POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT POSITION:
Director, Health Policy Project
OPEN:
March 20, 2014 Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation
LOCATION:
Washington, DC
CLOSING:
Until filled
CONTACT:
Darcy Eischens
SALARY:
Commensurate with experience
BACKGROUND
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
—
the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States
—
works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. Through its network of nearly 300 affiliated community-based organizations, NCLR reaches millions of Hispanics each year in 41 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. To achieve its mission, NCLR conducts applied research, policy analysis, and advocacy, providing a Latino perspective in five key areas
—
assets/investments, civil rights/immigration, education, employment and economic status, and health. In addition, it provides capacity-building assistance to its Affiliates who work at the state and local level to advance opportunities for individuals and families. Founded in 1968, NCLR is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization headquartered in Washington, DC, serving all Hispanic subgroups in all regions of the country. It has state and regional offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix, and San Antonio.
SUMMARY
NCLR’s highly respected Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation (ORAL) is one of the
most influential, visible, and leading national advocacy voices championing public policy on behalf of Latinos. The Health Policy Project has a strong track record of advancing public policies that improve the health and well-being of Latino workers, families, and children. With a special emphasis on vulnerable populations, including low-income immigrant families with children, the health policy team conducts policy analysis, research, and advocacy work that addresses health disparities. The work includes promoting policy change that improves health insurance coverage rates for families and children, improves the quality of health care services, and addresses
childhood hunger and obesity among Latino children. NCLR’s health policy team
2 has become a leader in the field and has served as a timely and reliable source of Latino-specific research and policy analyses on key health issues. NCLR staff are consistently asked to provide expert testimony before Congress and comments to policymakers, and its documents command extensive attention from policymakers and the press.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Director of the Health Policy Project will set overall strategic goals and objectives for
NCLR’s health policy work.
S/he will be responsible for ensuring the production of rigorous, timely
, and relevant policy documents/materials in support of NCLR’s goals. The Director will
build substantive depth and advance goals in a range of health policy areas including health care exchange enrollment, Medicaid expansion, immigrant health access to health insurance, and investment and improvement in federal food nutrition programs. The Director will help contribute to efforts to provide decision-makers, community leaders, and stakeholders with timely and relevant information that shapes the content of policy proposals emanating from Congress, state governments, and administrative agencies. S/he will also coordinate, develop, and participate in public policy forums and summits, briefings, and other events where relevant policy matters are discussed. This work includes serving as a spokesperson on Latino policy priorities, representing NCLR priorities in internal and external meetings as well as before congressional staff, policymakers, experts, and issue stakeholders. The Director will be a part
of the public policy component’s mid
-management team and will report directly to the Vice President. NCLR offers a collaborative, team-based environment that fosters a culture of ideas and debate. We approach our work from multiple perspectives and methods, understanding both the specific issues and their larger interrelated systems.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Set overall goals and priorities for the Health Policy Project; organize and place on a calendar the production and dissemination of high-quality, timely, and relevant policy analysis materials.
Conduct and publish independent policy analysis, as well as policy development, on timely and relevant issues for the Latino community that are not covered by specific policy projects or existing staff.
Provide editorial support and guidance on policy documents, including issue briefs, policy memoranda, regulatory comments, public testimony, and journal articles developed in the component, with an emphasis on coordinating issue areas or assignments that overlap or involve multiple policy projects.
Supervise and provide support for staff conducting policy analysis work.
Manage existing funder relationships, fundraise, and communicate with philanthropic supporters.
Manage budgets and expenses for the health policy portfolio.
Serve as a spokesperson on Latino policy priorities, representing NCLR priorities in internal and external meetings as well as before congressional staff, policymakers, experts, and issue stakeholders.