Posted on January 15, 2013

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Policy Specialist, Coverage, Access and Health Care

The National Academy for State Health Policy is seeking a policy specialist to join the Washington, DC office and the Coverage and Access group. Successful candidates will have significant health policy knowledge; strong analytic, writing and project planning and organizational skills and experience; and ability to work with state officials, other stakeholders and National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) staff to successfully carry out work consistent with our mission of promoting excellence in state health policy and practice. The work involves policy research, analysis and writing; and providing technical assistance and facilitating peer-to-peer learning among states. As a member of NASHP project teams, the successful candidate may address a range of state health policy issues, with focus on improving state coverage systems and health care safety nets in the context of health care reform. Some out of state travel may be required.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Work with team members to plan and develop project activities to achieve project goals.
• Develop and carry out studies and analyses including literature reviews and syntheses, summary descriptions of state programs, surveys, key informant interviews, and case studies.
• Plan, research, and write briefs, reports, and other publications.
• Plan and implement audio, web and in person meetings, ranging from conference calls and webinars to advisory group and expert panel meetings to national briefings.
• Provide information and technical assistance in response to requests.
• Develop and implement activities to assist and support state officials and program administrators such as CHIP and Medicaid directors, Governors’ advisors and others in addressing policy and program challenges, including staff support for workgroups, and for learning networks and collaboratives.
• Facilitate state to state learning and exchange through multiple methods, including online, audio and on site means.
• Provide staff support to NASHP steering committees and participate in NASHP staff team work to plan and implement NASHP’s annual conference, including responsibility for planning workshop content and securing speakers.
• Stay abreast of relevant literature, national policy, and state activity relevant to project work, taking the initiative to identify emerging trends in policy and practice, and leaders and innovators in state government.
• Build and maintain working relationships with key stakeholders.
• Represent NASHP and relevant project work at meetings and conferences.
• Actively participate in efforts to improve individual and team quality of performance. Participate in staff/team meetings and training. Work with others to coordinate agency-wide communication and problem solving.

Qualifications:

• Minimum qualifications for a policy specialist include a masters or other graduate degree in public policy, public health, law or related areas, plus four years of relevant work experience. Additional work experience may substitute for a graduate degree.
• Experience with state government, either through direct work experience or policy or analytic experience closely tied to state programs, preferred.
• Knowledge of and experience in one or more areas of health policy required.
• Excellent writing, communication, analytic and organizational skills required.
• Ability to manage complex workload and balance assignments to achieve quality results in a timely manner required.
• Ability to create and sustain positive working relationships with staff and diverse constituencies and work independently as well as collaboratively required.
• NASHP offers competitive benefits and salary commensurate with experience. The salary range for policy specialists is in the mid 60s to mid to upper 80s.

About NASHP

The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) is an independent academy of state health policy makers working together to identify emerging issues, develop policy solutions, and improve state health policy and practice. NASHP provides a forum for constructive, nonpartisan work across branches and agencies of state government on critical health issues facing states. We are a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to helping states achieve excellence in health policy and practice. NASHP has offices in Portland, Maine and Washington DC. For additional information on NASHP, visit www.nashp.org. The National Academy for State Health Policy is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Application Instructions

Those interested in applying for this position should e-mail a cover letter and resume to: search@nashp.org, with “Policy Specialist – Coverage and Access” in the subject line. NO CALLS PLEASE.