Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs

Pacific Coast Producers • Lodi, CA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

Pacific Coast Producers (PCP), a farmer-owned agricultural cooperative, is hiring a Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs for its corporate headquarters in Lodi, California. This senior leadership role directs multi-site regulatory compliance, government affairs, public policy, and advocacy programs. The Director monitors legislative and regulatory developments, represents PCP before regulators, policymakers, and trade associations, and aligns policy strategy with operational priorities to protect the cooperative, its grower-owners, facilities, employees, and products. The position reports directly to the Vice-President, General Counsel.

The Director leads regulatory compliance systems across food manufacturing facilities in California and Oregon; conducts risk-based evaluations; manages responses to inspections, agency inquiries, notices, permit applications, and reporting requirements; and delivers compliance education to facility management. The role also develops and executes public policy strategy, represents PCP before government bodies and industry organizations, coordinates policy materials and executive briefings, and partners with internal departments to assess and implement policy priorities. The Director oversees external trade associations, lobbyists, legislative consultants, and outside counsel, as well as lobbying disclosures, ethics requirements, reporting obligations, and political registrations.

This is a full-time, exempt, on-site position based at PCP’s corporate office in Lodi, California, with regular travel of 20% or more to production facilities and external meetings and conferences. The stated annual salary range is $200,000–$225,000, based on experience.

PCP is a cooperative founded in 1971 and owned by more than 165 family farmers. It operates processing and packaging facilities in California and Oregon and has more than 3,000 employees. The company describes its culture as focused on service, innovation, and providing affordable, high-quality food to customers across North America.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Law, Business Administration, Food Science, Regulatory Affairs, or a related discipline.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in regulatory compliance, government relations, or public policy within a heavily regulated industry, preferably food, agriculture, or manufacturing, including demonstrated leadership responsibility.
• In-depth understanding of the legislative process and agency frameworks governing agricultural and food manufacturing operations, with expertise in California and West Coast regulations such as Cal/OSHA, CDFA, CARB, and Regional Water Boards.
• Demonstrated success implementing operational compliance programs across multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Exceptional executive-level verbal, written, and negotiation skills, with a track record of effective agency and legislative engagement.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly (20% or more) to production facilities, external meetings, and conferences.

Nice To Haves

• Direct experience in agriculture, food processing, or an agricultural cooperative setting.
• Established familiarity with California legislative and regulatory environments, such as Cal/OSHA, CDFA, CARB, or regional water boards.
• Advanced degree such as a JD, Master’s in Public Policy, Food Science, or a related field.
• Established relationships within regional or national food and agricultural trade associations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, execution, and continuous improvement of organization-wide and site-specific regulatory compliance systems across food manufacturing facilities in California and Oregon.
• Conduct risk-based compliance evaluations and provide actionable guidance to executive and operational leadership on statutory requirements.
• Manage corporate responses to regulatory inspections, agency inquiries, notices, permit applications, and mandatory reporting across federal, state, and local entities.
• Standardize and deliver compliance education programs for facility management.
• Develop and execute PCP’s public policy strategy by monitoring legislative and regulatory developments and assessing their operational, commercial, and financial impacts.
• Represent PCP before legislative bodies, regulatory agencies, local governments, trade associations, and industry coalitions, including relevant legislative and government affairs committees.
• Develop and coordinate comment letters, policy positions, written testimony, and executive briefings.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, Field Operations, Finance, Sales, and People Operations (HR) to assess policy impacts, develop company positions, and coordinate implementation of government affairs and regulatory priorities.
• Direct and coordinate trade associations, lobbyists, legislative consultants, and outside legal counsel, managing priorities, scope, deliverables, timelines, and budgets.
• Oversee lobbying disclosures, ethics requirements, reporting obligations, and political registrations.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for the employee and family, starting the first of the month after joining.
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, holidays, jury duty, sick leave, and bereavement.
• Retirement plans.
• Annual profit-sharing bonus program eligibility.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Development opportunities through online courses, classroom training, and on-the-job growth.
• Competitive pay and opportunities for advancement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director