Program Manager, Health Equity Department

About Families USA
Families USA is a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans. Working at the national, state, and community levels, we have earned a national reputation as an effective voice for health care consumers for over 30 years, and more recently, have been deeply engaged in the promotion, protection, and implementation of the Affordable Care Act.  The Health Equity Department focuses on addressing the racial and ethnic health disparities that are pervasive in our health care system and promoting programs and policies to advance health equity.  The Department works to support a health care advocacy and a vibrant health equity movement in communities of color across the nation that will protect the gains of the Affordable Care Act and ensure maximum equity in its implementation.

Program Manager Description
The Program Manager reports to the Director of Health Equity and is an integral part of a small, close-knit team. He/she will work closely with other Families USA departments, including Communications, Field, Publications, Health Policy, and Government Affairs. Responsibilities will include:

• General Responsibilities
• Working with the project team to develop both short- and long-term goals and work plans for the department and its team members;
• Assisting in the development of advocacy, publications, and communications strategies to raise awareness of minority health issues and the role of the Affordable Care Act in ameliorating them;
• Developing and maintaining relationships with advocates, government agencies, legislative staff, national organizations, and researchers working on racial and ethnic health disparities;
• Developing content for the Families USA’s Health Equity Web pages and related web sites;
• Representing Families USA at relevant conferences, meetings, advisory boards, and coalitions; and
• Supervising junior staff as needed.

• Research and Policy Analysis
• Analyzing and understanding the impact of health policies and proposals on racial and ethnic minorities’ access to affordable, high-quality health care is a critical component of the Health Equity Department’s work. We work with the Health Policy department to ensure that consideration of health disparities and structural barriers to health care access that communities of color face are integrated into the organization’s policy work. The Health Equity Program Manager’s responsibilities in this area will include:
• Monitoring and analyzing health policy legislation, regulations, and other policy trends  on both the federal and state levels as they relate to racial and ethnic minorities and their access to high quality, affordable health care;
• Developing policy recommendations to advance health equity, especially in terms of access and quality, in the context of ongoing legislative and regulatory advocacy activities in which the organization is engaged, serving as both an internal and external resource on these issues.
• Conceptualizing, researching, and drafting publications for policymakers, advocates, and the media to highlight the need to address health disparities and opportunities to expand health equity, especially in the context of health reform implementation.

• Field and Public Education Support
  Transforming the organization’s policy expertise into information that national and state advocates can effectively use and the public understands is the other key function of the Health Equity Department.  We collaborate closely with the Families USA Field department, and other organizations, to provide advocates in communities of color with the information, tools, materials, and other resources they need to maximize their ability to improve health care access.  The Health Equity Program Manager’s responsibilities in this area will include:
• Working with national and state partners on projects designed to raise awareness of key health equity issues, and the value of health reform in addressing them, among policy makers, the media, grassroots advocates, and communities of color;
• Strengthening and building close relationships with state and local minority advocates and leaders,
• Assisting in the development of health equity-related online public education and advocacy campaigns, including action alerts, drafting blogs, and new media strategies;
• Conceptualizing, researching, drafting, and producing assorted health equity materials and resources for field advocates to use in their advocacy and public education efforts;
• Collaborating with the other departments to help conceptualize and plan trainings on minority health issues and federal programs, and to respond to state advocates’ requests for technical assistance with respect to health equity issues and engagement of communities of color;
• Working with the Director to develop and execute the Health Equity track of the annual Health Action Conference;
• Overseeing the production of the Health Equity Newsletter.

Qualifications:
Candidates for the position should have at least two years of health policy, federal or state advocacy, and/or field experience. Prior experience working with a minority organization or health care advocacy organization will be highly valued. In addition:

• Deep commitment to the achievement of health equity as a social justice issue is required.
• Solid knowledge of health disparities, minority health, and health equity issues will be highly valued, as will a working understanding of the Affordable Care Act.
• Excellent research, writing, communication, and interpersonal skills are indispensible.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team, and manage multiple projects with flexibility, humor, and grace is ideal.
• Bilingual candidates and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Salary will be commensurate with experience. Generous benefits are provided.

Interested candidates should e-mail their resume to:

healthequity@familiesusa.org (please note job title in subject line)
or mail their resume to:

Program Manager Search (Health Equity)
Families USA
201 New York Ave. NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005

EOE