Careers

Director of Competition and Market Fairness

The Consumer Federation of America (CFA), one of the nation’s leading nonprofit consumer advocacy organizations, seeks a full-time Director of Competition and Market Fairness to lead CFA’s advocacy, research, and educational efforts that support consumer interests and address the need for consumers to have access to products and services that are sold in a competitive and fair marketplace, ensuring that their spending is not increased due to inefficient markets, weak oversight, or lax enforcement. The Director also will collaborate across CFA’s issue teams, such as AI and privacy, consumer product safety, financial services, food policy, housing, insurance, and investor protection, to identify and encourage policies that advance and protect the interests of consumers with low- to moderate-incomes. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping and influencing policy decisions related to the intersection of competition and market fairness and consumer protection. This position requires a deep understanding of legislative processes, a proven record of successful advocacy efforts, the ability to navigate regulatory processes, and the experience of building and supporting coalitions.

About CFA

The Consumer Federation of America is an association of non-profit consumer organizations that was established in 1968 to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy, and education. Today, around 200 of these groups participate in the federation and govern it through their representatives on the organization’s Board of Directors.

Responsibilities

  • Advocate for pro-consumer policies that promote industry competition and market fairness before Congress, regulatory agencies, state legislatures, and state attorneys general.
  • Serve as CFA spokesperson on competition and market fairness issues and communicate policy positions to the press, policymakers, and the public.
  • Generate, undertake, and oversee research and identify useful research from other credible sources.
  • Engage in dialogues with businesses and industry groups.
  • Work in coalition with CFA member organizations and other advocates on competition and market fairness issues.
  • Work with America Saves staff to develop educational tools for consumers to help navigate an increasingly complex marketplace.
  • Manage current funding relationships and identify new funding sources to support the competition and market fairness work and the organization.

Advocacy

  • Communicate CFA policy positions and build relationships with Members of Congress, state legislators and regulators.
  • Serve as the CFA lead staff member on issues before the Federal Trade Commission, on issues including unfair and deceptive acts and practices and forced arbitration.
  • Lead CFA’s work supporting consumer protections in transportation, including airlines and automobiles.
  • Work with other members of the CFA team on overlapping issues.
  • Produce content for legislative and regulatory efforts, including authoring and collaborating on comments on proposed regulations affecting consumer protections on competition and market fairness and other relevant issues.
  • Organize and participate in meetings with stakeholders on competition and market fairness.
  • Maintain current coalition partner relationships and develop new coalitions with colleague organizations to promote pro-consumer competition and market fairness.

Research

  • Develop and implement research projects to expose consumer problems, promote solutions, and provide consumer education on competition and market fairness issues.
  • Identify research from credible sources to validate policy positions and inform advocacy and consumer education efforts.

Press

  • Work with CFA’s Communications staff to implement a strategic communications plan regarding competition and market fairness policy, which includes:
  • Preparing press releases and social media outreach promoting issues, exposing problems, and presenting research results.
  • Identifying and cultivating relationships with key reporters covering these issues.
  • Participating in the development of overall communication strategies associated with competition and market fairness issues.
  • Where appropriate, writing and publishing blog articles on the CFA website explaining and promoting CFA positions on pending competition and market fairness matters.

Conference and Event Support

  • Develop themes and sessions for CFA conferences and summits, inviting panelists and keynotes, and supporting conference planning efforts.
  • Assist with program creation and execution of annual conferences alongside CFA staff planning committees and the Director of Meetings and Events.

Qualifications

  • BA and advanced degree required.
  • Ten-plus years’ experience in competition and market fairness policy advocacy, including a focus on unfair and deceptive acts and practices.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and manage comments on proposed regulatory initiatives and regulations, as well as draft legislation and prepare for pending hearings on relevant topics.
  • Effective communication skills, including written, interpersonal, and verbal.
  • Excellent presentation skills.
  • Experience working with nonprofit advocacy-oriented organizations.

Benefits

  • 100% employer-paid health care, dental, vision, and long-term disability insurance.
  • Three weeks paid vacation to start and three personal days.
  • Federal holidays.
  • Generous paid sick leave.
  • 401(k) retirement plan with employer contribution.
  • Hybrid position with two days in the office and three days work from home per week.
  • Salary Range, depending on experience: $120,000 – $140,000.

Please send your cover letter and resume to kmccann@consumerfed.org.

 

 

CFA Internships

Summer 2026 Internship Dates:
Applications due by March 20th
Interviews from March 23rd – April 10th
Hiring decisions made by April 17th

The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) is an association of non-profit consumer organizations established in 1968 to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy, and education. Today, more than 200 of these groups participate in the federation and govern it through their representatives on the organization’s Board of Directors.

CFA offers the Florence M. Rice Internship for undergraduate students of color with an interest in consumer issues. This internship is named after the longtime leader of the Harlem Consumer Education Council.

CFA Public Policy internships are open to applicants who are pursuing a graduate or law degree and who possess a high level of oral and written communication skills.

For Summer 2026: CFA is seeking talented, motivated undergraduate and graduate interns with an interest in any of the following issue areas:

  • Insurance

This intern will work closely with our Director of Insurance and Research and Advocacy Associate to advance pro-consumer insurance policy before Congress, the White House, federal and state regulatory agencies, state legislatures, and the courts. They also will assist with research on key issues that contribute to advocacy efforts. The intern will play a hands-on role in standing up for consumers and combatting the abuses and misrepresentations by the insurance industry. The issues covered will include:

• Auto insurance

• Homeowners insurance

• The use of socioeconomic factors, such as credit score, education, and occupation in auto and homeowners insurance pricing and underwriting

• Telematics programs in auto insurance, the collection of consumers’ data, and the need for stronger protection of consumer data and privacy

• Flood insurance

• Combatting unfair discrimination and racism in insurance

• Ensuring fair treatment of consumers by insurance companies, including stopping the unfair delay and denial of insurance claims

  • Development and Membership

Working closely with the Director of Development and CFA’s core team, the intern will assist with prospect research, grant preparation, and database management, while also supporting outreach to prospective members, maintaining member records, responding to member inquiries, and helping coordinate fundraising and member events. This role involves collaborating across teams to strengthen membership growth, partnerships, and the overall member experience, and offers hands-on exposure to nonprofit development and the breadth of CFA’s consumer advocacy work.

  • Housing

The intern will work closely with the Housing Director to help conduct research, support advocacy work, and help write final products that support CFA’s focus on expanding affordable and equitable homeownership. Topics will be timely based on national conversations, but may include issues such as curbing back institutional investors. Besides offering support work, the intern will have their own research project, which will culminate in a final CFA blog and presentation. Interns will be part of a broader community of CFA summer interns and have the opportunity to join the Housing Director and other staff at events across Washington DC. Through their work, they will gain critical insights into how to do impactful research and how federal policy advocacy works. CFA is looking for someone who is diligent, has previous research experiences, and is passionate about learning more about housing and consumer advocacy.

 

Interns will work with staff and advocates to advance pro-consumer policy before Congress, the White House, federal and state regulatory agencies, state legislatures, and the courts. They also will assist with research on key issues that contribute to advocacy efforts.

Based at the Consumer Federation of America’s office in Washington, DC, the internship pays $18 per hour for undergraduates and $20 per hour for graduate students. Course credit can be given if the intern makes appropriate arrangements. Internships are full- or part-time. CFA offers a hybrid work model, with staff and interns (course schedule permitting) in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

To apply for an internship, submit a cover letter and resume to Katie McCann at kmccann@consumerfed.org. In your cover letter, please indicate which internship you are applying for, the CFA issue area(s) of interest, and if you are available for a full- or part-time schedule.

 

 

Consumer Federation of America is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status, or to other non-work-related factors.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to: Katie McCann, 202-387-6121, kmccann@consumerfed.org.

 

 

 

 

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