About Kellen

Kellen is a global management and communications company serving more than 125 trade associations, professional societies, and charitable organizations representing over 10,000 companies and 100,000 professionals worldwide. We specialize in management, communications, digital strategy, meetings and events, and consulting across a diverse range of industries.

Founded in 1964 and charter-accredited through the AMC Institute, Kellen has offices in Atlanta, Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, New York City, and Washington, DC.

Kellen's greatest asset is its employees. In order to reinforce the culture underpinning our approach to service delivery, we value diversity, equity, and inclusion across our organization. Our professionals hail from more than a dozen countries and speak more than two dozen languages. We are invested in finding, hiring, training, and promoting the very best to be #OneKellen.

General Purpose of the Position

Kellen is seeking a professional to serve as a manager with food industry, regulatory and scientific/ nutrition skills. The manager will be responsible for developing, organizing and implementing multiple scientific and regulatory initiatives and projects for association clients related to the food industry. The manager will make a difference by advancing client objectives through management of committees and/or working groups. The manager will also monitor, analyze, interpret, summarize and critique scientific/nutrition and regulatory information relevant to food products, coordinate development of consensus positions for industry, and engage regulators and third parties on key issues. Experience with the food industry, state and federal regulations and the regulatory process is desired.

Essential Functions

Lead regulatory and science-focused committees and working groups for multiple association clients, including developing strategic action plans, managing tasks, addressing specific industry issues, and working with internal teams and client members to achieve objectives. Specific tasks include but are not limited to:

• Schedule and lead regular client meetings/calls, including preparing agendas and meeting materials, drafting minutes, and conducting necessary follow up with consistent processes.
• Research and respond to inquiries from member companies, and others regarding scientific, technical and regulatory issues.
• Review scientific journals, reports, articles, federal/state legislation, government agency/media reports; flag items of interest, and summarize when necessary for distribution to clients, making recommendations for action, as appropriate.
• Monitor and develop responses to relevant scientific, nutrition, and regulatory policy proposals and recommended actions as needed, engaging with appropriate client groups on final industry positions.
• Attend public policy hearings, briefings, other government meetings, and other events to represent association clients and develop/circulate reports, highlighting industry impact.
• Communicate frequently with client and internal teams to ensure strategic objectives are met within established deadlines.
• Working with appropriate association committees, develop educational content and select speakers for meetings, assist with budget and meeting logistics as appropriate.
• Represent clients in scientific/technical/regulatory/coalition meetings, provide oral and/or written comments and provide summaries to clients with calls to action if needed. Stay abreast of industry issues and alert the client along with recommended solutions.
• Assist with crisis management.
• Develop and maintain relationships with clients, regulatory officials and other stakeholders.
• Liaise with Executive Committees and Board of Directors, as needed.
• Be conversant in industry trends and be the “voice of the industry”, as needed.
• Create and maintain partnerships/relationships with related industry organizations to increase awareness and grow client membership.
• Implement client directives.

Qualifications

• Masters or higher degree in a discipline related to science (e.g., nutrition, food science, public health) or related field and 3-5 years’ experience is desired.
• Food industry experience and an understanding of the federal legislative and regulatory processes a plus.
• Sound understanding of the U.S. food regulatory environments and international food regulatory environments a plus.
• Excellent communicator and project manager with the ability to problem solve.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with consistent attention to detail and deadlines.
• Proven consensus building and leadership skills.
• Positive team player; includes working with a broad range and levels of personnel and clients.
• High energy, versatile and multi-task oriented with flexibility to prioritize diverse workload under competing time requirements and changing deadlines.
• Computer experience to include Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, TEAMS, with “Can Do” approach to diverse software packages.
• Willingness to travel.

Supervision Exercised

May supervise Associate Account Executive. If so, carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Physical Requirement

This job operates in a hybrid working environment (i.e., working both in the office and remotely). The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers and telephones. Ability to perform computer work for eight or more hours a day in an office setting is required.
• This is largely a sedentary role; however, some travel is required; this would require the ability to lift, bend or stand as necessary This position requires frequent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Must be able to lift, move and manipulate up to 30 pounds.

Travel

Travel is an essential duty of the position, up to 10% of the time and may be travel by air, car, rail.

What do we offer?

This role is based in Kellen’s Atlanta or Washington, D.C., office located in the historic National Press Building. Kellen employees enjoy ‎competitive compensation and full benefits packages including 12 U.S. holidays plus accrued PTO, retirement plans with company ‎match, medical/dental/vision insurance, tuition reimbursement, flexible work schedules, and much more. The successful candidate ‎will join a collegial, diverse and friendly atmosphere of communications, management and public affairs professionals working ‎hard to turn our client missions into reality. For more information, visit kellencompany.com. ‎

This is a great opportunity for the right candidate, seeking to make his or her mark in this well-established, international company with exposure to multiple clients and industries.

Kellen operates in a hybrid work environment, with only two days a week required in the office. We also offer a generous PTO program.

Kellen EEO Statement

Kellen does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline. In addition, it is the policy of Kellen to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees who have protected disabilities to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances where a particular employee works.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

Consistent with Kellen’s mandatory vaccination policy, your commencement of employment is contingent upon you providing proof that you have been fully vaccinated on your first day of employment with an FDA authorized and/or approved COVID-19 vaccination. Any medical information we receive will be kept confidential in accordance with applicable law. Requests for a reasonable accommodation for exemption from this policy due to medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs will be subject to review by our People & Culture Department.

About Kellen

An equal opportunity, professional services firm with a primary concentration in association management and communications. Additional services include meetings and conference management, digital marketing and strategic advice. Kellen Company is made up of 300 employees from a wide variety of professional disciplines. It has seven offices in Atlanta, Brussels, Beijing, Chicago, Kansas City, New York City and Washington DC.

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