Policy Advocate & Analyst

Are you passionate about improving the health of our communities? Arcora Foundation is dedicated to improving health equity by partnering with communities to prevent oral disease and increase access to dental care. Our long-term vision is that all people can enjoy good oral and overall health, with no one left behind.

We are seeking a Policy Advocate and Analyst to support our state and local public policy and systems change work. This work involves identifying and analyzing public policies that will improve oral health; working with oral health, patient and community advocates, both locally and statewide, to build and support coalitions to effect policy change; and working with Arcora’s Policy Director and lobby team to advance our legislative agenda.

The Policy Advocate and Analyst will be empowered to support all aspects of Arcora’s public policy program, with a large focus on Arcora’s long-term priority to maintain and increase access to community water fluoridation for Washington residents. This individual will spend time in Washington communities to build trusted relationships with local community partners, state agencies, associations, water departments, and elected officials to advance the Foundation’s fluoridation goals. Additionally this position will work closely with Arcora and Delta Dental of Washington policy staff to implement strategies to increase the areas that are fluoridated in Washington. 

We offer a highly competitive medical, dental and vision plans as well offering an 8% 401k match and all employees start accruing vacation and sick time from their very first day. We empower employee development through our tuition reimbursement plan, professional

The pay range for this position varies between $71,100.00 – $99,450.00 annually. Washington Dental Service and its affiliates—including Delta Dental of Washington (DDWA) and Arcora Foundation—intend to offer the selected candidate a base pay within this range, dependent on job-related, non-discriminatory factors such as experience. Base pay will also be adjusted based on the candidate's geographic location.

Essential responsibilities: The list of responsibilities listed is not intended to be comprehensive. Washington Dental Service and its affiliates—including DDWA and Arcora Foundation—reserve the right to change the responsibilities at any time with or without notice.

Policy Analysis and Advocacy

•  Collaborate with the Policy Director and other leaders to support the development and execution of Arcora’s strategic and operational plans and annual budgets, and provide input into tracking of progress toward metrics and achievements.
• Scan the environment for opportunities to improve oral health/overall health, evaluating options and making recommendations to the Policy Director. 
• Analyze other state and national policies for applicability and health improvement in Washington. 
• Research Washington state legislative proposals, draft analysis of these measures and recommend policy positions for Arcora. 
• Create fact sheets, talking points and testimony.  
• Provide guidance and support to fluoridation and policy teams to ensure progress towards team goals.  
• Implement diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies and tools that advance organizational and team goals and priorities.

Project Management

• Manage fluoridation work plan, engaging with staff and consultants as needed, ensuring project accountability and progress toward identified goals. 
• Facilitate external project teams, such as the Washington State Community Water Fluoridation Task Force, to achieve program goals.  
• Lead key meetings and events, including setting priorities, planning agendas and presentations, and developing stakeholder engagement strategies. 
• Manage execution of program strategies using a proactive, problem-solving approach and using a variety of tools (e.g., contracts, grant agreements, sponsorships) and resources (e.g., vendors, partner organizations, coalitions, and consultants).  
• Develop and maintain relationships with fluoridation leaders in order to be an effective change agent for fluoridation. 
• Manage communications campaigns to increase support for community water fluoridation. 

Community Engagement and Capacity Building

• Proactively and continuously cultivate, develop and maintain relationships that are essential for creating change and achieving mission. 
• Build networks, coalitions and personal relationships with community leaders; Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)-led organizations; elected and government officials; and funders to co-create policy solutions to address oral health inequities.  
• Represent Arcora in coalitions and with external partners; proactively identify ways to support partners’ policy priorities. 
• Collaborate with other staff teams to ensure alignment in Arcora’s approaches to community engagement and partnership development. 
• Support efforts to build the advocacy capacity of partner organizations. 
• Represent the Foundation to external audiences; prepare and deliver presentations as needed.

Experience, skills, and education needed to succeed in the position: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to successfully perform the essential functions of the position.

• Bachelor’s degree required with a focus on public policy, public health, healthcare administration or health education degree is preferred.
• 5 years of relevant experience, with a minimum of one year of experience in public policy advocacy and/or government relations. Health-related experience preferable.
• Excellent analytical, research, writing and communications skills.  
• Ability to prepare and deliver compelling presentations and arguments.  
• Ability to analyze professional documents and budgets, access and synthesize research on oral health issues to make it useful to decision makers. 
• Strong project management skills.
• Experience building trusting relationships with diverse stakeholders and using a diversity, equity and inclusion framework when advocating for policy change.
• Ability to engage effectively in difficult conversations, balancing various opinions and perspectives to find common ground with a variety of stakeholders.  
• Deep commitment to equity, alignment with the Foundation’s mission, and Delta Dental of Washington’s and Arcora’s OneTeam Values: Accountability, Courage, Curiosity, Inclusion, and Integrity.

Washington Dental Service and its affiliates, including Delta Dental of Washington and Arcora Foundation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. 

About the Arcora Foundation

Arcora Foundation advances oral health across Washington state. We are the foundation of Delta Dental of Washington, and the state’s largest foundation dedicated to this cause. We lead with equity in our work to achieve good oral health for all. Through partnerships, we focus our prevention and access priorities on racial and ethnic communities—specifically Black, Indigenous, and People of Color—where disparities in oral disease and access to care are significant. Our mission is in our name: bending the arc of oral health toward equity. Learn more at ArcoraFoundation.org.

We offer a highly competitive medical, dental and vision plans as well offering a generous 401k match and all employees start accruing vacation and sick time from their very first day. We empower employee development through our tuition reimbursement plan, professional development plans, and employee-led communities. We empower employee development through our tuition reimbursement plan, professional development plans, and employee-led communities.