Senior Policy Analyst, Children’s Health State Consumer Health Advocacy Program (SCHAP)

Join an organization at the forefront of health advocacy across the nation.

Community Catalyst, a national advocacy organization, has been giving consumers a voice in health care for more than a decade. We provide leadership and support to state and local consumer organizations, policymakers and foundations that are working to guarantee access to high-quality, affordable health care for everyone. Our contributions, which range from policy analysis and strategic assistance to managing national campaigns, enable consumer groups to provide leadership in the hard work of transforming the U.S. health care system. Since 1998 in states and communities across the country, we have been a catalyst for collaboration, innovation, and action in health care reform. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Policy Analyst will be responsible for providing strategic coaching across a range of capacities with an emphasis on policy support to partner organizations in Kansas working on the intersection of early childhood, health coverage and education. The position is grant-funded by the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund as part of a new grant initiative in Kansas.

This is a full time grant-funded position that will begin immediately and is funded through spring, 2024. 

SUPERVISION

The Director of Policy & Partnerships will supervise the Senior Policy Analyst. The position will also be part of numerous internal teams including the Policy Team, the federal team, the Together for Medicaid team, and the State Consumer Health Advocacy Program (SCHAP).

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide tailored, timely, and specific policy and organizing technical assistance to four Kansas-based advocacy partners working on early childhood health and education issues
• Provide technical assistance to other state and local partners working on similar children’s health issues
• Collaborate with broader policy and technical assistance provider teams to identify and engage in national and state-level children’s health opportunities and, if necessary, defenses
• Produce related toolkits, fact sheets, talking points as needed by project partners and internal teams
• Collaborate with relevant colleagues on policy and communications teams to elevate issues in media and funder outlets
• Build relationships with funders interested in similar work, communicating existing efforts and where new opportunities may be emerging
• Draft funder and project reports to share outcomes and impacts of work
• Manage day-to-day responsibilities and needs associated with specific grant, including communicating with funder
• Participate in and help plan organization’s learning communities, integrating children’s health into broader efforts on equity and racial justice, organizing, and coalition building
• Undertake related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree plus 4 years relevant work experience or 6 years relevant work experience
• Significant experience planning and executing advocacy campaigns on the state level, ideally as an advocate. Strong organizational skills including the ability to manage several projects at once, respond to tight timelines, pay attention to detail and operate effectively and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
• Firm commitment to policies and organizing techniques that are rooted in the needs of and elevate the voices of communities of color.
• Experience providing technical assistance, coaching, and/or training
• Proven skills in relationship development and collaboration, including a demonstrated ability to appreciate and adapt to different cultural communications norms and styles
• Strong writing skills, including the ability to convey complex information so it is easily understood by the public
• Demonstrated experience and/or ability to build and manage key external relationships, such as with funders or partners. 
• Significant knowledge and experience working in state-level early childhood health coverage and education issues. Having a broad understanding of the policy levers available to states to advance good health will be important. This includes Medicaid/CHIP, Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG and Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG and Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), and Title V.
• Significant knowledge and experience working on innovative efforts to align cross-sector policies to drive equitable health outcomes for young children, specifically BIPOC children. Some examples might include Help Me Grow, Healthy Start, and Reach out and Read.
• Serve as the organization’s policy and technical assistance expert on children’s health issues from the state level up to the federal, from the federal level back to the states, and between different states or communities engaged in similar work.

Preferred

• Experience and/or strong understanding of issues impacting families and young children in the Midwest specifically

SALARY & BENEFITS

• Salary Range: $62,150—$73,000
• Generous paid time off policy
• Robust benefits package
• Position may be located anywhere within contiguous United States

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 “Senior Policy Analyst, Children’s Health, SCHAP” in the subject line. A Word document format is preferred.

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.

https://www.communitycatalyst.org/about/employment-opportunities/senior-policy-analyst-childrens-health-state-consumer-health-advocacy-program