Vice President for Health Policy

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) is a high-caliber strategic policy institute that informs and shapes public policies to reduce poverty, promote equity, and build opportunity in a fiscally responsible manner. It has a national reputation for conducting rigorous research and analysis, developing evidence-based policy ideas and strategies, shaping a broad array of policy debates at the federal and state levels, and influencing policy outcomes on a range of critical issues. It focuses its efforts on improving the lives of people with low or moderate incomes and examines how policies affect particular groups, including people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ people. The Center is known for its unique capacity to blend rigorous, timely analysis with effective communications that enable policymakers and the media to make use of its work. 

 The Center’s Health Policy division undertakes extensive work at both the federal and state levels to strengthen health coverage and financing for low- and moderate-income people through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, and tax policy. Our work includes promoting effective approaches at both the federal and state levels to covering low- and moderate-income families and individuals, analyzing proposed changes in government policies, providing technical assistance to federal and state policymakers, conducting research on the implications of health policy choices, and working with other federal and state nonprofits on these issues. Center analyses and experts are quoted frequently in the press and relied upon heavily by policymakers and colleagues in other organizations.   

 The Vice President for Health Policy provides leadership and strategic direction for the Health Policy team at CBPP, working collaboratively with the team to develop and execute a policy agenda on a wide range of issues. The Vice President is a principal spokesperson for the Center on health issues and works to maximize the Center’s impact. The Vice President and the team work in close collaboration with the Center’s President and staff on the Communications, Government Affairs, and other policy teams to develop and implement policy-related goals and strategies. The Vice President and team members provide information, data, and technical assistance to an array of important stakeholders, including policymakers, journalists, and other organizations. The Vice President also works closely with the Center’s Development team to ensure financial support for CBPP’s health policy work and serves as a member of the Center’s leadership team, which helps set direction for the organization as a whole. 

 Responsibilities:  

 Policy Development, Analysis, and Strategy    

Reporting to the President and serving as an integral member of the senior management team, the Vice President for Health Policy is a strategic thought-partner and will be responsible for providing executive-level direction and management oversight of research and public policy initiatives that affect low-income communities:   

• Develop strategic goals and evaluate results to ensure organizational objectives are met and are in line with the mission of the organization.  
• Develop research and policy agendas in collaboration with team members and other policy experts inside and outside the Center.  
• Draw on the latest research to develop new policy ideas and program recommendations that improve access to and affordability of health care for low income, uninsured, and underinsured populations.   
• Analyze and report on the potential impacts of policy ideas on a wide range of populations, including Black, Latino, Asian, and other communities of color; immigrants; Indigenous people; people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people; people living in U.S. territories; and others.   
• Serve as a key thought-partner to the President, Government Affairs team, and policy experts on other teams to implement policy goals and strategies.  
• Work closely with the Communications team to develop strategies that help shape policy debates.  
• Serve as a nationally recognized spokesperson for the Center on health issues for the media and at conferences, events, and other speaking engagements.  
• Develop and strengthen relationships with state and national organizations, including organizations that work on behalf of communities of color and center the lives of people with lived experience of racism and discrimination, poverty, low-paid work, and lack of access to quality and affordable health coverage.  
• Along with other Health team staff, respond to media inquiries on health policy, analyze legislation and regulations, and educate policymakers, including legislators, federal administration officials, advocates, and others on federal health programs.  
• Elevate the profile of the team’s other experts to maximize the Center’s impact.  

 Research, Writing, and Editing   

• Direct the written products of the health team, including policy and research reports, regulatory comments, blogs, materials for state groups, talking points, and commentary.  
• Review and edit most written materials to ensure that all products further the policy objectives of the Health team; author or co-author written products.  
• Consult with academic and policy experts inside and outside the Center to help inform the team’s research and policy priorities.  

 Management and Supervision   

• Lead and manage a team with staff at varying points in their career trajectory and guide team members’ professional growth and development.   
• Lead the effort to establish diversity, equity and inclusion goals for the team, including how the team works together, its partnerships, and its research agenda.  
• Supervise team operations, including developing and maintaining systems and practices for effective project and staff management, such as weekly team meetings and work plans.  
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the Health team and staff across the Center.  
• Ensure that the Health team’s work is integrated with and supports the organization’s overall policy agenda.  
• Participate in the management of the overall organization, including efforts to improve organizational health.  

Development   

• Work closely with the President and the Development team to identify and cultivate funders to support policy and research activities.  
• Help conceive, draft, and review new funding proposals, reports, and other funder communications in collaboration with development writers.   

 Qualifications:  

The successful candidate will demonstrate broad knowledge of health policy issues for low-income people and experience working at a senior level to affect health policy outcomes at the federal or state level. This individual will bring a mix of the following skills and experiences:    

• Exceptional leadership skills, a highly collaborative management style, and the ability to draw on and develop the expertise of people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.   
• Extensive experience developing and analyzing policy and programmatic options, the ability to think strategically about opportunities to affect policy, and the ability to balance competing priorities and interests.  
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills, particularly the ability to effectively communicate messages to policymakers and members of the media.   
• A sophisticated understanding of the role that inequity and discrimination play in health policy, and a commitment to advancing equity in the Center’s health policy work.  
• Exceptional ability to respond to multiple demands in a complex, fast-paced, and rapidly changing policy environment.   
• Demonstrated ability to develop relationships with policymakers, government officials, organizational partners, and other stakeholders.   
• Proven effectiveness at fundraising.  
• Ten years of relevant experience; a graduate degree in a relevant field is highly desirable.  

This position reports to the President.

Terms of Employment: Full-time, exempt.

Bargaining Unit Status: This is not a bargaining unit position. 

Compensation:    

Salary commensurate with experience, excellent benefits (including health insurance, vision and dental coverage, life and long-term disability insurance, retirement, MERP, and DCAP), and generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday schedules. 

 Please upload a cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, please include a discussion of what draws you to the mission of the Center.  

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and welcomes diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages all qualified persons to apply regardless of race, color, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, credit information, pregnancy or parental status, family responsibilities, personal appearance, creed, military or veteran status, religion, ancestry or national origin, union activities, disability, or other status protected by applicable law.