Center for Science in the Public Interest
Full-time
Lived Experience of SNAP
Degree and Experience Required
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is hiring a Policy Associate to join their healthy food access team.
They are seeking applicants who are knowledgeable about SNAP, and specifically fruit and vegetable incentive programs, to support their state and federal advocacy. This position can be fully remote or hybrid in CSPI’s DC office, and the salary range is $58-70K.
Application deadline is 12/13/23.
Description
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the nation’s leading, independent authority on food and nutrition, seeks a Policy Associate with expertise on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the charitable food sector (the network of food banks, food pantries, and other meal programs in the U.S.). This position is part of a team working to examine and strengthen the public health impacts of the U.S. federal nutrition and food safety net programs.
The Policy Associate will contribute to projects aimed at ensuring that SNAP participants have adequate purchasing power for nutritious food and reducing barriers to accessing and utilizing SNAP. The ideal candidate will be knowledgeable about SNAP policy related to Disaster SNAP, SNAP fruit and vegetable incentives (GusNIP), and the charitable food system, and have an interest in policy making related to creating healthier food environments.
This position reports to the Senior Policy Associate and the anticipated start date is late February 2024. CSPI’s office is in Washington, DC, where we offer a hybrid work environment, but many of our staff work remotely at locations across the US. We will consider DC-based or remote applicants within the US. As a public health organization, CSPI makes efforts to maintain a safe workplace for employees and visitors. We require all employees to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they are eligible, and the vaccine is available to them. Proof of vaccination is required during the onboarding process.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Serve as the issue expert on state and federal policies related to increasing purchasing power for SNAP participants. This may include strengthening and expanding SNAP incentives for fruits and vegetables, exploring a strategy for integrating incentives onto Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, increasing SNAP benefit levels, exploring expansion of allowable foods, and economic support policies.
- Serve as the issue expert on state and federal policies related to expanding SNAP utilization.
- Provide subject matter expertise and technical assistance to state/local partners across the country leading campaigns to strengthen SNAP incentives and expand utilization.
- Monitor federal SNAP and charitable food sector policy developments and support advocacy opportunities.
- Monitor scientific literature relevant to your issues to inform policy positions and advocacy strategies.
- Write and publish materials to advance CSPI’s healthy food access work including fact sheets, case studies, public comments, op-eds, blogs, social media, project and grant reports, and other resources.
- Build strong partnerships with advocates and coalitions, particularly leaders in the SNAP policy space, mobilize grassroots advocates, and use social media in support of food and nutrition policies and programs.
- Represent CSPI in coalitions, at conferences and meetings, at public hearings, and with policymakers and the press.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate would possess:
- Advanced degree (e.g., MPH, MPP) and at least 3 years of programmatic or public policy experience; or bachelor’s degree and 5 years of public policy or other relevant experience.
- Lived experience with food safety net programs like SNAP, WIC, or the charitable food system preferred.
- Basic knowledge of evidence-based food and nutrition recommendations for health preferred.
- Experience working in and alongside food security, food justice, social justice, BIPOC, LGBTQIA, and other diverse communities. Ability to build strong relationships with a wide array of stakeholder groups.
- 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 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 are not looking for everyone to think and look the same. 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 in order to build trust and integrity within our organization.
- We are accountable. We acknowledge and assume responsibility for our actions.
- 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.
Compensation
The salary range is $58,000 to $70,000, based on experience. 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 one year of service. We also offer ½ day Fridays.
To Apply
Please utilize CSPI’s Paylocity Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to apply for the position. You are required to submit a resume and cover letter highlighting relevant experience and interest. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis prior to the 12/13/23 deadline.
CSPI is committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspective, and skills and encourage people of diverse ages, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, disabilities, religions, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, work, and life experiences to apply.