The Northwest Horticultural Council (NHC) is a nonprofit trade association, based in Yakima, Washington, that represents the tree fruit (apple, pear, and cherry) industry of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington on federal and international policy and regulatory matters. The tree fruit growers, packers, and shippers in our region produce approximately 78 percent of the fresh apples, 85 percent of the fresh pears, and 70 percent of the fresh cherries in the U.S. Roughly a third of the production is exported each year.
With a staff of eight, the NHC is an advocacy group that engages with the tree fruit industry, academia, government, and non-governmental bodies. We are looking for an active problem solver, someone who can work collaboratively on commercially important projects within the NHC team, allied associations, and federal, state, and potentially international entities.
The NHC’s scientific affairs manager will support the development of – and advocacy for – industry positions and proposals related to U.S. and international policies on pesticides and other scientific matters such as plant pest and disease and research-related priorities. This individual will review technical material related to tree fruit practices from a variety of sources, including industry and academia, and provide sound recommendations to support advocacy efforts with government agencies related to crop protection products and industry needs requisite for their use domestically and in international trade. This position is responsible for developing technical information and formal comments to regulatory agencies on behalf of the NHC on a variety of scientific matters.
A successful candidate will be an excellent communicator, able to work collaboratively within the NHC team, and with diverse stakeholders and allied organizations, toward common goals to the benefit of the Pacific Northwest tree fruit industry. This position will report to the NHC’s senior vice president and will require local and national travel. Duties and responsibilities may expand, depending on the qualifications of the applicant and/or their performance in this role.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Monitor government notices, such as U.S. Federal Register Notices, USDA and Codex notifications regarding changes to international trade requirements, and U.S. agency policy notices, to identify and review policies and proposals that impact the Pacific Northwest tree fruit industry.
- Assess proposed regulatory actions for their technical attributes and potential industry impacts and work collaboratively with the NHC team to develop responses to government entities.
- Communicate regulatory requirements to growers, packers, and shippers to help them avoid noncompliance with governmental regulations in the domestic and international markets.
- Develop plans, write reports, and generate public comments to support industry initiatives.
- Represent the NHC and its interests in public and private meetings.
- Foster relationships with industry, chemical companies, researchers, and other technical experts, as well as key personnel at government agencies responsible for pre-and postharvest crop protection products.
- Develop relationships with industry, researchers, and the U.S. government to promote research and regulatory policies that safeguard and advance the growing, packing, storage, and selling of tree fruit.
- Identify industry challenges and work collaboratively with the NHC team to develop and execute plans to utilize government resources and make regulatory changes to assist growers, packers, and shippers in managing these challenges.
- Serve as the lead staff person for the NHC Science Advisory Committee.
Essential Job Requirements:
- Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts college degree.
- Ability to discover, review, and assess technical information, including orchard and postharvest tree fruit practices, research reports, and government regulations on science related matters.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills needed to convey technical information and concepts to diverse audiences, including regulators, industry, and the general public.
- A willingness and ability to work collaboratively, both internally within the NHC team and externally with a variety of government and non-government stakeholders.
- A demonstrated ability to organize and manage multiple projects while responding to unforeseen circumstances and deadlines.
- Three or more years of post-university work experience.
- A desire to advocate for the tree fruit industry.
- A willingness to learn on-the-job.
Preferred Job Requirements:
- Degree in a scientific and/or agriculture-related discipline.
- Experience with specialty crop horticultural practices, preferably with tree fruit.
- Experience in university extension.
- Practical knowledge of pre and postharvest physiology, entomology, plant pathology, and Integrated Pest Management for tree fruit.
- An understanding of governmental process needed to achieve regulatory priorities.
- Experience with government and/or academic research funding programs and processes.
- An understanding of pesticide practices, including those involving workers/applicators and other pesticide label requirements.
- Knowledge of U.S. EPA process for regulating crop protection tools.
- Grant, research, and/or technical writing experience.
Start Date: As soon as possible, 2026
Relocation Expenses: Negotiable
Location: Yakima, Washington
Interested candidates should submit letters of application to the NHC at 105 S. 18th Street, Suite 105, Yakima, WA, 98901 or to [email protected]. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Information on the Northwest Horticultural Council is available at nwhort.org.
Pay: $100,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Relocation assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
