • Written Communication – Food policy analyst have outstanding writing abilities. They write on a daily basis so it only makes sense that they have strong written abilities. As a result, they can write clearly and concisely for diverse audiences which includes translating complex language from technical materials into everyday language. • Project Management - Food policy analysts juggle multiple projects at once and therefore it is essential they can effectively manage projects. Projects are managed by defining the over-all scope and creating a series of smaller tasks. Additionally, they monitor and control the project performance. Want to learn more about how policies shape communities? Then check out episode 20 of the FoodGrads podcast where we interviewed Danielle Collins, Economic Development Policy Analyst at the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Click the photo to tune in! In this episode you will learn about the following: - What Danielle does as an Environmental Policy Analyst - How she made the transition between Neuroscience and the Agricultural Industry - What a policy is and how it begins - How to measure if a policy is working and making an impact Niagara College is an Education Partner of ours, check them out on FoodGrads! Click their logo below! Available Programs: Social Service Worker, Culinary Innovation and Food Technology, Business Administration Niagara College Canada Have you been told you need to work on your ‘Soft Skills’? Do you nod in agreement and then wonder what the heck that term ACTUALLY means? What are employers really looking for? Learn what are what are soft and hard skills and what employers are looking for in your resume. Click the photo to read all about it! Hi! I’m Quinton, the FoodGrads Bot! For any questions please come visit me at FoodGrads.com! Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko/pexels.com Photo by Prostock-studio/stock.adobe.com
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