Senior Manager, Health Policy & Government Affairs

The Alameda Health Consortium and Community Health Center Network (CHCN) are two non-profit organizations founded by community health centers to support advocacy for low-income and uninsured communities and to work together on managed care.

Position Title: Senior Manager, Health Policy & Government Affairs

Department: Policy

Reports To: Chief Impact Officer

Classification: Exempt

Status: Full-Time (Regular)

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Manager, Health Policy & Government Affairs, will play a vital role in shaping healthcare policy and advocacy decisions that align with our mission-driven work to advance health equity by improving healthcare quality and accessibility. Under direction of the Chief Impact Officer, they will collaborate with the Sr. Manager, Communications and Advocacy, Sr. Manager, Behavioral Health, and other organization staff, to develop and advocate for policy and appropriations priorities that have a direct impact on our community health centers and the communities we serve.

ESSENTIAL POSITION RESULTS

The essential functions listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification. They are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks and responsibilities. Employees may perform other duties as assigned.

Public Policy Analysis & Program Management – 50%

· Identify issues and policy areas of relevance to our community health centers, safety net care delivery systems, and the patients and communities we serve

· Monitor current events, relevant publications and other forms of media for policy decisions and trends on the federal, state and local level to help stay up to date on the latest healthcare policies that may have direct impact on the communities we serve

· Attend and summarize policy calls with the California Primary Care Association (CPCA), the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), Alameda County Board of Supervisors, and other relevant policy meetings with key stakeholders

· Track priority federal and state legislative and appropriations initiatives and analyze for impact on community health centers’ operations

· Provide written monthly updates on policy and appropriations priorities to organization and health centers’ leadership

· Engage colleagues who lead community health center peer networks and programs to identify policy, appropriations, and regulatory needs to inform AHC policy and advocacy agenda

· Under direction of Chief Impact Officer, develop AHC policy agenda in line with organization’s strategic plan and framework to prioritize engagement on bills and appropriations initiatives

Advocacy – 20%

• Integrate policy and regulatory advocacy needs of Healthcare Access, Programs, and other divisions into organization’s policy and Government Affairs activities
• In partnership with health centers, colleagues, and other community health center consortia, coordinate healthcare policy and issues forums to elevate health centers’ delivery of integrated health care and allied services
• In coordination with other members of the department, support health center advocacy participation in:
  • NACHC Policy & Issues Forum
  • CPCA Day at the Capitol
  • National Health Center Week
  • voter engagement initiatives
  • patient story collection
  • relationship-cultivation with elected officials
• Help create and facilitate a Policy Advisory Workgroup comprised of representatives from the member health centers. Schedule and staff meetings, create and manage necessary documents, agendas, and minutes. Coordinate Peer Group advocacy initiatives and develop ongoing written updates on the policy environment affecting the health centers

Healthcare Data Collection, Research, and Analyses – 10%

• Gather and analyze key patient healthcare data to support federal, state, and county advocacy priorities including:
  • Collecting and analyzing data from federal, state, and county sources, including: HRSA/UDS, HCAI, MICRS uninsured service data, and Community Health Center Network
  • Collecting directly from our health centers
  • Working closely with our internal Data Analytics Team to build out key patient demographic and healthcare queries
• Staying abreast of foundation, state, and other analyses of health outcomes
• Perform policy/advocacy-related data collection and analyses as requested by AHC/CHCN Leadership Team and health center Board of Directors

Government Affairs – 10%

· Under the guidance of the Chief Impact Officer, ensure regular communication with the offices of local, state, and federal elected officials and their staff to promote the work of member health centers.

• Represent and speak on behalf of the Alameda Health Consortium at community meetings, and out-of-town meetings occasionally.

· Develop and deliver public presentations that promote the work of community health centers.

Administration – 10%

· Draft annual and semi-annual grant reports and grant proposals to advance organization’s policy and advocacy priorities.

· Supervise interns, as needed.

· Other duties as required.

HIPAA Designated Access

“For the purposes of the job duties of this position, the person in this position requires access only to the following HIPAA protected information data sets”

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Desired Skills/Experience

· 5 years previous experience and understanding of health care policy, delivery systems, funding, and insurance programs, including Medi-Cal, FQHCs, HRSA Grant Program, ACA, and Covered California

· Established relationships with decisionmakers or healthcare stakeholders in Alameda County

· Familiarity with health issues pertaining to low-income communities and services in Alameda County and the nation

· Familiarity with Alameda County budget process, county agencies, and safety-net healthcare delivery system

· Experience working for a membership-based organization

Essential Requirements

• Critical thinking skills: the ability to read, analyze, and process complex information, then draw and communicate logical conclusions
• Proven ability to create papers and summaries on research results that clearly and concisely convey findings
• Ability to conduct online research and track policy conversations and trends
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience coordinating projects including conducting meetings with excellent follow up, and managing schedules to achieve results
• Ability to work professionally and collaboratively to establish positive relations with diverse individuals and organizations

· Ability to work and problem-solve independently

• Demonstrated commitment to underserved populations (e.g. low-income, minority populations, homeless populations with mental illness, immigrant populations)

· Prior experience with representing and agency at meetings with external partners

• Demonstrated competency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel; competency in Tableau, ArcGIS, Quorum or other bill-tracking software platforms preferred
• Access to reliable and efficient transportation to and from offsite meetings and events

CERTIFICATES AND/OR LICENSES

· Master’s Degree desirable or equivalent experience in legal, legislative, or policy research and analysis; critical thinking; and written and oral communication skills 4510

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to an inside environment.

The Alameda Health Consortium is an Equal Opportunity Employer.