Fall 2026 - Children's Food & Beverage Advertising Initiative Externship

BBB National Programs

BBB National Programs is where businesses turn to enhance consumer trust and consumers are heard.

Children’s Food & Beverage Advertising Initiative Extern

*This position can be based in McLean, VA or Remote

WHO WE ARE

We are a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a more accountable and trustworthy marketplace. As the foremost thought leader on industry self-regulation, we are shaping the way that businesses and consumers interact with one another. As the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, we are currently operating more than twenty globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. Our programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. We continue to evolve our work and grow our impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in areas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas.

ABOUT BBB NATIONAL PROGRAMS’ CHILDREN’S FOOD & BEVERAGE ADVERTISING INITIATIVE

The Children’s Food & Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI) is an advertising self-regulation program through which leading U.S. food, beverage, and quick serve restaurant companies work to improve the landscape of food advertising to children. Companies participating in CFBAI voluntarily commit not to advertise any foods to children or to advertise only foods that meet CFBAI’s nutrition criteria, among other commitments. BBB National Programs monitors and publicly reports on participants’ compliance with their CFBAI commitments, keeps participants informed of issues relevant to child-directed food advertising, and works with participants on program modifications that support responsible child-directed advertising practices.

YOUR IMPACT

As an extern with CFBAI, you will help support CFBAI’s mission by monitoring the advertising of CFBAI participants and helping determine the compliance of participants with their program commitments. You will also assist CFBAI with research into the impact of CFBAI on the children's food and beverage advertising landscape and reviews of academic and scientific studies relating to food advertising to children.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Monitor and document participants’ compliance with their CFBAI commitments in television and digital media, including websites, mobile apps, streaming platforms, and video-sharing platforms.
• Research and review academic and scientific studies relating to food advertising to children, and particularly the impact of CFBAI thereon.
• Research and curate content relating to children’s advertising and food policy for newsletters, blog posts, and other external publications.
• Draft summaries of academic and scientific literature regarding food advertising to children and reports of participant's compliance with their program commitments.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING

Must have:

• Bachelor’s Degree or must be currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree at an accredited university
• Research and writing experience
• Demonstrated interest in government affairs/public health policy and/or advertising and children’s issues
• Experience with Excel and AI applications (ChatGPT, Microsoft CoPilot)

Remote work is available, but it is preferred that the candidate be able to work periodically from our McLean, VA or New York City office.

Hours: Flexible

This externship is unpaid, but may be considered eligible for school credit

BBB National Programs is Great Place to Work® Certified and has been named Best Place to Work for Working Daughters.

BBB National Programs is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer.