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Summary

The Policy and Engagement Manager is responsible for managing and executing community health center engagement and grassroots advocacy tactics to further the Association’s public policy priorities. Under the supervision of the Vice President of Government Relations and External Affairs, the Policy and Engagement Manager plans and implements activities for community health centers to engage state and federal policymakers. In collaboration with the External Affairs Department, the Policy and Engagement Manager also develops programs to strengthen the advocacy capacity of individual community health centers. The Manager also provides other support to the External Affairs Department, including but not limited to partner and stakeholder engagement, policy research and analysis, and materials development.

Essential Functions

Health Center Policy Engagement & Grassroots Advocacy: Organizing opportunities for community health centers to engage decision-makers in order to advance public policy objectives.

Manage logistical planning and execution for NCCHCA’s cornerstone advocacy events, including Congressional Visits in D.C. during the annual NACHC Policy & Issues Forum, Community Health Center Advocacy Day at the North Carolina General Assembly, and regionalized virtual briefings for state legislators, et al.
Collaborate with Communications and External Affairs Manager on grassroots lobbying and digital engagement activities that equip member health centers, their patients, and their supporters to directly contact elected officials at strategic moments, including through action alerts sent through NCCHCA’s advocacy management platform (Quorum), as well as through personalized, direct outreach to targeted health centers.
Develop and implement new initiatives in addition to existing NCCHCA cornerstone advocacy events in order to facilitate interactions between community health centers and policy decision-makers.
Support development of memos, presentations, talking points, meeting agendas and runs-of-show, and other materials to prepare community health centers to effectively engage with decision-makers on public policy topics.

Advocacy Capacity-Building: Equipping community health centers to build power using organizing principles and equipping them to be effective advocates.

In concert with VP of Government Relations and the Communications Manager, design and implement programs to help health centers integrate community organizing principles into their advocacy and communications operations (in line with NCCHCA’s ongoing engagements with Building For Mission and the National Association of Community Health Centers). This may include coordinating convenings of a cohort of health center leaders in a workgroup or other affinity peer-to-peer group for training, technical assistance, and sharing best practices.
Develop and/or curate resources to guide health centers in starting, growing, and cultivating an advocacy program. Topics of said resources may include advocacy and lobbying 101, allowable advocacy activities for FQHCs, overview of state legislative and regulatory processes, guide to the NC General Assembly, storytelling, and much more.

External Affairs and Communications

Coordinate with VP of Government Relations and Communications Manager to develop and implement a plan to regularly amplify community health centers’ successes and policy-related needs to target audience of key decision-makers.
Represent NCCHCA through participation in external coalitions, stakeholder tables, and other meetings in order to cultivate relationships, gather information, and align activities in concert with partners.
Assist Communications Manager in replying to media inquiries, including response drafting and coordination of interviews with members and other spokespersons.
Provide support for other events and activities, such as National Health Center Week in August, VIP visits to health centers, and others.

Other Responsibilities

Collaborate with NCCHCA colleagues to support other functions outside of chief responsibilities, including:

Monitoring, researching, analyzing, and writing summaries of legislative and regulatory policy developments.
Contributing written content for NCCHCA’s weekly Focal Point newsletter, social media posts, website, and membership learning community (Higher Logic)
Participating in informational sessions, webinars, meetings, conferences, and learning opportunities to stay abreast of policy developments, opportunities, and threats.
Creating public-facing materials and resources—such as one-pagers, fact sheets, briefs, FAQs, reports, infographics, slide decks, press releases, statements, etc.—to advance NCCHCA objectives and public policy goals.
Conducting presentations, note-taking, and moderation for virtual and in-person meetings hosted by NCCHCA.
Contributing written updates and other content for miscellaneous NCCHCA projects as the need arises, such as quarterly and annual reports to Board of Directors, reports to funders, and grant applications, among others.
Attending internal coordinating meetings within the department and the wider organization.
Participating in various NCCHCA membership peer-to-peer workgroups to identify policy-related challenges and opportunities facing health center administrators and clinicians.
Other internal duties as assigned and as need arises.

Minimum Qualifications

At least three years of relevant experience, whether in health care policy, policy analysis, government affairs, public health, organizing, community engagement, or related role.
Bachelor’s degree, or combination of relevant education and work experience, required.
Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated the following skills and qualities:

Excellent project management skills: Highly organized and capable of simultaneously managing multiple large projects each with multiple component tasks and deadlines.
Excellent interpersonal skills, including the abilities to work effectively with diverse groups of people, provide responsive customer service, and develop trusting relationships with staff and leaders at community health centers.
Demonstrated ability to clearly and succinctly express ideas in writing.
Strong verbal communication skills in order to clearly communicate over the phone and conduct presentations in person and via virtual modalities. A candidate that will thrive in our department’s culture will be:
Flexible: Must be nimble and willing to adjust and adapt priorities in response to new and emerging opportunities and challenges in dynamic policy and political environment, health care landscape, and needs of member community health centers.
Collaborative: A team player who enjoys deliberating with colleagues and learning from one another.
Adept at critical thinking and problem-solving.
Highly motivated with a strong work ethic.
Intellectually curious: Eager and willing to ask questions and learn, and comfortable with not always having the answers right away.
Empathetic and kind.
Mission-driven: committed to health equity and social justice.
Civically and politically minded. While not required, the Manager may also have demonstrated the following skills, knowledge, abilities, and/or experiences, which we would consider a PLUS:
Prior experience with and knowledge of the Community Health Center program, including understanding of state and federal policies specific to Federally Qualified Health Centers.
Background in public health, community organizing, or government relations, especially with professional experience in and relationships within the state of North Carolina.
Understanding of state and federal policymaking, including budget and appropriations processes; rulemaking, administrative, and regulatory policy; Medicaid and Medicare policy development; and legislative schedules and processes.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, OneNote, among other programs in the Microsoft Office Suite.
Experienced with utilizing online meeting platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
Familiar with Salesforce and Higher Logic platforms.
Experience in meeting facilitation (both in-person and virtual).

Physical Demands

Consistently working at desk in front of computer monitor, significant typing and data entry, majority of the day is spent indoors and sitting.

Work Environment

This position will be temporarily remote while NCCHCA is in the process of relocating to a new Raleigh-based office location. At that time, the position is likely to operate in a hybrid office-based environment in which staff work in the office at least one day a week.
Must have residence in or plans to relocate to North Carolina and commute to Raleigh-based office for in-office days. Must have high-speed, reliable internet service and dedicated work space for remote-based work.
Occasional travel out-of-town, by air, and overnight for conferences, advocacy events, and health center site visits, among others.

North Carolina Community Health Center Association

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Policy and Engagement Manager