Job Overview

Health is a complex and costly policy area with tremendous implications for our daily lives and long-term success. Join NCSL’s Health Program to deepen your knowledge and experience in health policy while contributing to and leading a strong team and assisting state legislators and legislative staff nationwide. All of the Health Program’s work is nonpartisan and nonadvocacy. The Denver-based Health Program is a group of motivated, nonpartisan, fun and flexible individuals dedicated to tracking state policy developments, strengthening their expertise on evolving topics, and supporting state legislators and staff around complicated health policy topics.

The Associate Director for population health is a senior leadership position responsible for project oversight, staff supervision, grant administration, fundraising, and member services related to health policy. Associate Directors work closely with the director of the program to lead the development and implementation of assigned projects and is responsible for ensuring employees meet expected standards of performance. The Associate Directors supervises multiple professional staff. This position reports to the director of the health program.

Responsibilities

• Manages, oversees and coordinates complex work across multiple public health policy projects, activities and funding streams while ensuring quality standards, contract specifications and deadlines are met.
• Oversees and reviews the work of as many as six staff, on legislative research or policy-focused projects, while demonstrating an understanding of political context and a high degree of responsiveness to constituents.
• Works with the director on fundraising efforts, such as concept development, proposal writing, budget development, application submission and funder negotiations.
• Leads ongoing funder communication related to projects, such as project updates, emails and conference calls. Completes project reporting as required by the funder. Develops or assists with developing project budgets, goals, work plans and priorities.
• Manages or coordinates planning of educational meetings and technical assistance efforts - on population health topics including public health and maternal and child health - for legislators and legislative staff, generally requiring astute political judgments, a high degree of responsiveness to constituents and an understanding of NCSLs priorities and concerns.
• Collaborates with other NCSL programs and external partners to develop and implement innovative projects.
• Writes skillfully with minimal need for editing for a full range of publications. Reviews, edits and provides feedback on the substance and quality of writing assignments for other staff.
• Develops and implements communication strategies for disseminating and raising the visibility of NCSLs educational products and services.
• Maintains subject matter expertise on population health topics and an extensive network of relationships with federal agencies, funders, private-sector partners and interest groups.
• Travels domestically for meetings, technical assistance, and other project activities as needed.
• Performs other responsibilities as needed.

Supervisor/Management Responsibilities:

• Supervises, supports and coaches 4-6 staff members.
• Recruits, interviews, hires, and trains new staff.
• Oversees the daily workflow of the assigned projects.
• Provides constructive and timely performance evaluations.
• Provides employees the opportunity for ongoing professional development within the assigned topic areas.
• Handles discipline and termination of employees in accordance with organization policy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus eight years of work experience with state legislatures, government, public health, public policy or other relevant field.
  • Including, four or more years of increasingly responsible leadership and supervisory roles that include oversight of multiple functions, strategic planning, budget and grant development, personnel management, team building, and program development.
• Substantial knowledge of public health, maternal health and child health and demonstrated ability to quickly attain expertise in a new topic area.
• Exceptional writing, editing and presentation skills and the ability to clearly and credibly communicate information to a variety of audiences.
• Excellent people and relationship-building skills, ability to function as both a member and leader of the team, and the ability to develop a strong and trustworthy relationship with all internal and external teammates.
• Excellent ability to build and maintain relationships with legislators, legislative staff, national partner organizations and funders.
• Ability to work in a politically neutral manner and maintain confidentiality when required.
• Excellence in a wide range of policy and legislative analysis skills, including experience translating health concepts, analyzing policy data, writing publications and presenting policy overviews.
• Excellence in developing and executing educational/informational products and services for adult learners (i.e., legislators, legislative staff and others).
• Demonstrated excellence in project management, including organizing project work; managing deadlines; and assigning, overseeing and/or completing project tasks. Strong organizational skills, including the ability to plan meetings and manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously.
• At least three years of experience supervising or managing others. Excellence in staff supervision and development (i.e., delegating, supervising, evaluating work and coaching).
• At least two years of fundraising experience, such as grant writing and reporting, managing public and private grants and contracts, and maintaining funder relations.
• Ability to travel by air 10-15 times per year, with most trips being 1-3 nights, as well as work extended hours, possibly evenings and weekends, usually associated with events/travel.

Work Environment

This position is mostly performed in an office environment, on or off-site, with prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. NCSL provides a unique hybrid remote work policy with the requirement that staff travel on their own fare to the NCSL office once a month for team meetings and professional development. Employees routinely use standard office equipment such as laptops, printers, scanners, copy machines, and smartphones. Occasional travel by airplane, including overnights and weekends, is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Benefits

NCSL has a flexible remote work policy.  Building and maintaining our organizational culture is critical and we do so by bringing staff together, in person, for four days each month.  The remote work policy provides the freedom to work from anywhere with the requirement that staff come to the NCSL office once a month for team meetings and professional development.  We are committed to offering a full range of other benefits for you and your eligible family members, including domestic partners.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. Our outstanding benefits include low-cost health, dental and vision coverage, a 401(a)-retirement plan with 10% contribution after 6 months and full vesting, life & disability insurance, 3-weeks paid vacation with 5+ years of paid full-time work experience, generous time off plans and paid family leave, floating holidays, identity theft protection, employee assistance programs, pet insurance, paid time off to volunteer, and more! Relocation assistance provided for out-of-state candidates.

About the Organization

Are you ready to join an organization with an extraordinary mission? The National Conference of State Legislatures offers careers where you can use your skills, knowledge, and experience to truly make a difference. NCSL’s mission is purposeful – strengthening the legislative institution. From informing effective policies and promoting communication among state legislatures, to ensuring states have a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system, our team works in service of legislatures. And, with a commitment to constantly innovating all resources and services to meet the evolving needs of members, NCSL has earned the reputation as the nation’s most trusted bipartisan membership organization for legislators and legislative staff. Our success serving NCSL members relies on our team of passionate, dedicated professionals who work diligently to strengthen the legislative institution. Join our team and contribute to this unique, essential mission. NCSL has a flexible remote work policy.  Building and maintaining our organizational culture is critical and we do so by bringing staff together, in person, for four days each month.  The remote work policy provides the freedom to work from anywhere with the requirement that staff travel on their own fare to the NCSL office once a month for team meetings and professional development.

How to Apply

If you are a purpose-driven, dedicated professional looking to give as much as you get – submit your resume and cover letter by 11:59 PM MT, April 11, 2023 for best consideration. Learn more about working with NCSL by visiting our careers page.