Community Policy & Advocacy Specialist (Edinburg, TX)
About The Position
The Community Policy & Advocacy Specialist serves as a key regional representative of Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) within the organization’s service area. This role supports public policy initiatives and community-based advocacy efforts by building relationships with local elected officials, community leaders, and organizations to strengthen advocacy capacity, co-create policy solutions, and increase engagement around health equity and non-medical drivers of health. Working collaboratively with the Policy & Advocacy Department, the Specialist identifies local and regional challenges, conducts research to inform policy priorities, and serves as a connector between MHM, community stakeholders, and decision-makers. The position requires strong communication, relationship-building, and analytical skills to effectively advance policy and advocacy initiatives aligned with MHM’s mission.
Requirements
- Education: Associate’s degree in Public Policy, Public Health, Healthcare Administration, Education,Social/Behavioral, Education, or Government-related field required.
- Experience: At least one (1) year of experience in public policy and advocacy at local and/or state levels, with an emphasis on public health, local government and community engagement.
- Strong understanding of local government operations and community-based advocacy.
- Ability to conduct research and synthesize findings into policy recommendations.
- Strong relationship-building and partnership development skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
- Analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills with attention to detail.
- Strong organizational and time management abilities to manage multiple priorities effectively.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Public Health, Government, or related field.
- Experience working on public health, community engagement, or equity-focused initiatives.
- Experience supporting underserved or historically marginalized populations.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) proficiency preferred.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a regional liaison for MHM’s policy and advocacy initiatives, strengthening relationships with community-based organizations, coalitions, and local leaders.
- Engage local councils of government and community organizations to assess regional needs and identify barriers to health and access to care.
- Support the implementation of advocacy programs, including training sessions and grassroots mobilization efforts.
- Represent MHM and the needs of local communities in forums, public meetings, and collaborative networks.
- Build and maintain relationships with local elected officials, serving as a trusted resource to champion public policy initiatives aligned with MHM priorities.
- Support bold local initiatives through advocacy, coordination, and resource development to advance identified policy goals.
- Convene partners and stakeholders in community forums to promote dialogue and visibility around key public policy issues.
- Maintain collaborative relationships with advocacy partners, providing local insights to support program alignment and impact.
- Serve as the regional liaison to contracted advocacy partners, offering feedback on capacity building and technical assistance needs.
- Monitor partner deliverables, identify gaps, and make recommendations for continuous improvement.
- Conduct community-based research to identify regional challenges, disparities, and opportunities related to MHM’s policy agenda.
- Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to translate data insights into actionable policy recommendations.
- Develop summaries, briefs, and presentations that communicate key findings to policymakers and partners.
- Support education and awareness efforts to build local advocacy capacity and understanding of health equity and public policy issues.
- Serve as a regional policy resource for community stakeholders and MHM staff, supporting local engagement and advocacy initiatives.
- Coordinate with internal departments to increase understanding of public policy priorities and advocacy efforts.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with local partners, including elected officials, community leaders, faith organizations, schools, and nonprofits.
- Represent MHM in public settings, clearly articulating the organization’s policy goals and commitment to improving community health.
- Support development of regional messaging and communications for policy-related events and initiatives.
- Provide community-level insights that inform MHM’s broader policy and advocacy strategy.
- Identify local risks, barriers, and opportunities that impact the effectiveness of policy implementation and health equity outcomes.
- Document and communicate emerging local trends to help shape organizational strategy.
- Perform additional duties as assigned to support the Policy & Advocacy Department and regional activities.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Associate degree
