Policy Associate

Description

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) helped lead the effort for passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, a landmark law that got soda and most junk food out of schools and ensures that school meals provide more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and less salt and saturated fat. Since then, we have been working to defend science-based school nutrition requirements, pass policies to allow all students to receive free school meals, and ensure schools have the tools they need to provide healthy, delicious meals.

This is a 12-month, grant-funded, full-time position with the possibility of extension. We are seeking a Policy Associate to join the Child Nutrition Programs team to focus on CSPI’s state school foods policy portfolio. This position will report to the Child Nutrition Campaign Manager, and the anticipated start date is mid-June 2026.

CSPI’s state school food policy priorities include increasing access to free school meals, requiring strong, evidence-based nutrition standards, and ensuring schools have the resources they need (e.g., sufficient reimbursement, equipment, infrastructure) and systems in place (e.g., training for staff, sufficient time for students to eat) for students to reap the benefits of nutritious school meals.

CSPI’s office is in Washington, DC, where we offer a hybrid work environment with staff free to work from home but available for occasional in-person meetings based on team needs. But many of our staff work remotely at locations across the US. We will consider DC-based or remote applicants within the US.

About CSPI

CSPI is one of the nation’s leading public health advocacy organizations, with a 50-year record of fighting for public health and a food system that makes healthy, sustainable food accessible to all.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Policy advocacy:

• Coordinate CSPI’s statewide advocacy to advance child nutrition policies, including assisting with the development of statewide policy goals and strategies.
• Advocate for statewide policies via lobbying, testimony, letters of support, and other tactics. Coordinate activities with contract lobbyists as needed.
• Track state policies impacting child nutrition programs, ranging from legislation, regulations, budget allocations, ballot initiatives and other policies.
• Broaden support for policy priorities among state-level elected and appointed officials, allied organizations, academics and health professionals, and concerned citizens.
• Work with cross-functional teams to develop evidence-based child nutrition policy recommendations.

Coalitions, partner engagement, and relationship building:

• Represent CSPI in coalitions and with partners, cultivating and expanding relationships with new and existing organizations and partners.
• Conduct outreach to state agencies and school districts to support school meal priorities.
• Provide technical assistance, materials, and strategic advice to organizations and coalitions as needed.

Corporate engagement and corporate campaigns:

• Engage relevant industry groups and associations on initiatives to improve their school food focused products and practices.
• Support campaigns to put pressure on industry to improve their practices.

Communications and campaign materials:

• Develop and update resources, including fact sheets, web pages, case studies, social media posts, infographics, communications materials, talking points, grassroots alerts, testimony, and other advocacy and legislative materials.

External relations:

• Organize and represent CSPI at meetings, events, briefings, webinars, calls, and with the press.

Development and project finance:

• Contribute to grant applications and reports.

Subgranting:

• In coordination with the Engagement Team, identify and research potential subgrantees, review grant proposals, monitor metrics and budgets, and provide advice and technical assistance to subgrantees.

Management:

• Manage interns and contractors where applicable.

General:

• Perform other departmental activities as needed.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate would possess:

• Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of lobbying, legislative, or policy experience are required.
• State policy experience is strongly preferred.
• Advanced education in health policy or nutrition preferred (MS, MPP, MPH, or the equivalent—counts as two years of experience).
• School nutrition operations experience is preferred but not required.
• Basic knowledge of evidence-based food and nutrition recommendations for health.
• Experience working with a variety of diverse stakeholders credibly and professionally.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to speak effectively and persuasively.
• Excellent research and writing skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent judgment and consistent professionalism, with the ability to take responsibility for multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work as part of a cross-disciplinary team in a collegial manner.
• Interest in and commitment to CSPI’s work and mission.
• Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion at the intersection of public health and social justice, and the ability to promote it throughout the work.
• Proficiency with MSOffice applications, social media, advocacy tools, and other web-based applications.

CSPI on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

CSPI is committed to including and valuing diverse voices and fostering a culture that ensures all staff feel a sense of belonging and are encouraged to be their best selves. In that spirit, each of us is committed to putting in constant work to live up to our organization’s core values:

• We are inclusive. We seek to foster an environment where all staff feel a sense of belonging and are affirmed. We actively welcome and value staff with different experiences, backgrounds, attributes, abilities, and perspectives.
• We are open. We are honest and direct in how we communicate with each other.
• We are kind. We communicate and treat one another in a respectful, generous, considerate, and compassionate way.
• We are collaborative. We work together for the common good and shared success.
• We are accountable. We acknowledge and assume responsibility for our actions, learn from our mistakes with humility, and change course when circumstances warrant.

Compensation

The salary range is $65,000 to $70,000, based on relevant experience. The actual salary offered will consider many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, experience, internal pay equity, and budget. CSPI offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes: 3 weeks of annual vacation leave; additional paid holiday leave between December 24 and January 1; 8 weeks of paid parental leave; excellent medical and dental insurance with CSPI paying a significant portion of employee and dependent premiums; and a 3% employer match contribution to the retirement plan after six months of service. We also offer ½ day Fridays, which means full-time staff work 36 hours per week.

To Apply

Please submit a resume and cover letter highlighting relevant experience. The application deadline is Monday, 5/18/26.

CSPI is committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills and encourages people of diverse ages, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, disabilities, religions, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, work, and life experiences to apply.

Research indicates members of marginalized groups tend to underestimate their qualifications and apply only if they are a 100% match. If you are passionate about CSPI's mission and think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don’t check all the boxes, please apply. We’d appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.