Director — Child and Family Health

The National Academy for State Health Policy’s Child and Family Health Team is seeking a director to help lead our portfolio of work on child health, including children and youth with special health care needs. This is a great opportunity to work with and support states in improving comprehensive systems of care for children, including those with chronic and complex health and behavioral health conditions.

About us — The National Academy for State Health Policy — NASHP — is a nonpartisan, nonprofit forum of policymakers from across the spectrum of state governments, leading and implementing innovative solutions to states’ health policy challenges. At NASHP, we engage state leaders to solve problems and share solutions; conduct policy analyses and research; leverage state expertise to develop model policy solutions; disseminate information on state policies and programs; and provide technical assistance to states. We have an immediate opening for a director to join our Child and Family Health policy team.

About you — You are a professional with at least 10 years of post-bachelor’s experience, who is organized and detail-oriented, a skilled communicator with excellent project management, writing and analytic skills, and who thrives in a dynamic work environment, engaging in multiple projects at a time. You have a strong foundation and substantive experience in a state health policy and in understanding state policy levers that may be employed to improve systems of care for children living with complex health and behavioral health conditions. Ideally, you have strong management experience that includes development, implementation and administration of both federal and private grants and contracts, as well as in designing substantive technical assistance for state leaders and supporting a team to execute that work. You understand the complex nature of health care systems and the interplay of state and federal policy with the needs of children and families, and the varying approaches state policymakers have and are using to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of systems of care for this important population.

How you will spend your time — Directors, working in conjunction with senior staff, develop projects and project work plans, assist in the implementation of work plans, and assure timely delivery of work products and activities encompassed in those work plans. This may include but is not necessarily limited to guiding and conducting research, analysis and writing of reports, convening and supporting learning collaboratives or networks, staffing advisory committees, seminars and conferences. Directors will be assigned supervisory duties, with day-to-day oversight of policy associates’ and research analysts’ work on specific tasks or projects, and will mentor other, more junior NASHP staff. Working with senior and executive level staff, the director may oversee all aspects of project planning and implementation, including the development and management of project budgets. Your key responsibilities will include:

• Working closely with NASHP’s senior director for the Child and Family Health team, other NASHP staff and with state leaders to develop and implement aimed at developing and improving child health systems, including integrated systems of care for children with chronic and complex health and behavioral health needs;
• Working independently and as part of a team, to oversee and conduct policy analyses, literature reviews, policy scans, surveys, key informant interviews, case studies and focus groups, write relevant analytic pieces that are targeted for specific state policymakers, and other stakeholders and design technical assistance opportunities
• Planning agendas and facilitating meetings (via conference call and in-person) ranging from small work groups to larger symposia
• Building and maintaining strong working relationships with state and federal program administrators, national policy organizations, consulting firms, experts and other key stakeholders
• Developing, coordinating and providing technical assistance to state leaders
• Representing NASHP and relevant project work at meetings and conferences, presenting or speaking at such events, as appropriate
• Assuring timely delivery of thoughtful, quality analytic products in compliance with all funder requirements as directed by the senior program director
• Staying abreast of relevant literature, national policy and state activity relevant to the health policy work of NASHP
• Participating in NASHP staff teamwork of planning and implementing NASHP’s annual conference
• Developing grant proposals
• Periodically traveling to states for site visits, meetings, and research

This position will be filled by a candidate who has considerable, real-world experience in state health policy, particularly in child health policy or a related area. To be considered for the position you must meet these minimum qualifications:

• Relevant work experience and Master’s degree or other graduate degree in public health, health finance, public policy, law or related areas, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Substantial knowledge of state and federal policy related to child and family health and, in particular, the needs of children and youth living with chronic and complex conditions
• Demonstrated understanding of state health policy and how ideas can be translated into practical policy solutions
• Strong analytic and qualitative research skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills
• Leadership experience
• Ability to manage a complex workload comprised of multiple projects
• Qualified to work in the United States

To apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter detailing their interest in this position and their salary requirements. Applicants are also asked to submit a current resume and specify salary requirements. Note that applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered. Applications should be sent to: search@oldsite.nashp.org. Please put “CFH Director” in the subject line.

The salary range for this position is $98,939 – $133,859.

NASHP is an Equal Opportunity Employer, providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age disability, genetic information, marital status, or military or veteran status in accordance with all applicable laws. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment and are committed to building a diverse workforce and leadership team. All persons are encouraged and welcome to apply.