Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), Your Food and Health Watchdog, is one of the nations 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. Weve led efforts to pass sweeping federal legislation that has shaped the food and nutrition environment in the United States. These include the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act and menu labeling provisions of the Affordable Care Act, which require nutrition information for packaged and restaurant foods; the Food Safety Modernization Act, which gave authority to the FDA to recall contaminated foods; and the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act, which requires clear labeling of foods containing leading allergens. CSPI also engages in regulatory advocacy and supports state and local policies to improve nutrition and food environments (e.g., sweetened beverage taxes, warning labels, added sugars and sodium reduction, and addressing harmful marketing practices), food safety (e.g., banning unsafe food chemicals, reducing chemical and pathogenic contaminants in food, reforming the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) loophole, and improving ingredient disclosures and food allergen protections), and leveraging the power of public programs to improve nutrition and public health (e.g., school foods, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the broader charitable food system, and food procurement in public institutions such as carceral facilities).

CSPI is searching for a Director of Legislative Affairs to serve as the lead lobbyist for the organization. The Director of Legislative Affairs, in partnership with issue area leads, will develop and implement strategic policy objectives at the federal level and support efforts in key states as needed. This position leads and oversees legislative and federal advocacy and outreach activities to achieve CSPIs campaign goals on a variety of issue areas.

The Director of Legislative Affairs reports to the Vice President of Programs, supervises two full-time staff and (periodically) interns, and collaborates closely with various issue area leads. This position must be based in CSPIs DC office, where we offer a hybrid work environment. Employees in the DC office may choose to work from home or in the office. Though this role will need to come to the office for in-person meetings occasionally.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Legislative Strategy and Direction

• Provide strategic thinking, oversight, coordination, and management of CSPIs congressional priorities related to nutrition, food safety, and health.
• Establish, manage, maintain, and oversee relationships with federal legislative officials and staff, government agencies (as needed, and in collaboration with other CSPI staff), coalition partners, and other stakeholders to advance CSPIs public policy agenda at the federal level.
• Lead all lobbying activities for CSPI, including the planning and execution of Hill days in support of our legislative priorities. Create and ensure systems are in place to manage legislative relationships, campaigns, and track national legislation and policies related to food, nutrition, and other public health issues identified by CSPI. Support regulatory efforts as relevant to congressional priorities.
• Collaborate with cross-organizational teams (e.g., Regulatory Affairs, Advocacy, Engagement, Science, and Communications) on shared goals and strategies. Provide strategic input to support state and local policy campaigns as relevant.
• Identify research gaps (e.g., scientific, legal, or policy) to further CSPI policy priorities and projects.
• Lead and organize Hill briefings, coalition events, webinars, and trainings.

Communications and Outreach

• Lead engagement and outreach strategy for the National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity (NANA) a 520-member coalition coordinated by CSPI. Represent CSPI priorities within NANA and expand support for food and nutrition policies at the national level.
• Draft, review, and manage the development and dissemination of fact sheets, reports, letters, social media posts, infographics, talking points, and grassroots alerts related to CSPI legislative priorities.
• Prepare and present testimony, policy memos, agendas, questions, and organizational statements for hearings or public meetings related to CSPIs legislative priorities.
• Represent CSPI at conferences, meetings, webinars, political events, and in coalitions, and serve as a spokesperson on congressional affairs in the media.

Staff Management

• Mentor, manage, and support a team of two staff (and occasional interns) to implement the overall federal and legislative strategy.
• Build a cohesive team culture by modeling CSPI core values.
• Identify and support professional development opportunities and provide ongoing performance evaluation as part of our feedback culture.

Budget Management and Fundraising

• Develop and manage an annual budget for the Legislative Affairs department.
• Manage grant deliverables and budgets for relevant projects.
• Collaborate with the Development department to explore opportunities for fundraising to support Congressional priorities and NANA activities.

Required Qualifications

• Commitment to CSPIs work and mission.
• Bachelors degree and 10 years of professional work experience (post-education or internships) related to the role; or advanced degree and 8 years of professional work experience related to the role. Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated experience leading and setting strategy for a multi-faceted legislative portfolio and managing staff in a legislative, advocacy, or policy environment.
• Substantial federal lobbying and legislative experience with a proven track record of successful advocacy outcomes.
• Demonstrated success in team management and mentorship, including supervising and developing staff skills, providing regular feedback, conducting annual performance reviews, and delegating.
• Excellent judgment and consistent professionalism, with the ability to take responsibility for multiple projects and deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written com…