School Food Policy Coordinator

 

Friends of the Earth is a hard-hitting, progressive, environmental organization that pulls no punches and speaks sometimes uncomfortable truth to power. It's an approach that has worked for five decades to produce important victories that help protect our planet and its people. We're part of Friends of the Earth International, a federation of groups working in more than 70 countries on today's most urgent environmental and social issues. 

To accomplish our mission, Friends of the Earth is working at the nexus of environmental protection, economic policy and social justice to fundamentally transform the way our country and the world value people and the environment.

Department Overview
 Friends of the Earth's Food and Agriculture Program is working to rapidly transition our food system to one that is sustainable, healthy and just. We carry out market and policy campaigns aimed at protecting pollinators, reforming animal agriculture and reducing the harmful environmental and social impacts of industrial agriculture, while advocating for healthy, just, and sustainable food production. Our School Food Program works to advance healthy, plant-forward, and organic K-12 school meals through policy advocacy, research, coalition building, technical assistance, and youth organizing. We lead the Plant Powered School Meals Coalition, a national coalition that unites stakeholders, shifts public perception, and secures policies that make plant-based school meal options the norm. 

Position Summary
The School Food Policy Coordinator will support the implementation and growth of Friends of the Earth's School Food Policy program by coordinating three interconnected areas of work: the Plant Powered Youth Fellowship, state-level school food policy initiatives, and the Plant Powered School Meals Coalition. The Coordinator will empower youth advocates, support state-level policy efforts, facilitate coalition activities, and strengthen member engagement while maintaining systems to track activities, evaluate progress, and document outcomes. Through this work, the Coordinator will expand the program's capacity and help build a stronger, more effective movement to advance healthy, plant-forward meals in K–12 schools.

Working within established strategies and workplans, the School Food Policy Coordinator independently organizes day-to-day activities, prioritizes deadlines, resolves routine implementation challenges, and recommends improvements. The role works closely with the School Food Policy Manager, Deputy Director of Food Systems and Agriculture Policy, and colleagues supporting communications, advocacy, and grant reporting. 

This is a remote position with preference for candidates in Washington state, Washington DC, California, New York, or Minnesota, and requires approximately 10 percent travel, including coordination of the fellowship's annual Washington DC Capitol Hill fly-in. The role requires availability for evening meetings between 5 and 9 p.m. Eastern Time and occasional weekend meetings to accommodate students' school schedules.

The annual salary range for this full-time, remote position is $63,000 - $68.000. Starting salary is determined by qualifications, skills, and experience relevant to the role.

This position is represented by the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU). The first three (3) months of employment constitute an introductory (probationary) period. 

Essential Functions

Plant Powered Youth Fellowship Coordination

• Coordinate day-to-day and year-round implementation of the Plant Powered Youth Fellowship in coordination with Chilis on Wheels, including recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, student engagement, program milestones, and participant deliverables.
• Facilitate student working groups, leadership development sessions, advocacy trainings, and workshops that build skills in school food organizing, campaign development, and policy advocacy.
• Mentor fellows as they develop and implement school meal campaigns, connect with project advisors and peer mentors, and participate in advocacy opportunities.
• Maintain campaign toolkits, educational resources, shared documents, and communications systems that support student participation and success.
• Coordinate major fellowship activities, including the annual Washington, DC, Capitol Hill fly-in, legislator meetings, student presentations, and final projects; document outcomes.

Plant Powered School Meals Coalition Coordination 

• Coordinate day-to-day coalition activities that strengthen member collaboration and support the expansion of plant-based meals in U.S. K–12 schools.
• Organize quarterly coalition meetings, working groups, and Steering Committee decision processes; prepare agendas, document decisions, and follow up on action items.
• Maintain regular member communications, share policy and campaign updates, and identify opportunities to deepen engagement and participation.
• Support collective advocacy by coordinating member participation in shared priorities, campaign activities, and policy efforts.
• Connect fellowship activities and youth perspectives with coalition working groups, campaigns, educational events, and other advocacy opportunities.
  
  

State School Food Policy Support 

• Research and track legislative, regulatory, administrative, and procurement opportunities that advance plant-forward K–12 meals in priority states.
• Support state advocacy campaigns by preparing policy and advocacy materials, coordinating partners and advocates, and assisting with outreach to decision-makers.
• Work with program leadership and partners to identify plant-based procurement policy opportunities and contribute to the program's goal of seeding or substantially supporting at least five new state-level policies by 2028.
• Maintain records of policy opportunities, campaign activities, partner engagement, and progress toward program objectives.
• Coordinate implementation with senior staff and external partners to keep activities aligned with established organizational strategies and campaign priorities.

Program Effectiveness and Accountability 

• Develop and maintain shared systems for tracking workplans, milestones, deliverables, and outcomes across the fellowship, coalition, and state policy initiatives.
• Monitor progress toward organizational priorities and grant commitments, maintain accurate records, and contribute information for funder and leadership reports.
• Collect participant and partner feedback, assess program activities and outcomes, and recommend improvements to implementation.
• Facilitate information sharing across workstreams and communicate progress, emerging needs, and challenges to program leadership, seeking guidance on issues requiring approval.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or at least 3 years of professional experience in youth development, advocacy, organizing, public policy, coalition coordination, education, public health, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain productive relationships with stakeholders from varied backgrounds, navigate differing perspectives and organizational interests, and foster trust and collaboration.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to coordinate multiple workstreams, maintain reliable administrative systems, follow through on commitments, and adapt to changing deadlines and priorities.
• Demonstrated interest in food systems, school meals, public health, environmental sustainability, or social justice, and the ability to learn new subject matter.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to facilitate meetings and coordinate collaborative projects.
• Ability to work independently within established priorities, troubleshoot implementation challenges, produce accurate work, and exercise sound judgment about when to seek guidance.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, and experience using spreadsheets, shared documents, and digital tools to organize information and track projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• Candidates located in California, New York, Minnesota, Washington state, or Washington, DC, with additional preference for proximity to state capitals are preferred. Candidates residing elsewhere should have reasonable access to a commercial airport to support frequent domestic business travel.
• Experience advocating for plant-based meals or beverages in K–12 schools, colleges, universities, or other institutional settings.
•  Experience working with high school or college students through organizing, mentorship, leadership development, or training and workshop facilitation.
• Experience supporting legislative, regulatory, administrative, or procurement policy initiatives, particularly at the state level.
• Familiarity with Google Workspace, Airtable, Canva, Mailchimp, Slack, Asana, or similar collaboration, communications, and project tracking tools.
• Firsthand understanding of K–12 school meal programs or barriers to nutritious school food, including experience with free or reduced-price school meals. 

Perks and Benefits

We're proud to be a generous, people-first employer that invests in your growth and well-being. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to help you thrive both personally and professionally: 

• 37.5-hour work week to support work-life balance
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage (80% for eligible dependents)
• Disability and life insurance for added security
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for healthcare and dependent care
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Generous paid time off, including:
  
• • 25 vacation days in the first year
  • 15 paid holidays
  • 20 sick days
  • 3 floating holidays
  • Summer Fridays (the last two Fridays in July and all Fridays in August)
  • Winter break (office closed between Christmas and New Year's)
  • Parental leave, sabbatical options, and more
• Professional development and IT stipend
• Education reimbursement and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Friends of the Earth is an equal opportunity employer who encourages applications from women, people of color and other members of underrepresented groups who will contribute to the diversity of its staff. In compliance with federal law, all people hired will be required to verify identity and complete eligibility verification upon hire.