Associate Director, Policy

Join a national organization committed to advancing a movement to race equity and health justice.

Community Catalyst is a leading non-profit national health advocacy organization dedicated to advancing a movement for health equity and justice. We partner with local, state and national advocates to leverage and build power so all people can influence decisions that affect their health. Health systems will not be accountable to people without a fully engaged and organized community voice. That’s why we work every day to ensure people’s interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and health care are made: in communities, state houses and on Capitol Hill. Learn more about our vision for the future in our five-year strategic plan.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Associate Director, Policy is responsible for assisting the Director of Policy and Senior Director of Policy and Strategy in developing and carrying out Community Catalyst’s state and federal policy agenda.

The Associate Director will take direction from the Director of Policy and provide focused and concise leadership to the policy team by overseeing the implementation of the policy goals of the organization. The individual in this position will provide leadership to the policy team and help shape the future direction of the organization and its programs. The Associate Director will also play a leadership role within the organization at-large, representing the policy leadership across internal teams and projects. The individual will need to work with colleagues across the organization, think about how various initiatives intersect, and how we coordinate and collaborate within the organization.

The individual is expected to motivate the policy team to consistently provide excellent service to our external partners as well as represent the needs and goals of those partners within the organization. The individual will also need to build relationships with external partners – including state and community based organizations.

The below responsibilities are the key responsibilities for this position, however the scope of the job responsibilities are likely to evolve as the Director and Associate Director identify the best way to support and expand our policy footprint.   

Supervision:

The Associate Director is supervised by the Director of Policy

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Partners with the Director of Policy, Senior Director of Policy and Strategy, and senior management team to support development of Community Catalyst’s state and federal policy agenda.
• With program managers, develops and coordinates program and issue-specific policy goals.
• Develops and maintains expertise in key health policy areas.
• Plays a key role in fundraising, including strategy, funder/donor outreach and
• stewardship, proposal writing and reporting.
• Helps prepare and monitor progress on annual policy goals and work plan.
• Works with program directors and staff to coach partner organizations and identify and address policy-related technical assistance needs.
• Manages Policy Manager with oversight of overall policy staff work and professional development.
• Collaborates with Director of Policy and Senior Director of Policy and Strategy to develop Budgets, (determining necessary resources and content topics).
• Ad hoc reporting on relevant grant-funded projects as requested.
• Builds and maintains strategic relationships and represents the organization with policymakers, funders and state, national and community-based organizations.
• Helps prepare policy memos and other materials in response to requests from members of Congress or other public officials or otherwise advance the organization’s policy agenda.
• Conducts and coordinates analysis of state and federal legislative and regulatory proposals.
• Writes issue briefs, blogs and other materials to help educate policy makers, advocates
• and other audiences.
• Supports the organization’s efforts to strengthen local community organization engagement around health issues and build collaborative partnerships with state policy advocates around a jointly developed agenda.
• Assists in identifying staff training needs as well as internal learning around providing
• support to local organizations and for state partners to embark on these relationships. This will be done in collaboration with other Program Directors.
• Performs other duties as necessary to achieve the goals of the policy team and the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree plus at least 10 years relevant work experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of health policy issue(s) and the understanding of the connections between state political environments and effects on advocacy and policy campaigns.
• Exceptional organization, written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to oversee multiple tasks with high attention to detail.
• Demonstrated program management and oversight.
• Experience creating and successfully implementation of policies and systems to improve team/project functioning.
• Experience with resource development (fundraising and report writing).
• Proven skills in leadership, relationship development and team building.
• Demonstrated experience working and managing relationships with funders.
• Commitment to health equity, racial justice and experience in social change activism. such as: legislative advocacy or political/policy issue campaigns; community organizing; working with coalitions and stakeholders; and/or implementing communications strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and generate new ideas and implement those ideas to help improve program/project functioning.
• Demonstrated understanding of the needs of the programs and partners and proven ability to address those needs.
• Versatile team player with strong collaboration, conflict management and administrative/management, skills.
• Supervision experience. 
• Demonstrated ability to apply lessons from partner engagement and state experiences to inform and shape ideas within and across programs.
• Understanding of the federal policy landscape and trends a plus.
• Ability to travel on average once a month (does not apply during the pandemic).

SALARY AND BENEFITS

• Competitive salary: $95,000 - $115,000
• Generous paid time off policy
• Robust benefits package
• Location: Flexible/Remote

Applicants should submit a resume with a one-page cover letter briefly summarizing their interest in and qualifications for the position to: jobs@communitycatalyst.org. Please put “Associate Director - Policy” in the subject line.

Community Catalyst is strongly committed to building a work environment that recognizes, respects, and encourages the unique contributions of a broad spectrum of qualified employees. We strive to make employment decisions that support inclusion to maintain a work atmosphere that is diverse, equitable and promotes family-friendly practices and work-life benefits so that people of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.

We do not discriminate in hiring based on age, color, ethnicity, race, national origin, primary language, religion, socio-economic status, family status, mental and physical disabilities, veteran status, gender identity characteristics and/or expression, sex, medical condition, sexual orientation or any other classification that is protected by federal, state, or local law.

Through all of our programs, Community Catalyst works to build a better future for all individuals by advancing health equity, focusing on people of color, immigrants, as well as disability, gender, sexual identity and socio-economic status. It is important for our staff to reflect the diverse communities with which we work. People of color, LGBTQ identified people, gender-nonconforming people, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people who speak a language in addition to English are encouraged to apply.