- School lunch isn’t the same as when you were in school. I am in my 40’s and have really fond memories of school lunch. I especially loved soup and grilled cheese day, and also little smokies, mac and cheese, and steamed cabbage day. They even served deep fat fried chicken all the way until I was in high school. Today’s lunches have to meet strict federal nutrition guidelines or schools won’t be reimbursed (we’ll get to this in a min). The USDA regulations require school cafeterias to offer more fruit, vegetables, and whole grains AND limit sodium, calories, and unhealthy fat in every school meal. Get details on school lunch and breakfast standards here. So basically, fried chicken is out and baked chicken is in.
- SNPs are not funded by the State. They do receive up to a maximum of $3.51 in reimbursements from the federal government for free- and reduced-price meals, but are expected to generate enough funds to break even on their budget. This funding model isn’t sustainable. SNP’s need state funding to continue to provide school meals to students. Have you ever tried to only purchase healthy food at the grocery store? It’s expensive, right!? You go in with good intentions of getting fresh fruits, veggies, and lean meats, and you walk out with your wallet significantly lighter. Then you’ve got to make those healthy items taste good, cook them, clean up after cooking. That’s a lot of extra time and money. I definitely couldn’t make that happen for less than $4. does
- Kids who eat school lunch get more fruits, veggies, and dairy than kids who bring their lunch from home. I’m going to be honest. I have packed a lunch or two in my day. I don’t have any strict guidelines, so I throw in a PB&J (usually on white bread), a bag of chips, sometimes fruit but usually not, a Kind bar, and maybe a juice box. If it’s a crazy morning, kids may get a leftover hotdog and some Cheetos. The point is, I know that the cafeteria serves up more nutritious meals than I would send. This is why I won’t talk junk about school lunch. I know I can’t do better.
- Kids who eat school lunch are better prepared to learn. I literally can’t even think with an empty stomach. Kids are the same way. SNPs provide the nourishment kids need to concentrate, read, add, subtract, write notes to their friends, play at recess, prep for those awful standardized tests, and all the other things kids do during the day. As a bonus, typically the cafeteria staff are really kind to the students and give them an extra emotional boost.
- School meals are sometimes the only meals kids eat. This one hurts. 1 in 4 kids in North Carolina doesn’t have enough to eat. The breakfast and lunch they get at school may be the only food they eat all day. School Nutrition Programs operate during summer break to ensure that even when school is not in session, kids can eat. You can find out more here.
5 Things You Need to Know About School Nutrition Programs (SNPs)
Position Title: Health Access Manager
Reports To: Executive Director
Status: Full-time, exempt
Location: North Carolina: hybrid/remote with statewide travel
Hiring Salary Range: $62,000–$68,000
Supervisory responsibilities: None currently
About the North Carolina Alliance for Health
The North Carolina Alliance for Health brings together community voices, bipartisan leaders, businesses, and partners across the state to advance practical policy solutions grounded in local experience and designed for statewide impact. Together, we improve health outcomes while reducing long-term healthcare costs, expanding access to care, strengthening the workforce, and helping communities thrive.
About the Role
As federal funding cuts and policy shifts threaten public health and Medicaid coverage, the North Carolina Alliance for Health (NCAH) is committed to fighting for North Carolinians’ continued access to affordable care. In alignment with NCAH’s commitment to public health and ensuring health access for all, the Health Access Manager will lead and coordinate Keeping NC Medicaid Strong – a statewide coalition focused on protecting and advancing Medicaid in North Carolina.
This role requires strong skills in coalition management, stakeholder communications, and policy analysis. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, a skilled communicator, and committed to access to care in North Carolina.
Key Responsibilities
- Coalition Management & Leadership
- Manage NCAH’s health access portfolio, with a primary focus on Medicaid policy and related public health issues.
- Convene and grow a diverse coalition of organizations, advocates, and community partners.
- Facilitate Keeping NC Medicaid Strong coalition meetings by setting agendas, supporting discussions, and ensuring follow-through on action items.
- Work with the Executive Director to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including advocacy groups and community leaders.
- Manage project timelines, budgets, deliverables, and grant requirements; identify risks and recommend adjustments to keep work on track.
- Engage Medicaid beneficiaries, grassroots organizations, and communities most affected by health access barriers in campaign planning, messaging, and advocacy.
- Policy & Legislative Work
- Monitor and analyze federal and state policy developments affecting Medicaid and health access; advise leadership on emerging opportunities and threats.
- Draft policy briefs, talking points, and testimony targeted to a variety of audiences.
- Represent the coalition with media and relevant public forums.
- Work closely with the Executive Director to influence policy outcomes.
- Advocacy & Campaigns
- Implement advocacy campaigns, including grassroots mobilization and digital outreach.
- Prepare coalition members for legislative meetings, press events, and other advocacy opportunities.
- Track campaign progress and report on outcomes to the coalition and funders.
- Communications & External Relations
- Serve as a representative for NCAH’s healthcare access work in meetings with key stakeholders, funders, and the media, providing timely updates, reporting recent developments, and sharing relevant information.
- Translate complex Medicaid and healthcare policy issues into clear, compelling messages for diverse audiences.
- Collaborate with the communications team to draft fact sheets, advocacy toolkits, talking points, and digital content.
- Support coalition members in amplifying unified messaging.
- Organizational Management
- Work with the Executive Director to support Medicaid-related grants, including budget tracking, deliverable management, and funder reporting.
- Ensure projects are executed effectively, on time, and in alignment with NCAH’s strategic goals.
- Contribute to funding proposals, funder cultivation, grant reports, and sustainability planning for NCAH’s health access portfolio.
- Develop annual goals, strategies, work plans, and performance measures for NCAH’s health access portfolio in collaboration with the full team.
- Establish and track campaign goals, performance indicators, partner engagement, policy progress, and outcomes; use findings to improve strategy and support funder reporting.
- Team Participation & Collaboration
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Work closely with NCAH staff, consultants, and coalition partners to align strategies and coordinate communications.
- Uphold NCAH's mission, vision, and values in your daily work.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive team culture that values diverse perspectives and lived experiences.
- Support colleagues across projects by contributing expertise in policy, advocacy, and coalition management.
Qualifications
- Minimum two to four years of health policy advocacy or NC Medicaid program experience.
- Strong project-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple deadlines, budgets, and deliverables.
- Familiarity with the North Carolina General Assembly, state agencies, and state policymaking processes.
- Demonstrated ability to facilitate diverse groups, navigate differing perspectives, and build consensus.
- Commitment to racial, geographic, disability, and economic equity.
- Ability to work independently and adapt to rapidly changing policy conditions.
- Willingness to travel within North Carolina and occasionally work outside regular business hours.
How to Apply: To apply, send your resume and cover letter to admin@ncallianceforhealth.org by September 4, 2026.