State Technical Assistance and Policy Specialist, Food is Medicine

The State Technical Assistance (TA) Specialist will, working closely with the Food is Medicine Institute (the Institute), design and lead delivery of a new technical assistance function to support states in building (a) Food is Medicine (FIM) capacity, for example aligned with state Medicaid waiver, CMS ELEVATE, and Rural Transformation Grant opportunities; and (b) nutrition security capacity, for example aligned with state SNAP, ultra-processed food, food labeling, and medical nutrition education activities.

The delivery of Services requires a strong practical orientation, comfort with implementation tradeoffs, and the ability to operate across Medicaid, public health, and delivery system contexts.

• Working closely with the Institute, lead delivery of state TA engagements within a defined scope and timeframe
• Translate and adapt the existing Institute-Kaiser Permanente Food is Medicine implementation toolkit for state audiences, producing state-ready guidance, templates, and examples as a core TA deliverable
• Develop standardized TA modules, templates, and guidance to ensure repeatability and scale
• Stay current on evolving state activity related to FIM (e.g., Medicaid, medical nutrition education) and nutrition security (e.g., SNAP, ultra-processed food, food labeling)
• Coordinate with Institute staff (policy, research, and implementation teams) to ensure consistency and accuracy of evidence-based recommendations
• Document lessons learned to inform future playbook iterations, state-facing resources, and funder reporting
• Identify emerging state needs and funding pathways relevant to FIM and nutrition security capacity-building

• 8–12+ years of experience in state food policy, state health policy, and/or delivery system transformation
• Demonstrated experience translating regulations and evidence into operational programs
• Familiarity with federal funding mechanisms for state-based health programs (e.g. CMS waivers; USDA grants)
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to operate independently within defined guardrails

• 2–4 successful, time-bound state TA engagements completed
• A state-adapted version of the Kaiser Permanente FIM Toolkit, produced and used in TA engagements
• Fully documented and reusable state TA modules
• Clear handoff pathways from TA to state-led implementation

• Reporting to:
  Managing Director, Food is Medicine Institute
• Term: 12-month consulting contract, renewable based on performance and funding
• Effort: 20-30 hours per week
• Location:
  
  Boston or remote

This contract is subject to Tufts University9s Professional Services Agreement Terms and Conditions.

The Food is Medicine Institute is a university-wide collaborative effort based at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, bringing together experts from across disciplines with other local and national collaborators to advance FIM research, training, patient care, and community and policy engagement. Tufts is the leading academic institution globally for advancing FIM, engaging in multiple large FIM interventional trials in collaboration with health care systems, extensive policy and comparative effectiveness analysis, and more.

The first-of-its-kind Institute serves as a catalyst to drive change, improve health, reduce health disparities, and create a more equitable and resilient health care system that recognizes the power of nourishing food.

Please apply via Linked In Easy Apply. When uploading a resume, please include resume and cover letter in a single file.

For any questions about this contract opportunity, please contact foodismedicine.