Senior Policy Advisor-Public Health

Heluna Health•City of Industry, CA

About The Position

Heluna Health is seeking a strategic, collaborative Senior Policy Advisor to strengthen the organization’s voice, influence, and leadership in California’s public health landscape and beyond. The role monitors and interprets evolving public health policy and funding environments, coordinates policy engagement across Heluna Health’s programs, partners, and clients, and identifies opportunities to amplify their collective impact. The advisor serves as a resource to leadership on emerging public health trends, policy developments, and state and federal funding priorities, and helps shape a coordinated approach to policy engagement. This individual-contributor role focuses on policy analysis, strategic advising, and coordination; it is not a lobbying or government-relations position. It does not prepare regulatory comment letters on Heluna Health’s behalf or manage legislative relationships. Any organizational advocacy activity is coordinated with the CEO and legal counsel to ensure compliance with nonprofit and public-funding requirements. The position offers considerable latitude to develop the role, build relationships, and identify opportunities. It reports to the Director of Marketing & Communications, with a dotted-line relationship to the CEO. The role includes analyzing policy and funding developments, preparing executive briefings and recommendations, coordinating policy priorities across the organization and its partners, supporting CEO thought leadership and organizational positioning, and managing engagement with relevant associations, coalitions, and policy networks. The annual salary range is $107,000–$115,000, depending on skills and qualifications.

Requirements

Master’s degree in public health (MPH), public policy (MPP), or a closely related master’s degree, or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience.
At least five years of progressively responsible experience in public health, public policy, advocacy, public health administration, government relations, or a related field.
Deep knowledge of California’s public health systems, institutions, policy environment, funding mechanisms, and key stakeholders.
Understanding of federal public health policy and its implications for state and local programs.
Strong understanding of how public health programs are funded, administered, and delivered, including the roles of government agencies, nonprofit organizations, community-based partners, and funders.
Demonstrated ability to research and analyze complex policy and funding developments, anticipate implications, and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare concise executive briefings, policy analyses, and substantive thought leadership content.
Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships, navigate diverse stakeholder interests, and coordinate work across organizations and teams.
Entrepreneurial, intellectually curious, and self-directed approach, with the ability to identify opportunities, exercise sound judgment, and work effectively with considerable autonomy.

Responsibilities

Monitor and analyze federal and California public health policy, legislative, regulatory, and funding developments and assess implications for Heluna Health, its programs, partners, and clients.
Conduct policy analyses, environmental scans, and landscape reviews to identify trends, opportunities, risks, and potential impacts on public health funding and service delivery.
Prepare timely, actionable briefings and strategic analyses for the CEO and senior leadership, translating complex developments into practical insights and recommendations.
Advise the CEO on emerging public health issues, sector dynamics, and opportunities for Heluna Health to contribute to policy conversations.
Support business development with intelligence on public health trends, funding priorities, emerging opportunities, and the evolving needs of agencies, funders, and partners.
Develop and maintain an understanding of policy interests, advocacy priorities, and operating environments across Heluna Health’s programs, partners, clients, and funders.
Build relationships across the organization to identify, coordinate, and track policy and advocacy priorities, activities, and collaboration opportunities.
Help develop and implement a coordinated organizational approach to public health policy engagement aligned with Heluna Health’s mission and strategic priorities.
Identify ways for Heluna Health to support, connect, and amplify partners’ and clients’ policy and advocacy efforts while respecting their distinct missions and priorities.
Facilitate information sharing and coordination across programs and partners, and work with leadership and legal counsel to help ensure organizational policy or advocacy activities comply with applicable requirements.
Work with the CEO and Director of Marketing & Communications to identify priority issues and opportunities for organizational positioning, visibility, and thought leadership.
Provide research, analysis, and substantive content for CEO speeches, presentations, articles, opinion pieces, policy statements, and external forums.
Help position Heluna Health as a credible voice on public health infrastructure, funding, policy, and effective community-centered public health programs.
Identify sector conversations where Heluna Health’s experience and perspective can contribute meaningfully.
Collaborate with Marketing & Communications and business development teams to turn policy insights and organizational expertise into external communications, partnership opportunities, and strategic positioning.
Coordinate and track Heluna Health’s participation in public health associations, policy coalitions, advocacy networks, and other membership organizations.
Evaluate membership and participation opportunities based on strategic relevance, organizational priorities, and potential value.
Help ensure effective representation in relevant sector discussions, working groups, coalitions, and policy initiatives.
Identify high-value policy discussions, partnerships, and public health leadership forums for the CEO and other senior leaders.
Develop and maintain relationships with external stakeholders and track the strategic value and outcomes of organizational memberships and external engagement.
Perform other related duties as assigned.