The Capacity Building and Engagement Associate works on cross-functional teams to build and maintain trusting relationships with leaders, organizations, coalitions, and networks, working within and alongside diverse communities including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ communities, those with disabilities, and those living in rural and other under-resourced communities. This work includes community engagement and capacity building initiatives to strengthen the ability of under resourced organizations to engage in policy advocacy and corporate campaigns, and strive to center the leadership of those most impacted by health inequities including those disproportionately targeted by unhealthy beverage and food marketing.

The Capacity Building & Engagement Associate leads capacity-building and power building opportunities to empower and bolster the work of our partners through trainings, events, and tools offered through the Resource Hub. This position reports to the Engagement & Capacity Building Manager and works alongside three other Engagement Associates on the Engagement Team, serving as a convener and connector to a variety of groups by supporting the development of existing and emerging relationships with public health organizations and community-based organizations. The specific geographic focus of this position is the Western Region (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming).

CSPI’s office is in Washington, DC. We are open to candidates available to work in DC or remotely in the US. As part of CSPI’s 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.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Capacity Building

• Lead the overall visioning, content development, and implementation of the Resource Hub and each of its components (Training Series, Speaker Series, Policy and Organizing Toolkits, and CSPI webinars). Strive to build accessibility and equity into the tools and trainings offered through the Resource Hub, including but not limited to language interpretation/translation, sliding scale compensation, and live captioning.
• Build out processes and workflows for each component of the Resource Hub in Asana and communicate those roles and responsibilities internally. Serve as project manager for each workflow.
• Communicate the purpose, structure, and tools within the Resource Hub to grantees and other partners and ensure the Resource Hub is promoted and publicized across CSPI’s networks and on our website.
• Seek and incorporate grantee feedback and requests for additional resources into the Hub, using grantee needs to drive new content development.
• Seek out BIPOC, LGBTQIA, and other historically marginalized voices to participate in and co-create the Training Series and Speaker Series, and other resources as opportunities arise.
• Deepen and prioritize relationship building with new partners, identifying opportunities for CSPI technical assistance on a case-by-case basis. Prioritize culturally specific and/or cross-racial organizations.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute all-grantee convenings to deepen relationships with and among grantees. Convenings will include skills-based trainings, relationship-building activities, and additional presentations highlighting current partners.

Engagement

• Work with policy teams and coalition partners to identify and implement campaign goals and strategies. Keep CSPI staff informed of campaign developments through regular updates in internal meetings and highlighting areas for potential CSPI support or campaign strategy shifts when applicable.
• Manage relationships with CSPI’s current and potential grantees through initiating meetings and calls, managing listservs, tracking action items from meetings, and coordinating CSPI staff and technical assistance resources to serve the needs of each campaign.
• Develop, implement, and measure the success of a variety of engagement and organizing strategies, including but not limited to event planning, meetings between community members and    policymakers, conferences, webinars, email campaigns, and tweet chats.
• Build capacity of under-resourced organizations to engage in policy advocacy and/or support community-building and engagement efforts of these groups in marginalized communities.
• Build and strengthen coalitions of state and local partners. Represent CSPI in diverse coalitions encompassing various public health and food system-oriented groups.
• Create internal understanding around best practices in authentic community engagement and engaging diverse communities.
• Organize and participate in field activities as needed including press events, rallies, and hearings.
• Other organizational and programmatic support tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

• At least two years of experience working in partnership with community-based organization or grassroots organizing experience. Ideal candidates will have worked in and alongside BIPOC, LGBTQIA, and other diverse communities.
• Excellent organizational skills and strong attention to detail. Experience in an office environment and demonstrated interest in equity, nutrition, public health, or public policy.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion at the intersection of public health and social justice and ability to promote it throughout the work.
• Interest and commitment to CSPI’s mission and work.
• Comfortable multitasking, taking initiative, and working remotely. Ability to work as part of a cross-disciplinary team in a collegial manner.
• Strong research, communications, and writing skills.
• Proficiency with MS Office applications, including Word and PowerPoint.

About CSPI

CSPI is known as “Your Food and Health Watchdog.” We are one of the nation’s leading public health advocacy organizations with a 50-year record of fighting for science in the public interest. We’ve led efforts to win passage of many state and local policies to improve school foods, put calories on chain restaurant menus and menu boards, and remove sugary drinks from children’s menus. National policy successes include the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act; Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act; Food Safety Modernization Act; and Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act.

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 $62,000, 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.

Application Instructions

Please utilize CSPI's Paylocity Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to apply for the Capacity Building & Engagement Associate position. You are required to submit a resume and cover letter indicating relevant experience and interest. The application deadline is March 20, 2023.

Click to Apply for the Capacity Building & Engagement Associate Job

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.