State Advocacy Manager

Who We Are

United States of Care (USofCare) is a non-partisan non-profit organization on a mission to ensure that everyone has access to quality, affordable health care regardless of health status, social need, or income. We champion fair and commonsense policy changes to meet people’s urgent needs: the certainty that their health care will be affordable, that their coverage will be dependable and there when they need it, that their health care is personalized, and that the system is easy to understand and navigate.

In order to achieve our people-centered mission, USofCare has developed highly intentional organizational values and we are committed to building a diverse team at all levels of our organization, cultivating an inclusive culture, and engaging with people who bring different perspectives and lived experiences to our efforts. Our values are how we work internally and externally, what we hold up and celebrate, and what we are constantly striving for and aspiring to be as an organization. View our values at unitedstatesofcare.org/who-we-are.

In building our team, at every level we value and prioritize inclusion and diverse perspectives. Seeking unity over uniformity, we pay attention to the diverse interests, abilities, needs and backgrounds of every employee and strive to create an environment where everyone is heard and feels that they belong. We strongly encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and communities to apply to join our growing team.

Position Overview and Responsibilities

United States of Care (USofCare) is seeking a State Advocacy Manager to join its growing team. This is a full time, salary position with an end date of 7/31/2027. The State Advocacy Manager will play a key role in developing state campaigns to further USofCare’s work and provide support on policy issues aimed at breaking down barriers to accessing high-quality and affordable health care.

The State Advocacy Manager is responsible for executing state policy and legislative campaigns and seeking opportunities to work with state-based partners interested in advancing components of USofCare’s proactive policy agenda, which is shaped by USofCare’s research about what people need and want from the health care system (view our 2025 State Policy Priorities here). The State Advocacy Manager should be familiar with current health care policy issues and should be able to think strategically about how USofCare can navigate the current political landscape in any given state in order to advance USofCare’s objectives. This position will engage with state-level advocates, policymakers, and other stakeholders and will require building strategic relationships with a variety of stakeholders to respond to needs as they arise. The State Advocacy Manager may work on a variety of issue-specific campaigns; in the near-term this includes expanding access to health insurance coverage through public programs (including Medicaid) and public health insurance options, improving the affordability of health care by addressing hospital prices and hospital consolidation, reducing out-of-pocket costs for consumers by eliminating facility fee, and ensuring access to preventive and primary care.

The day to day work for the State Advocacy Manager will include managing issue-specific campaigns in a portfolio of states, including developing work plans, representing USofCare at meetings, facilitating meetings with state partners, policymakers, health care industry stakeholders and other external partners, identifying campaign messaging and collateral needs like fact sheets and talking points, and working with vendors and contractors. The State Advocacy Manager will provide project management and legislative tracking in their portfolio of states and be responsible for project-based grant deliverables, conduct analysis necessary to inform organizational positions on various health care issues, and identify new opportunities for state campaigns with USofCare team members and relevant state partners.

Working in close collaboration with the entire USofCare State Policy & Advocacy team, the State Advocacy Manager will report to the Senior Director of State Policy & Advocacy and may be responsible for overseeing the work of junior staff and/or managing interns.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is self-directed, curious, organized, and shares USofCare’s commitment to people-centered policy change, diversity, equity, and inclusion. You should be comfortable in a fast-paced environment where tasks, priorities, and deadlines can change quickly. You have a passion for learning, understanding, and exploring new ideas. You are not afraid to ask questions, speak up, and be an active and engaged member of our team. You value collaboration and attention to detail and can work effectively across teams and departments within the organization.

Required Qualifications

• To be successful in this role, you must have a strong commitment to ensuring everyone has access to quality, affordable health care, and have a dedication to operating in a diverse, bipartisan, learning atmosphere that explores multiple policy solutions to achieve our mission. You are willing to respect different points of view, and are committed to applying an equity lens and prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion principles in all your work;
• Knowledge of health care policy and program areas in both public and private sectors, such as private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, policy issues related to the underlying cost of care such as health system pricing and provider consolidation, and/or other policy areas related to increasing access to care, and addressing costs and affordability;
• Four or more years of experience* working on or directing state-level policy advocacy, including demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategy in legislative, budget, or regulatory environments; (In addition to paid professional experience, we welcome candidates with transferable experiences that demonstrate the critical skills necessary for this role.)
• Demonstrated experience building coalitions, relationships with new partners, campaign plans, and ability to think strategically about problem solving and determine who is “missing from the table”;
• Strong project and time management skills, with great attention to detail;
• Experience lobbying, working with, or managing contract lobbyists;
• Excellent communication and writing skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds;
• Can thrive in an environment where the path forward isn’t always clear;
• Strong computer proficiency, specifically with the Google Suite of applications; and
• Willingness to work occasional nights and weekends, as necessary due to the schedules of state legislative sessions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with consumers or patients, and the ability to translate their experiences into policy solutions and leverage their stories in advocacy campaigns;
• Experience in a policy advocacy organization, preferably with a focus on health care or closely related issue area;
• Established relationships with advocates, legislators, or other policymakers at the state level;
• Understanding of the dynamics of 501(c)(3) versus 501(c)(4) organizations and capabilities; and
• Experience managing others.

Work at United States of Care

USofCare is committed to equity in our compensation policy. The salary range for this position is $65,000-$75,000, annually, depending on experience and location.

United States of Care offers a very generous benefits package including phone and internet stipends, medical, dental, vision, life, and long term disability insurance, and a 403b retirement plan with 5% employer match. USofCare’s paid time off includes accrued sick time, an unlimited vacation policy, paid parental and medical leave, and office closures throughout the year for holidays and breaks. A full summary of benefits is available upon request.

This is a full time, time-bound position with an end date of 7/31/2027, and is an at-will position. The funding for this position is provided by a limited term grant. There is potential for this position to be extended or converted to a permanent position, but is not guaranteed. This position is fully remote, and requires occasional travel. Candidates may be located anywhere in the United States.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. United States of Care is unable to commence (“sponsor”) an immigration case in order to employ an applicant.