Policy Specialist

Job Overview

About The Role

NCSL’s Health Program seeks a policy specialist with knowledge and experience in state-level policy related to the U.S. health system, including commercial insurance coverage and prescription drugs. Join NCSL’s Health Program to deepen your expertise and network in health policy while contributing to a strong team and assisting state legislators and legislative staff nationwide. The 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 policy specialist position will work on a range of health care policy topics, specializing in issues relating to commercial insurance coverage and prescription drug access and affordability. The position will also collaborate with team members working on other topics, including access to care and health care payment and delivery. As a policy specialist, you will conduct legislative research; provide services to support state legislatures, write reports and articles, plan and conduct meetings, and other responsibilities as needed. This position has contact with state legislators, legislative staff, and other officials and stakeholders outside of NCSL, including face-to-face discussions and presentations.

In addition to subject matter expertise in the health topics of this portfolio, the ideal policy specialist will possess knowledge of state legislative processes and the ability to analyze legislation and legislative trends. Successful candidates bring natural curiosity, initiative, and flexibility, excellent communication skills, and a strong desire to learn and grow. The position is nonpartisan and non-advocacy, and the ideal candidate possesses a belief in NCSL’s mission and the ability to remain neutral on politically charged topics. This position will report to an associate director in the Health Program and work with several other policy staff on tasks or projects related to health care costs, coverage, and delivery.

Responsibilities

What You’ll Do

• Collects and analyzes legislative data; interprets and identifies legislative implications and trends; develops comparative 50-state legislative data sets.
• Develops subject matter expertise on a variety of issues related to commercial insurance, prescription drugs, and health care access, and assists legislators and legislative staff with their research and information needs.
• Conducts research on federal, state, and local actions that impact the work of legislatures, such as executive and administrative actions, relevant case law or judicial interpretations, and intergovernmental actions.
• Translates detailed and complex information in the most effective format using a variety of methods, e.g., verbal presentations, publications, technical assistance workshops, webpages, podcasts, webinars, meetings, memos, newsletters, articles, and others.
• Plans technical assistance programs, small-sized meetings, and educational sessions at larger meetings and assists with overall planning for larger meetings with supervisor oversight. May contribute to planning tasks such as speaker identification, agenda development, and on-site support.
• Creates substantive, engaging, and interactive presentations for legislators, legislative staff, and others on state or federal topics within a specific portfolio with the ability to respond to questions.
• Prepares concise, accurate, and nonpartisan written products for a variety of purposes and audiences, including communications with members (email, memos), reports, webpages, articles, blogs, and others as needed.
• Participates in peer review editing of colleagues’ work as needed.
• May assist with coordination, management, and facilitation of a standing committee, task force, professional staff association, or subcommittee and maintains effective relations with key legislators and legislative staff involved as needed.
• May assist with the development of new projects in assigned subject areas, including assisting with concept papers, proposals, and grant applications.
• May assist with funder relations and completes high-quality, timely assigned project deliverables, under the direction of supervisor.
• Travels domestically for meetings, technical assistance, and other project activities as needed.
• Performs other responsibilities as needed.

Supervisor/Management Responsibilities

May oversee one intern or serve as coordinator of a team of other professionals on a short-term project.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus four years of work experience with state legislatures, government, public policy, or other relevant fields.
• Knowledge relevant to health care insurance, prescription drugs, and health care access.
• Proficient writing and presentation skills and the ability to clearly and credibly communicate information to a variety of audiences.
• Aptitude at working both collaboratively with others and independently.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with legislators, legislative staff, national experts, funders, and others, under the guidance or mentorship of supervisor(s).
• Ability to work in a politically neutral manner and maintain confidentiality when required.
• Strong research and analysis skills, including accessing and assessing a variety of resources and research; synthesizing data and legislation; and analyzing and summarizing policy options and legislative activities.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines under the guidance of supervisor(s). Ability to work under deadline pressure and adapt to changes in workload.
• Proficient knowledge of state legislative and political processes and the separation of power between the branches of government.
• Ability to travel by air up to 5-8 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 full-time 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 travel on their own fare 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
• Three weeks of 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 is 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.

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, December 3, 2024, for best consideration. Learn more about working with NCSL by visiting our careers page. We are looking forward to receiving your application!

NCSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to developing a diverse, dynamic team and inclusive workplace. NCSL does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation.