Director of Legislative Affairs

Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), “Your Food and Health Watchdog,” 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. We’ve 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 CSPI’s 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 CSPI’s 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 CSPI’s 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 CSPI’s 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 CSPI’s 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 CSPI’s work and mission.
• Bachelor’s 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 communication skills, especially the ability to speak effectively and persuasively before diverse audiences such as Congressional staff, coalition partners, and media.
• Excellent research and writing skills with the ability to translate complex policy issues into accessible content.
• Demonstrated experience engaging with policy and regulatory campaigns, coalitions, and partners with diverse policy perspectives.
• A strong commitment to fostering and modeling a positive and collaborative organizational culture, including a focus on receiving and providing feedback, and a desire for continuous learning and growth.
• Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion at the intersection of public health and social justice, and the ability to promote it throughout our work.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with MS Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiarity with web-based advocacy tools, such as CongressPlus and MailChimp.
• Ability to work independently, with supervision, and as part of a team.
• Ability to work additional hours as needed.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience in public health, food, or nutrition policy.
• Experience in coalition building and strategic oversight of a large policy portfolio.
• Experience working as a staff member within a U.S. Congressional office or committee.
• Commitment and/or experience in advancing evidence-based and community-informed policies.

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 $135,000 to $150,000, based on 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, dental and vision 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, so our work week is 36 hours.

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 with priority given to applications submitted by March 20, 2026.

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.

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, dental and vision 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, so our work week is 36 hours.