Senior Vice President, Government Affairs and Public Policy - Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers

The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers (League) was founded in 1972 as one of the country's first state Primary Care Associations (PCAs). Established under the same federal authorizing legislation as the health center program (Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act), PCAs are organized around a set of core functions and competencies that provide a framework for support and assistance to health centers and the communities they serve. The League is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization registered as a public charity with the Commonwealth's Secretary of State. It maintains a professional staff at its headquarters in Boston and its training center in Worcester.

Position Summary

The Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy works to eliminate systemic barriers to health equity and access to care for health center patients and communities by:

1. Leading the collaborative development and implementation of strategies that advance health center operations and sustainability through improved policies and enhanced resources, including the direct provision of training and technical assistance.
2. Serving as a bi-directional communicator and educator between government entities and community health centers.
3. Developing, managing, and directing policy staff in a way that furthers organizational priorities and maximizes policy staff growth and potential.

Essential Functions

(The following is a list of essential functions, which may be subject to change at any time and without advance notice. Management may assign new duties, reassign existing duties, or eliminate a role. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.)

Strategic Leadership of Government Affairs and Public Policy Objectives

• Devise and implement annual policy agendas that reflect the organization's strategic plan and set achievable goals in the current environment. Provide adaptive leadership responsive to threats or opportunities and devise short-term strategies accordingly.
• In conjunction with the President and CEO, policy team, and external consultants, devise sub-strategies for legislative and administrative initiatives and directly manage their implementation.
• In conjunction with policy staff, including the Director, Public Policy & Advocacy and Senior Manager, Health Access & Government Affairs, ensure the continual development and improvement of grassroots and grasstops advocacy networks.
• Lead staff for the Governmental Affairs Committee.
• With staff and consultant support, maintain awareness of state and federal policy environments, including threats and opportunities, and make informed decisions on engagement as needed.
• Serve as lead adviser to the President and CEO on Government Affairs and Public Policy matters.
• Ensure the collective identification and communication of policy priorities among membership within a continually evolving environment through standing committees, workgroups, and ongoing member engagement.

Ensure Successful and Sustainable Participation by Health Centers in MassHealth and Health Safety Net Policy Initiatives

• Manage the Senior Director of Policy and Health Access and the Director, Health Center Reimbursement and Transformation, as well as external consulting support, to develop successful strategies for all MassHealth payment and care delivery reform/transformation efforts.
• Manage short- and long-term strategies on MassHealth, HSN, Medicare, and commercial reimbursement issues that improve health center revenue and advance access to care and health equity.
• Manage the development of and directly provide technical assistance and guidance on reimbursement and system transformation efforts.

Provide Training, Technical Assistance, and Programmatic Support

• Oversee Policy Team leadership and participation in Cooperative Agreement and other grant deliverables, providing direct and in-depth training and technical assistance to health center staff cohorts in areas such as Health Access, Billing and Reimbursement, and Policy.
• Provide technical subject matter expertise and support on programmatic activities, including workforce development and issues impacting clinical and operational areas for health centers.
• Manage the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy and the Coordinator, Government Affairs and Public Policy, for Boston Conference of Community Health Center activities.
• Conduct program evaluation and verify program activity impact in alignment with Workforce Division guidance.

Manage and Develop Government Affairs and Public Policy Staff

• Provide proactive management of direct reports in all Division work areas.
• Assist staff in career growth within their roles and develop enhanced skill sets for future advancement and responsibilities.

Advocate on Behalf of Health Centers on Key Legislative and Regulatory Agenda Items

• Serve as a registered agent (lobbyist) for the League, engaging both the Executive and Legislative branches of state government.
• Work with the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy to devise vision and messaging for key health center legislative priorities.
• Manage legislative and grassroots advocacy outreach plans during key legislative intervals.
• Advocate directly with the Legislature as needed on key priorities.
• Develop legislative proposals to address new challenges as they arise.
• Manage the development of comments on proposed priority state and federal regulations or sub-regulatory guidance to ensure health center viewpoints and impacts are communicated effectively.
• Manage staff and organizational engagement with the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation.

Additional Duties

• Represent the League at meetings.
• Develop new services, programs, products, or affiliations.
• Provide business planning guidance to senior management.
• Contribute to updating personnel policies and job descriptions.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Competencies/Skills

• Proven ability to implement multifaceted strategies at the local, state, and federal levels, resulting in investments or secured objectives for members/clients.
• Experience successfully engaging membership organizations.
• Experience managing multi-staff departments or divisions to achieve organizational goals.
• Proven success in developing and implementing training and technical assistance curricula.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Extensive knowledge of health center operations, payment, and funding mechanisms at both federal and state levels.
• Background in directing successful grassroots advocacy campaigns.
• Ability to manage multiple consultants effectively.

Education/Experience

• Bachelor's Degree required; Master's Degree or comparable experience preferred.
• 10-15+ years of experience in a management and leadership role within a health policy or advocacy organization, or a senior role in a government office.

Ready to Apply?

If you are a strategic leader with a passion for operational excellence and a commitment to strengthening communities through healthcare, we want to hear from you!

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or veteran status.