Lead, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

National Council on Aging, Inc.; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

National Council on Aging, Inc. seeks a strategic Lead for SNAP to advance nutrition benefits and access for older adults. The role provides national TA, policy guidance, and capacity-building support to states and partners.

The Lead collaborates with ES S SN and MIPPA teams to translate policy into practical solutions, develop resources, and promote evidence-informed strategies for improving SNAP enrollment and outcomes nationwide.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in health policy or related field preferred.
• 5+ years in public benefits, nutrition policy, or related area.
• Experience with federal/state SNAP policy and program implementation.
• Strong written and oral communication and facilitation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead SNAP and nutrition policy activities across MIPPA/SNAP networks.
• Provide technical assistance, training, and capacity building to partners and grantees.
• Monitor policy developments and translate them into practical guidance.
• Develop knowledge resources like fact sheets and issue briefs for partners.

Skills

SNAP policy

Nutrition policy

Public benefits

Stakeholder engagement

Policy analysis

Grant writing

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Databases

Webinar tools

Job description

Join Our Mission. Shape the Future.

At NCOA, we are on a mission to create the conditions for all to age well in America—today and into the future. Every day, we work to improve the lives of millions of older adults through innovative programs, trusted advocacy, and meaningful partnerships that advance health, economic security, and equity.

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Lead, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to bring their expertise, vision, and passion to help drive our mission forward. This leader will play a pivotal role in advancing equitable access to nutrition assistance programs by providing national leadership, technical assistance, and policy expertise that strengthens SNAP implementation and improves outcomes for older adults.

The ideal candidate is an accomplished public benefits and nutrition policy professional who thrives on building collaborative partnerships, translating complex policy into practical solutions, and advancing evidence-informed strategies that improve access to essential benefits. They will embrace and exemplify NCOA's core values of Caring for All, Collaboration, Innovation, Integrity, and Respect, fostering a culture of excellence while helping ensure that every older adult has the opportunity to age with dignity, purpose, and security.

Position Summary

The Lead, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) plays a central role in the development and coordination of programmatic activities within the Center for Economic Well-Being (CEW). Serving as a subject matter expert on SNAP and other nutrition assistance programs, the Lead, SNAP provides technical assistance (TA), capacity building, and policy expertise to entities and grantees receiving MIPPA and SNAP grant funding. This role requires knowledge of how federal policies impact state administration and implementation of SNAP and related nutrition assistance programs.

Working independently and collaboratively with members of the Economic Security & Social Safety Net (ESSSN) and Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) teams, the Lead, SNAP plans and delivers guidance, training, TA, and capacity building to constituents, community partners, and state leadership. The Lead, SNAP collaborates with NCOA staff and external partners to advance national strategies that strengthen access to nutrition assistance programs, promote evidence-based and promising practices, and improve outcomes for older adults through education, policy expertise, and stakeholder engagement. This includes sharing our findings, elevating lessons learned, and amplifying the voices of vulnerable older adults and the organizations that serve them.

Positions at this level typically report to a director or senior director and require deep subject matter expertise, advanced knowledge and experience, as well as the ability to independently lead complex or high-impact work. Incumbents are required to exercise independent judgement within their scope of work and require minimal oversight. These roles often serve as recognized subject matter experts and may represent an area of specialization across the organization. Incumbents generally have five or more years of experience in their discipline and a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent, as well as substantive experience at this level. Graduate level degrees may be considered in lieu of experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Participate in regular meetings and workshops for the MIPPA and SNAP network. These include various monthly orientations, bimonthly network calls, and quarterly calls with state leaders that focus on administrative updates to SNAP, best practices in outreach, and facilitated peer sharing of lessons learned from the field.
• Assist with planning, facilitation, and content development on a variety of SNAP and nutrition policy and program implementation topics.
• Participate in and help organize NCOA’s participation in routine meetings and activities related to the Center for Economic Well-Being.
• Serve as an internal and external subject matter expert (SME) and TA provider on SNAP and nutrition program services. Activities include: Monitoring partner activities; researching and providing prompt and thoughtful responses to requests for information or assistance; resource development (tip sheets, issue briefs, fact sheets, toolkits, etc.); ongoing communication with partners via various channels to support their activities and goals; facilitating and documenting grantee discussions around challenges and promising practices; and communicating learnings about the Center’s work through conference presentations, reports, publications, and other venues.
• Monitor and stay current on federal and state SNAP and nutrition assistance policy developments, implementation trends, and administrative changes, and provide information, support, and resources to strengthen and expand an integrated, sustainable service system for SNAP enrollment centers, consultants, and grantees.
• Identify, promote, and disseminate evidence-based and promising practices that strengthen access to nutrition assistance programs and support the development of an integrated, sustainable service system.
• Collaborate with NCOA staff and external partners to develop and implement a national strategy to connect low-income adults with nutrition benefits and programs while also providing technical assistance to states and elected officials about best practices for SNAP implementation.
• Work collaboratively with stakeholders to better understand the experiences of individuals enrolling in SNAP and other nutrition assistance programs and help communicate the impact of these initiatives through reports, presentations, publications, and other communications.
• Foster a spirit of collaboration, coordination, and communication in carrying out your responsibilities, and work closely with NCOA staff to drive continuous quality improvement and contribute to progress toward NCOA’s social impact goals.
• Support development of strategies that build on CEW’s existing programs, products, services, and initiatives, including especially strategies to connect our work with AAAs, SHIPs, ARDCs, food security, and the direct care workforce to Medicaid and Medicare programs, policies, and national and state-level work/initiatives.
• Contribute to and, if requested, lead grant proposal and report writing support.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Professional Experience/Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master's degree or professional degree is preferred, such as an MPP, MPA, or MPH or JD focused on health.
• Minimum of 5 to 7 years of experience in a related capacity and strong familiarity in the following areas: SNAP, nutrition policy, and benefits that improve consumers’ economic security.
• Knowledge of public benefits, aging issues, and impact of economic insecurity on older adults.
• Exceptional verbal, written, and online communication and facilitation skills, including the ability to communicate openly, listen well, learn from others, and speak publicly on behalf of NCOA.
• Demonstrated skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with varied audiences.
• Experience with proposal writing for federal, foundation, and corporate grants preferred.
• Ability to understand and to work with diverse individuals within the organization and the broader community.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite. Experience using databases and online tools strongly preferred. Familiarity with webinar technology is a plus.
• Willingness and ability to participate in anticipated in-state and out-of-state travel, including overnight travel, as requested (up to 10-15%).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Frequently required to sit or use a standing desk.
• Occasionally required to walk.
• Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.
• Frequently required to talk or listen.
• Occasionally required to bend, lift or climb stairs.
• Occasionally required to lift light weights (less than 25 pounds).

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Primarily office-based in Arlington, VA, with a hybrid schedule.
• Occasional travel is required for partner meetings, conferences, and other partner engagements.

NCOA is committed to providing competitive and equitable compensation. The salary range published in this job posting reflects the market range for positions based in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region. Because NCOA employs staff in multiple states, compensation may vary based on an employee's primary work location through our geographic pay structure. Geographic differentials are established using regional labor market data to ensure competitive and equitable pay across locations. Final starting salary will be determined based on the employee's work location, relevant experience, education, qualifications, and internal equity.

NCOA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering an equitable, inclusive, and respectful workplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.