Senior Policy Advisor, Health

UnidosUS • Washington, DC

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

UnidosUS, previously known as NCLR (National Council of La Raza), is the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Through our unique combination of expert research, advocacy programs, and an Affiliate Network of nearly 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico, UnidosUS simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos at the national and local levels.
The Senior Policy Advisor, Health will join UnidosUS’s Policy and Advocacy team. The Senior Policy Advisor will play a key role in developing and enacting policy solutions to foster health in the Latino community on issues that include Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Marketplace coverage, mental health, healthcare affordability, barriers to coverage and care encountered by low-income children and families, including immigrants and people with limited English proficiency.
Bringing a strong health equity and social justice lens to every task, the Senior Policy Advisor will be a primary source of highly skilled policy analysis, help manage and implement the health policy team’s strategic priorities, play a central role leading key components of our work to achieve those objectives, and contribute to collective success in accordance with the organizational priorities. The person filling this position will develop policy recommendations and advocacy strategies to influence key audiences, deepen the team’s expertise, strengthen engagement with Congress and state officials, reimagine systems, steward investments responsibly, and build power among local voices.
The Senior Policy Advisor, Health will be responsible for researching and writing policy publications while supporting the development of broader collective team products. To achieve federal-and state-level policy gains for Latinos, and to limit harm experienced by Latinos, the person filling this position will also work collaboratively with other UnidosUS’s components including the Health Programs, Marketing and Communications and Affiliate Engagement teams as well as UnidosUS state directors in Arizona, Florida, and Texas. Success in this position will require a focus on strategies with good prospects for long- or short-term success.
Location: This is a hybrid position based in Washington, DC. In accordance with UnidosUS policy, employees are expected to work onsite two days per week, with Tuesdays designated as a common in-office day. Additional in-office days may be required as needed.
Salary: $104,000-$125,000

Requirements

• Master’s degree in public health (MPH), public policy (MPP), public administration (MPA), health economics, health administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and significant relevant professional experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in health policy, including federal or state policy analysis, regulatory advocacy, or health systems reform.
• A demonstrated ability to assess strategic strengths and weaknesses of possible advocacy strategies.
• Strong writing skills, evidenced by articles, studies, reports, testimony, or other public documents.
• Experience communicating policy ideas in public settings such as coalition meetings, congressional hearings and briefings, major conferences, and media interviews.
• Strong project management skills suited to a dynamic work environment with multiple ongoing responsibilities, tight deadlines, and expectations for high-quality work.
• Flexibility for occasional travel.
• Demonstrated experience with and knowledge of the Latino community.

Nice To Haves

• Juris Doctor or other advanced degree in a relevant discipline.
• Spanish-language fluency.
• Familiarity with nutrition and food security issues.
• Skill with quantitative analysis and the manipulation of microdata.
• Experience working on Capitol Hill, the Executive Branch or in state-level legislatures or agencies.
• Familiarity with federal and non-federal budget processes.
• Experience managing staff.

Responsibilities

• Analyze health policy issues affecting the Latino community and produce policy recommendations that take into account prospects for success. Target audiences for this analysis include national and state-level legislators and executive-branch agencies.
• Draft, edit, and publish a range of policy analyses, such as issue briefs, white papers, reports, and blog posts, using primary and secondary research sources.
• Represent UnidosUS in high-visibility settings, including appearances before Congress, the Executive Branch, state legislators and agencies, national conferences, and the media.
• Lead and participate in coalitions of experts, advocates, and other stakeholders addressing health issues important to Latinos.
• Communicate and partner with UnidosUS Affiliates (community-based organizations, including federally qualified health centers) to learn about emerging health trends, lived experiences, and solutions, to develop policy advocacy approaches that effectively address community needs, and to educate and collectively advocate about issues relevant to our collective work.
• Help develop a strong, viable, and proactive agenda to promote and protect Latino families’ health and health care in key states including Arizona, Florida, and Texas
• Provide support to the Director to ensure quality performance on grants, including grant reporting, performance management, and funder relations including fundraising.

Benefits

• UnidosUS follows CDC guidance and strongly encourages employees to stay up to date on vaccinations and practice a range of preventive measures to support their well-being and maintain a healthy work environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior