Policy and Advocacy Program Manager

University of Colorado

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Join a nationally relevant advocacy and health policy research team at the University of Colorado in the Department of Medicine dedicated to advancing civic professionalism through scholarship, education, and systems‑level change. This initiative is grounded in the belief that advocacy is a core component of medical professionalism and seeks to equip health professionals to move from observers to empowered advocates. The Policy and Advocacy Program Manager will lead the day‑to‑day operations of advocacy informed research studies, policy and program evaluations, and advocacy education and training initiatives. This role will oversee projects from study start‑up through closeout, including multi‑stakeholder coordination, qualitative and quantitative data collection and management, quality oversight, budgeting, and timeline management. The Policy and Advocacy Program Manager will also play a central role in translating findings into advocacy and policy relevant deliverables for community partners, health systems, advocacy organizations, and academic audiences. Operating with a high degree of independence, the Policy and Advocacy Program Manager will serve as the primary operational lead for the advocacy and health policy research team and work closely with the Principal Investigator to shape strategic priorities, support clinician mentorship, and advance a broader vision for advocacy as an essential component of medical professionalism. Beyond operational leadership, this role offers substantial opportunities for professional growth, including co‑authorship on peer‑reviewed publications, participation as a co‑investigator on advocacy and health policy projects, and meaningful contributions to the design, implementation, and dissemination of advocacy training curricula. Candidates with an MPH (or related degree) and/or PhD who are motivated to deepen their impact at the intersection of research, education, and social change are strongly encouraged to apply.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in public health or a directly related field from an accredited institution.
Four (4) years of professional experience managing research, advocacy, or policy projects with IRB/regulatory responsibilities.
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Nice To Haves

Master’s or PhD in Public Health, Health Policy, Implementation Science, Sociology, Public Administration, or a related field from an accredited institution.
Experience with advocacy informed and/or policy focused research, including translating evidence into policy relevant products or action.
Experience with community engaged and participatory research methods, including working with community advisory groups and cross sector partners.
Experience developing and delivering advocacy or health policy curricula and training programs, including coordination across multiple sites or audiences.
Previous experience produce policy facing deliverables such as policy briefs, legislative summaries, implementation guides, or toolkits.
Experience managing qualitative and mixed methods research workflows, including familiarity with REDCap, data management systems, and IRB processes across institutions.
Formal project management training or certification (e.g., PMP, Lean/Six Sigma, Scrum).
Professional experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
Professional experience with advocacy research methods, implementation science frameworks, and approaches to measuring health equity and health disparities.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end advocacy and health policy research initiatives, including qualitative, mixed methods, and program evaluation studies focused on equity and systems change.
Design and oversee research execution, including development of interview/focus group protocols, data collection, coding workflows, and synthesis of findings.
Drive cross-sector partnerships with community organizations, policymakers, and health system stakeholders to ensure aligned goals, shared accountability, and impactful outcomes.
Translate research into policy and practice by developing briefs, toolkits, training curricula, and other advocacy-focused deliverables.
Manage project operations and compliance, including budgets, timelines, IRB processes, data systems (e.g., REDCap), and reporting requirements.
Contribute to funding and dissemination efforts, including grant writing and co-authoring manuscripts, abstracts, and presentations.