Strategy Associate

About the Role

The Strategy Associate is an entry-level role on the CFS Strategy Team. This hybrid position is based in Washington, DC and reports in-person to the CFS office Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday each week from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Key Responsibilities

• Funding and Policy Research

• Conduct research on federal, state, and local government funding opportunities, as well as funding from private foundations aligned with client priorities.

• Monitor and summarize policy developments, rulemakings, and guidance from relevant agencies.

• Draft weekly editions and monthly recaps of the CFS newsletter Access Granted, highlighting key funding and policy updates.

• Draft articles on agency updates and federal policies related to federal funding for the CFS website.

• Provide weekly updates to the CFS Writing Team to inform internal decision-making.

• Track and organize information on federal and select state legislation and appropriations relevant to CFS clients, including committee activity, bill status, and key deadlines.

• Business Proposal and Deliverable Support

• Support the preparation of client-facing strategic funding reports, slide decks, briefs, and memos that clearly communicate funding pathways and policy updates.

• Assist senior CFS staff with business proposal development and pitch materials for prospective clients.

• Monitor key websites and procurement portals for RFP and solicitation announcements from prospective CFS clients.

• Provide proactive communication to clients on emerging opportunities and legislative updates relevant to their priorities.

• Administrative Support

• Manage calendar invites and draft agendas for internal and external meetings.

• Assist with internal document organization.

• Occasional meeting transcription.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills.
• Strong research and analytical skills, including comfort navigating federal and state websites, legislation, budget documents, and policy resources.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (or equivalent tools) for drafting, analysis, and presentations.
• Self-starter mindset, comfort with ambiguity, and ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, unstructured environment.