VP, Health Policy

This position requires weekly in-office work (3 days) in our Washington D.C. office under a hybrid working model.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The VP of Health Policy provides overarching strategic leadership for LeadingAge’s nursing home, skilled nursing facility, life plan community, assisted living, and related settings and is responsible for overseeing LeadingAge’s regulatory and legislative analysis and advocacy work on nursing home, skilled nursing facility, life plan community and related legislative and regulatory issues. They work closely with top leadership in the Department of Health and Human Services and other key federal agencies and leads staff who examine federal policy related to nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, life plan communities and related settings policies.

The Vice President develops and maintains relationships with key policy makers and represents LeadingAge with Capitol Hill and other federal personnel. Working closely across the Public Policy team, the Vice President leads advocacy efforts to educate and persuade opinion-leaders on LeadingAge’s policy goals. In addition, the Vice President leads all Association policy education and outreach to state executives and members on NH/SNF/LPC and related issues. The VP, Health Policy establishes relationships with senior leaders in other national organizations, coalitions, and individuals; and provides strategic, tactical and operational leadership to ensure that programs and policies respond to the needs of the membership. 

In Support of Organizational Strategy:

This position will advance the LeadingAge strategic goal to amplify policy and public voice, ensuring that our voice is heard and trusted and that we are member-driven in creating a regulatory and legislative environment in which members can be successful.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Leads and supervises staff who work on nursing home and life plan communities regulatory, quality, policy analysis and legislative affairs. 
• Serves on the senior leadership team of the Policy Department, working collaboratively with SVP Public Policy & Advocacy and VP, Policy and Government Affairs on common issues and coordinated processes to maximize the effectiveness of the work of Public Policy & Advocacy.
• Develops, leads, and maintains a robust education program for members on various nursing home and life plan community trends, including national emerging policy, trends, outlook and history. 
• Speaks at state association or other events and manages NH/LPC team members’ presentations at such events.
• Represents LeadingAge across stakeholders, including media and other associations.
• Maintains relationships with policymakers and policy influencers at the federal and/or state level.
• Ability to decipher, analyze, assess, and summarize latest health policy research and reports.
• Stays knowledgeable about the regulatory and congressional landscapes, markets, sectors and channels in which members operate; uses internal/external resources to address knowledge gaps for self and team.
• Participates in the development and adoption of new products, services, and thought leadership materials to help members provide quality of care and life.
• Manage opportunities for the organization to collaborate with organizations inside and outside of government that further the overall goals and objectives above and beyond the public policy realm.
• Coordinates, develops, and directs identification and establishment of LeadingAge priorities regarding NH, LPC policy issues including relevant Medicare and Medicaid policy, as well as service line specific policy and operational priorities.
• Identifies issues of broad impact or opportunity with respect to the legislative and regulatory frameworks of aging services, including opportunities for reform and innovation. Advocates for their consideration.
• Establishes a system and process for review of proposed regulations and legislation, ensuring member input and careful deliberation.
• Represents or ensures representation in key advisory or deliberative bodies – federal government or otherwise – that impact the LeadingAge membership.
• Fosters collaboration across the aging services continuum. 
• Proactively ensures timely response to policy opportunities. 
• Intervenes or ensures intervention, as appropriate, with member concerns and requests with respect to specific policy issues. Identifies trends and problem areas and advocates for solutions that may benefit large numbers of members.
• Works in partnership with state associations and seeks input from members on policy issues impacting members and their ability to provide high quality services and supports.
• Represents or ensures representation in key advisory or deliberative bodies – federal government or otherwise – that impact the LeadingAge membership.
• Models LeadingAge core values of community, catalyst, courage and stewardship and is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive community where all can meaningfully contribute and thrive.  

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION COMMITMENT:  

LeadingAge recognizes the intersectionality of ageism, racism and other forms of discrimination. We are committed to being a just, inclusive, antiracist and equitable community that values and honors the unique qualities, wisdom and lived experience of all people. We are steadfast in our commitment and will invest in opportunities to foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive community, where all are able to meaningfully contribute and thrive.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE:

• Master’s degree in public health, public affairs, public policy or a JD and a minimum of ten years of experience in aging services, public policy, government affairs, law or other relevant field related to long term services and supports or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Demonstration of leadership skills, ability to advocate effectively for the association and its positions, negotiation, relationship-building and multi-media communication skills, and planning and fiscal management experience. 
• Demonstrated ability in deciphering, analyzing, interpreting and summarizing federal legislation and regulations
• Knowledge of policy issues and processes impacting aging service providers required.
• Strong communication skills – written and oral – and ability to represent LeadingAge before stakeholders required. 
• Demonstrated leadership skills to include the ability to lead, mentor direct staff to accomplish team and organizational goals required.
• Considerable initiative and judgement are required.
• Ability to guide and to work with a team to accomplish mutual goals required.
• Experience and credential as nursing home administrator preferred but not required.

ADA SPECIFICATIONS:

• Ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. 
• Ability to learn/translate/refer to large amounts of technical material and produce extensive written communications. 
• Ability to travel to external meetings both locally and nationally, including periodic overnight travel. 
• Normal work requires frequent use telephone and computer (monitor, keyboard, mouse). 
• Ability to be mobile at Annual Meeting; Leadership Summit Conference; and other meetings and events. 
• May be required to move about frequently in the office to access file cabinets, office equipment, attend meetings, etc.
• May require standing/sitting for prolonged periods of time during meetings and conferences.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

The salary range for this full-time, (37.5-hour work week), exempt, D.C. based position is ($174,514-$180,583). Salary offered may vary depending on relevant factors as determined by LeadingAge, which may include, but are not limited to, background and experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, certifications and licensures, internal equity, geographic location and other organizational needs. Salaries for candidates hired outside of the DMV will have salary adjusted using Economic Research Institute’s, Geographic Tool Assessor.

For full-time positions, we offer:  

• Unlimited Vacation after successful completion of the introductory period; 15 hours of Volunteer Time; 22.5 hours of Personal Time
• Accrue 12 days of sick leave per year, to maximum of 60 days or 450 hours.
• The full health & wellness benefits package includes medical, dental, short- and long-term disability and life insurance with generous employer contributions to medical, dental and vision premiums. 
• Employer paid short- and long-term disability life & AD &D and long-term care.
• Employer contribution to Health Savings Account (HSA)
• 11-paid federal holidays
• Opportunity to join our 403(b) savings & retirement plan upon hire by making voluntary contributions. After you have successfully completed one year of service, LeadingAge will match up to 3% of your own per pay period contribution. And LeadingAge will contribute an additional 4% of your semi-monthly gross salary each pay period as a basic employer contribution.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary.

Applicants in need of special assistance or accommodation during the interview process or in accessing our website may contact us by sending an email to employeeexperienceteam@leadingage.org. In your email, please include your name and preferred method of contact, and we will respond as soon as possible. 

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to attracting and maintaining a diverse work force. We seek talented, dedicated professionals who have a genuine interest in helping us fulfill our promise to: Inspire. Serve. Advocate. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, status as a crime victim, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristics protected by federal and District of Columbia laws.