Director of Policy

Health Forward Foundation•Kansas City, MO

3d•$140,800 - $176,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Health Forward Foundation is seeking a Director of Policy to advance its purpose plan and policy agenda. This role is crucial for engaging with the community, policymakers, and funded partners to drive the systems change necessary for achieving Health Forward’s goals through policy and advocacy work, as well as funding opportunities. The position will operate across the Purpose Areas of People, Power, Place, and Platform, and will collaborate cross-departmentally to ensure integration and alignment with other functional areas. Health Forward Foundation is dedicated to achieving health equity and securing a fair and just region through leadership, advocacy, and resources. They support direct services and systems change for healthy people, community power, and equitable and just places via grant and gift funding, advocacy, and leadership. Their work involves supporting equitable healthcare access and outcomes, advancing safe and affordable housing, home ownership pathways, and broadband access, amplifying community power through civic engagement and supporting grassroots nonprofits, and shifting narratives impacting prioritized communities. Health Forward was established in 2003 from the sale of a nonprofit hospital system and serves specific counties in Missouri and Kansas. The foundation is governed by a 21-member board and managed by approximately 40 employees. They are committed to equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in all aspects of their operations.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in public science, public policy, public health, public administration, or a related field.
Minimum of 7-10 years of professional experience in progressively responsible positions including direct management of a team.
Ability to manage, lead, and empower a team of professionals through positive influence, inspiration, and the establishment of trust and strong communication.
Significant experience leading policy, government affairs, and strategic initiatives with a demonstrated record of developing and managing complex, non-partisan policy and advocacy strategies.
Ability to navigate a complex, non-partisan policy landscape across multiple states and jurisdictions.
Experience directing projects from inception to completion with attentiveness to timeline, planning, process, and delegation of responsibilities across multiple parties.
Strong interpersonal, listening, verbal, and written communication skills.
Ability to engage internal and external cross-sector stakeholders.
Flexible, adaptable, and innovative with the ability to envision strategic opportunities in an ambiguous, complex, and dynamic environment.
Self-directed with a high level of initiative, and drive in balance with the collaborative nature of community and advocacy work.
Advocate for the mission of the Health Forward Foundation who embodies our stated values of Trust, Partnership, Learning, Stewardship, Equity, Inclusion and Antiracism.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in public policy, public health, political science, social work, or a related field.
A professional degree in law (J.D.).
Experience with federal advocacy.
Professional experience with 501(c)(4) organizations.
Direct, hands-on-experience managing or advising 501(c)(4) entities, including navigating compliance requirements, coordinating with legal counsel, and understanding the strategics distinction between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) activity.
Experience with ballot referendum and constitutional amendment campaigns.
Experience and strong relationships with community mobilizing organizations and policymakers in Kansas and Missouri, or comparable experience in a similar region.
Public speaking experience.

Responsibilities

Work collaboratively to ensure policy strategy is integrated across the organization’s culture, funding opportunities, and other bodies of work.
Ensure race, economic, and health equity is centered in all components of policy related functions.
Advise and implement the Foundation’s Purpose Plan-aligned policy agenda, goals, priorities, and strategies with input from community partners and our Purpose team.
Advise and manage an annual operating budget for policy.
Advance strategic policy related relationships with political and state governmental entities, peer foundations, civic organizations, and governmental affairs professionals.
Advance Health Forward’s regional and national leadership on health equity policy by recommending and contributing to media interviews, public presentations, representing the Foundation in key collaborations, and work in partnership on the public affairs agenda.
Drive relationships and communications with local, state, and federal lawmakers.
Ensure the Foundation’s compliance with Kansas and Missouri ethics laws and maintain up-to-date disclosures regarding Health Forward’s lobbying activities.
Maintain a system and track Health Forward’s lobbying activities in collaboration with the Impact Administration and Finance teams to ensure accurate reporting and compliance with IRS rules for 501(c)(3) organizations.
Provide strategic guidance, compliance monitoring, and shape the activity, including day-to-day oversight for the Foundation’s 501(c)(4) supported organizations.
Drive Health Forward’s relationships with issue campaign infrastructure organizations; make support recommendations for Purpose-aligned issue campaigns; and ensure continuous awareness of campaigns of interest in Kansas and Missouri.
Make recommendations related to ballot campaigns and constitutional amendments in Kansas and Missouri and provide staffing support to foundation aligned ballot campaigns and constitutional amendments.
Lead the Policy Team to advance Health Forward’s local, state, and federal lobbying efforts in Kansas and Missouri, including advocacy, convenings, trainings, meetings, and events with funded partners, community partners, and government officials.
Oversee contractors or staff for policy-related research, analysis, and evaluation in partnership with the Director of Learning and Evaluation.
Ensure stakeholder groups have timely and accurate information about Health Forward’s policy work, 501(c)(4) related supports, issue campaign supports, and related strategic partnerships.
Advance the integration of Health Forward’s policy work within the Foundation’s broader Impact work.
Collaborate across internal departments to ensure alignment across strategies, teams, and organizational priorities.