Food Policy Research Remote Jobs (NOW HIRING)

About FreeFrom
FreeFrom is a national organization founded in 2016 and based in Los Angeles, whose mission is to dismantle the nexus between gender-based violence and financial insecurity. FreeFrom believes in the creativity, resourcefulness, and power that each survivor has to achieve financial independence and to build communities that support individual, intergenerational, and collective healing. We also believe that gender-based violence is a systemic problem in our society which we are severely lacking the infrastructure to address. FreeFrom's work is to create that infrastructure, by:

• growing the capacity of the anti-violence movement;
• supporting survivors with emergency cash grants and our Savings Matching Program;
• building tech resources for survivors;
• creating peer networks that facilitate survivors' collective power building;
• changing existing laws and advocating for the passage of new, survivor-centered laws at the state and federal level;
• expanding the data and research that exists to support the field;
• and bringing in employers, banks, and other institutions as part of the ecosystem working to support survivors' financial security and safety.

Visit our website to learn more about FreeFrom - www.freefrom.org
FreeFrom's Work Culture:
The FreeFrom team is made up of queer, trans, im/migrant, and BIPOC survivors. We envision a world in which all survivors are able to build the wealth and financial security necessary to support their individual, intergenerational, and community healing-enabling them to thrive.
At FreeFrom, we are already modeling the types of comprehensive support we are setting out to achieve through this work. We are committed to the financial security of survivors by paying all staff living-wage salaries, providing flexible work schedules, offering a building wealth stipend, unlimited menstrual leave and other benefits, designing survivor-informed practices, and actively engaging staff in the development of new policies and best practices. Starting from within, we are building an ecosystem of support rooted in respect for the wisdom of survivors who always know best what we need and how to innovate solutions to meet those needs.
FreeFrom is also a team of nimble innovators. We intentionally cultivate a spirit of creativity and experimentation in our work, understanding that we must be willing to try new approaches and apply new frameworks in order to solve a systemic problem like gender-based violence.
Benefits include:

• 100% covered health, vision and dental insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• 4-day work week
• Childcare support
• Gender-based violence paid and protected leave
• Unlimited paid vacation + 8 weeks office closures annually
• Unlimited menstrual leave
• 401k with a 5% employer match
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability
• Building wealth stipend
• Personal and professional growth stipend
• Technology stipend
• Vacation stipend
• Additional optional benefits including legal, accident and pet insurance

Location: Remote (must be based in and authorized to work in the U.S.)
Employment Type: Exempt, full-time position
Salary: $90k Annually
Position Reports To: State Policy and Advocacy Manager
Direct Reports: [None]
Deadline: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, and we will close the posting as soon as we have enough applicants. We recommend applying as early as possible, since the posting can close sooner than expected.
Start Date: October 15th, 2026
About the position
FreeFrom is looking for a Policy Research Specialist to take our systems change and strategy work to the next level. An ideal applicant is passionate about policy and research with experience reading and analyzing legislation, regulations, and policy across any level of government, who is ready to reimagine how government entities can and should support survivors of gender-based violence. The Policy Research Specialist should be detail-oriented, able to read and analyze policy with a survivor-centered lens. The Policy Research Specialist should also thrive in a fast-paced and nimble environment, and be ready and willing to iterate approaches where needed.
Essential Responsibilities

• Policy Map and Scorecard Research and Implementation
• • Exercise day-to-day ownership of the Policy Map and Scorecard, including analyzing policy developments, determining appropriate updates, maintaining accuracy, and identifying improvements..
  • Identify, research, and monitor legislative, electoral, and regulatory activity across states aligned with policy categories.
  • Evaluate relevant legislative developments, determine appropriate categorization/scoring under established criteria, and prepare updates
  • Select states with promising or innovative legislative proposals to highlight on the Policy Map and Scorecard at least twice a year.
  • Ensure consistency, clarity, and quality control across all data and public-facing content, and recommend improvements that contribute to an increase in public use of Policy Map and Scorecard.
  • Flag user inquiries and technical issues to the State Policy and Advocacy Manager and troubleshoot solutions.
  • In consultation with and support from the State Policy and Advocacy Manager, coordinate between systems change, marketing and communication, and technical teams to ensure the tool functions effectively and meets user needs.
• Generate Insights to Inform Strategy
• • Analyze nation-wide legislative activity and present key insights, trends, and gaps to the State Policy and Advocacy Specialist, the State Policy and Advocacy Manager, and leadership as needed or requested.
  • Contribute to regular updates, briefs, and reports for internal teams, leadership, and external stakeholders.
  • Update internal resources based on the Policy Map and Scorecard and create additional resources that facilitate policy analysis across states, regions, and categories.
• Support Systems Change Strategy Through Cross-Team Collaboration
• • Collaborate with the State Policy and Advocacy Manager to support advocacy priorities and campaigns.
  • Support private sector and advocacy work by contributing research and insights, as needed.
• Support Map and Scorecard Evolution and Expansion
• • In coordination with the State Policy and Advocacy Manager and Systems Change Team, co-design the expansion of the Policy Map and Scorecard, including by assessing relevant policy developments and needs from the intended audience.
  • Evaluate on, at least, an annual basis the policy categories and scoring criteria, and recommend further refinements based on developments in the field to the State Policy and Advocacy Manager.
  • Incorporate survivor input, partner feedback, and field learnings to ensure the tool remains survivor-centered and responsive.
  • Identify opportunities to improve features, accessibility, and user experience.
  • In collaboration with the State Policy and Advocacy Manager, develop strategies to expand the reach and use of the Map and Scorecard among advocates, survivors, and policymakers, including through presentations.
  • Implement updates to the Policy Map and Scorecard.
• Support Internal Coordination and Communication
• • Provide regular updates to the State Policy and Advocacy Manager and leadership.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support project execution, communications, and strategy alignment.
  • Contribute to report writing, presentations, and other organizational outputs as needed.
  • Support fundraising efforts through timely contributions of data, insights, and materials.
• Engage in Continued Learning and Field Awareness
• • Continuously learn from developments by monitoring legislative, regulatory, and field trends impacting survivor financial security.
  • Continuously build knowledge of policy approaches across states and at the national level.
  • Learn from survivor leaders, partners, and emerging best practices to strengthen policy analysis and tool development.
  • In collaboration with the Systems Change team, recommend strategies to leverage existing policies and systems to advance FreeFrom's broader strategy.
  • Assist with tracking metrics for impact and evaluation.

Required Skills and Experience

• Required: 2 years in policy, advocacy, or legislative work, or a JD, MPP, or MPA.
• • Preferred: state legislative experience and familiarity with survivor financial security policy.Ability to research, read, analyze, and critique policy language; including laws, policies, regulations, administrative rules, etc.
• Ability to independently evaluate policy developments, weigh competing considerations, identify significant trends and issues, and make recommendations regarding policy analysis, tool development, and strategic priorities.
• Ability to make policy information accessible to broad audiences and translate technical policy into plain language
• Ability to speak publicly and effectively communicate complex policies in an accessible manner
• Excellent organizational skills, with high accuracy and attention to detail
• Commitment to FreeFrom's mission, innovation, and survivor-centered advocacy

Working Conditions
This is a remote role with a flexible schedule designed to support diverse working styles and life circumstances. Remote work environments vary, and occasional distractions are normal. The expectation is to manage time effectively in ways that honor both personal needs and shared responsibilities, meet agreed-upon deadlines, maintain open communication, and collaborate with care and clarity.
We have a four-day work week, and occasional hours beyond a typical workday or workweek may be needed depending on organizational priorities. As much as possible, advance notice of these needs will be communicated early and often. Some travel may be requested for policy and advocacy needs, team retreats or in-person gatherings, with consideration for individual needs and preferences.
This role is primarily computer-based and involves extended periods of working on a computer, including using a keyboard and mouse and viewing a screen. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to support employees in performing the essential functions of their role, in alignment with organizational capacity and applicable laws.
Equity and Advancement Notes
This position is expected to uphold and actively advance FreeFrom's commitment to equity, collective care, accessibility, and people-centered, trauma-informed leadership in all aspects of their work, both internally and externally.
Internal Revision
This role will be evaluated at least annually and may evolve or be revised based on organizational needs.
How to Apply
Please complete your application and upload all required materials. Incomplete applications or applications submitted outside of this process will not be considered.
As part of your application, you will be asked to upload:

• Your resume
• A descriptive cover letter

In your cover letter, tell us how your experience and qualifications make you a strong fit for this role, and share what draws you to FreeFrom's mission of ending gender-based violence by tackling its financial roots, so survivors can build lasting safety and economic security.
Timeline Details

• Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, and we will close the posting as soon as we have enough applicants. We recommend applying as early as possible, since the posting can close sooner than expected.
• Interviews will be scheduled starting September 8th, 2026
• This position will remain open until filled. We are looking to fill the position by mid October.

The Interview Process

1. Application review
2. Phone Interview with the State Policy and Advocacy Manager (20-30 minutes)
3. Interview with Panel #1 (60 minutes - Zoom)
4. Interview with Panel #2 (60 minutes - Zoom)
5. One-on-One Assessment with Hiring Manager (20-30 minutes)
6. Reference Check

FreeFrom is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from people whose lived experiences are reflected in our work, including Black, Indigenous, and people of color, immigrants, survivors, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and those who have experienced systemic oppression or gender-based violence.
The pay range for this role is:
90,000 - 90,000 USD per year (Remote (United States))