Director of Public Policy & Community Relations

DAP Health•Palm Springs, CA

23h•$129,787 - $152,500•Hybrid

About The Position

At DAP Health, we are committed to transforming lives and advancing health equity for all. As a leading nonprofit health care provider, we deliver compassionate, high-quality care to the diverse communities of the Coachella Valley and San Diego County. Our comprehensive services range from primary care to mental health, wellness programs, and beyond, with a focus on those who are most vulnerable. Joining our team means becoming part of a passionate, innovative organization dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of those we serve. If you're looking for a dynamic and purpose-driven environment, we invite you to explore the opportunity to contribute to our mission. The Director of Public Policy & Community Relations serves as a senior strategic leader advancing the mission and long-term sustainability of the health center through policy engagement, advocacy, and community partnerships. This role represents the organization with elected officials, government agencies, and community stakeholders, ensuring the health center’s priorities and the voices of the communities it serves are reflected in public policy and discourse. This is position partners with leaders to assess key policy developments and community impact information, synthesizing complex information into clear, actionable insights to support executive decision making, and effective communication with leadership, assisting in organizational wide communication.

Requirements

Ability to commit to health equity, community-centered advocacy, and the mission and values of FQHCs, with a demonstrated understanding of culturally responsive engagement and systems-level change
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Strong organizational, analytical, and interpersonal skills
Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public health, political science, communications, or a related field (master’s or equivalent advanced training preferred)
Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in government relations, public affairs, advocacy, or policy leadership within a non-profit, health care, public sector setting, or mission-driven organization
Demonstrated expertise in healthcare policy and public systems, particularly issues affecting underserved, marginalized and historically excluded communities, including Medicaid, public health funding, and access-to-care policy
Proven ability to build, manage, and sustain relationships with elected officials, regulatory agencies, coalition partners and community leaders to advance organizational policy priorities
Experience working in or with Federally Qualified Health Centers or community health is strongly preferred
Demonstrate capacity to lead through influence, collaborating effectively across departments and with external stakeholders in fast-paced, politically dynamic environments
Requires current and valid driver’s license and current personal auto insurance
Able to travel to DAP Health locations, community events, including statewide and national travel when needed

Nice To Haves

master’s or equivalent advanced training preferred

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary liaison between the health center and local, state, and federal elected officials and some regulatory agencies.
Monitor and analyze legislative and regulatory developments impacting FQHCs, Medicaid, public health policy, and healthcare access.
Identifies the specific priorities of DAP Health, developing and executing strategic advocacy plans to advance policy priorities.
Organize and lead legislative site visits, briefings, and participation in health center advocacy days.
Proactively draft policy briefs, testimony, talking points, and position statements for leadership and board members, ensuring executive leadership is prepared for meetings and community events
Collaborate with national and state associations (e.g., NACHC, CPCA) on policy issues and campaigns
Lead a strategic community engagement framework that aligns grassroot insights with organizational policy priorities, ensuring community voices meaningfully inform advocacy positions and public policy strategy
Cultivates and manage high-level relationships with community-based organizations, advocacy coalitions, civic leaders, and faith-based networks to advance coordinated policy goals and systems-level change
Ensure community engagement efforts are intentional, inclusive and policy relevant, moving beyond transactional outreach to sustained relationship-building and shared impact
Identify and leverage strategic partnerships to influence policy outcomes, strengthen collective advocacy efforts, and address social and structural drivers in health
Direct public-facing engagement initiatives including town halls, community forums, and listening sessions, that inform policy development, support narrative change, and build public will around healthcare access and equity
Align policy, advocacy, and community engagement messaging, ensuring a cohesive narrative that advances organizational priorities and reinforces credibility with external and internal stakeholders
Shape and develop high-impact policy and advocacy related content for newsletters, website updates, and social media posts related to policy work and community impact
Collaborate with internal leaders to identify priority risks and opportunities, streamline the information for executive leadership and the board
Provide regular executive-level and mid-level staff briefings on key and complex policy changes and advocacy opportunities
Maintain detailed records of meetings, contacts, and outcomes related to advocacy and stakeholder engagement
Prepare reports and dashboards to track outreach, policy engagement outcomes, and stakeholder feedback.
Ensure compliance with 501(c)(3) lobbying regulations and grant-funded advocacy efforts.
Provides the Chief Transformation Officer & Chief Strategy Officer with forward-looking analysis of policy and regulatory developments, translating implications into strategic options, risk assessments, and clear recommendations to support governance and fiduciary oversight
Synthesizes complex policy, regulatory, and community-impact information into concise, decision-ready briefings for the Board of Directors, highlighting risks, opportunities, and recommended actions