Director of Policy & Advocacy

Organization’s Mission and Commitment to Health Equity:

The mission of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM) is “ Serving Humanity to Honor God ” by improving the physical, mental and spiritual health of those least served in the Rio Texas Conference area of The United Methodist Church. The Board of Directors approved a strategic plan in October 2019 that places health equity at the center of the work MHM wants to do. The Board of Directors approved the following statement:

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. believes that to improve the wellness of the least served and fully live out its mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God,” it must recognize the inequities inherent in its communities that contribute to poor health outcomes. Health Equity is both the process and goal by which Methodist Healthcare Ministries seeks to carry out that purpose. Health Equity is a framework of thought and action that strives to reduce racial and socio-economic disparities and create fair and just opportunity for every person to reach their full potential for health and life and contribute to that of others.

Expected to work at the local and state levels on movements that help communities' advance policy change and develops community relations.

Essential Duties:

Public Policy & Advocacy:

• Lead on analysis of proposed policy priorities and initiatives, determine potential impact on the organization and populations served by MHM and develop strategic proposals and responses to maximize community benefit.
• Oversee and conduct research of legislative proposals and advocacy documents to address systemic inequities.
• Oversee and create state legislative agenda, local initiatives, policy briefs, white papers, fact sheets, advocacy alerts, presentations, testimony, and coalition letters to educate and influence key stakeholders.
• Develop strategies to build coalitions aimed at growing grasstop and grassroot efforts and mobilizing local communities to affect policy change.
• Oversee the reporting and tracking federal and state advocacy and lobbying activities and prepare reports for state and federal agencies as required by law.

Contract Management:

• Responsible for management of the team’s contract management process.
• Oversee and manage a diverse portfolio of funded advocacy partners and execute on policy and advocacy-related contracts including contract negotiation, monitoring, budget expenditures, and deliverable review.
• Adhere to change control guidelines for contracts.
• Monitor contract budget utilization and variance while ensuring contracts are executed within predetermined timelines.
• Identify, evaluate and recommend new key strategic partners to be determined beneficial to MHM’s mission to address systemic inequities.

Program Management and Research & Education:

• Lead community program definition, initiation, team formation, and execution, including engagement with senior stakeholders for new program exploration.
• Convene CEO-level individuals as needed.
• Oversee budget allocation for various program-related activities such as contracts, events, and travel.
• Lead and develop strategic research and educational plans aligned with policy priorities best practices, and current and future programs.
• Provide insights and data interpretation to inform MHM program implementation, translating findings into research and education material.
• Disseminate research to identified stakeholders and partners.
• Adhere to document storage protocols for all research and education materials.

Communications & Partnerships:

• Edit, develop and facilitate content for multiple channels.
• Follow brand / communication standards in all publications.
• Utilize social media metrics in planning advocacy efforts.
• Manage portfolio of funded advocacy partners with communications deliverables.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Operational Excellence:

• Successfully execute processes assigned and adherence to excellence.
• Identify gaps and risks in current operations to propose recommendations to close them.
• Monitor process performance to ensure accomplishment of performance targets.

Salary:

Annual salary rate begins at $132,964.00. Mid range at $166,205.00. Actual starting rate will be commensurate with experience and education.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

A minimum of four years supervisory experience is required. Directly supervises staff in their respected department in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.

Responsibilities include interviewing, developing, and recognizing employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; scheduling and approving timesheets; appraising performance; ensuring safety compliance; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Education/Experience:

Master’s degree in Public Health, Public Policy, Health Care Administration or social/behavioral or government related fields. Must have 8 years’ experience in public policy and advocacy at local, state and federal levels, with an emphasis on state healthcare delivery systems, public health or related fields.

Must have superior conceptual, analytical, change management, and organizational skills. Must be able to convene, facilitate and coordinate strategic activities that require cross-functions. Must have skills and experience with superior relationship development and ability to engage with internal and external constituents.

Working knowledge and experience of strategic planning, building teams, working with external stakeholders and developing plans of action, setting accountabilities and timelines and monitoring and evaluation processes is highly preferred.

Experience working on behalf of underserved populations and/or with specifically addressing disparities that impact health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities is strongly preferred.

This position requires the ability and experience to interact comfortably and professionally with MHM board members and team members including senior leaders, as well as with senior-level team members of other organizations across sectors including grassroots organizations as well as with community leaders and community members.

Language Ability:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret health status and policy reports, publications, professional journals, and governmental regulations. Ability to interpret policy positions and prepare MHM’s policy position via white papers and presentations. Ability to speak effectively and respond to questions from diverse audiences . Fluent in English; Spanish bilingual preferred.

Reasoning Ability:

Must have critical thinking skills and able to define problems collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Must be able to analyze and interpret an extensive variety of local, state and federal public policies and comprehend implications for populations served by MHM.

Certificates and Licenses:

None

Computer Skills:

Demonstrates expert knowledge of the Internet, Microsoft Office tools, and related applications. Able to customize interactive toolbars, develop complex spreadsheets, graphs, presentations, and reports.

Other:

Passion to create change that leads to better lives and healthier communities.

Capacity to adapt rapidly to changing priorities, objectives, and situations.

Experience in managing relationships to improve internal organizational relations and build teams externally to achieve common purpose.

Ability to develop leaders within MHM to achieve goals.

Ability to work in a changing environment and as part of a team, taking on tasks at all levels.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a team member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the team member is exposed to an office environment and community settings having direct contact with people on a regular basis. Position may necessitate bending, stooping, twisting, turning, walking, sitting and standing for periods of time. Must be able to lift and maneuver up to 25 pounds.

Travel

Must be available to travel at least 50% of the time as job duties require, depending on biennial state legislative sessions, including overnight stays. Must work some evenings, weekends and holidays as job duties may require, depending on biennial state legislative sessions. Must be able to drive and have access to a vehicle; maintain valid driver’s license and auto liability insurance.