Director, State Policy

## Reports To: EVP, Policy & Research
**Location:** Remote with travel required (U.S.-based), preference for candidates in the Washington, D.C. Metro Area
**Classification:** Full-Time, Exempt

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## About Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI)

BWHI is the only national organization dedicated solely to solving the most urgent health issues facing Black women and girls. For over 40 years, we have advanced evidence-based programs, informed policy, and translated research to action, working alongside communities and decision-makers to deliver systemic change.

**Mission:** To solve the most critical health issues that Black women and girls face through innovative programs, transformative research, and life-saving policies.

**Approach:** BWHI brings the challenges and disparities affecting Black women and girls to the forefront of national conversation, integrating science, advocacy, and action to eliminate barriers to wellness.

**We Advocate** – Advocate for policies that improve health outcomes for Black women and families.
**We Educate and Train** – Educate and train the next generation of leaders who will build the Black women’s health movement.
**We Amplify** – Amplify the voices of Black women to shift public perception and policies for social change.
**We Mobilize and Engage** – Mobilize and engage women and organizations to pursue greater opportunities for gender and racial justice.
**We Promote** – Promote evidence- and practice-based lifestyle change models that provide strategies for individuals and families to address health inequities.
**We Synthesize, Translate, and Disseminate** – Synthesize, translate, and disseminate information and research findings to strengthen the knowledge base on Black women’s health.

We’re proud to be Great Place to Work® Certified.

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## Position Summary

The Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) is hiring for a newly created role: **Director, State Policy**. This integral role leads the implementation of BWHI’s grant-funded policy initiatives focused on Medicaid and the 340B Drug Pricing Program, with an emphasis on addressing state-level disparities that impact Black women and girls.

As a member of the Policy & Research team, the Director of State Policy is responsible for leading and advancing key Medicaid and 340B-related policy activities across target states. This role will lead an intersectional state policy strategy aligned with BWHI’s strategic priorities in issue areas including maternal health, reproductive justice, HIV, chronic disease, cancer, menopause, and emerging issues such as artificial intelligence in health care.

The Director, State Policy serves as BWHI’s subject-matter lead for Medicaid and 340B initiatives, tracking legislation, analyzing trends, translating policy developments into actionable advocacy tools, and building coalitions and relationships with state officials. The role helps translate Medicaid and 340B policy and research into equity-driven recommendations and collaborates closely with internal teams and external partners to ensure BWHI’s policy positions are consistently reflected in legislative, regulatory, and community-based forums.

This position also serves as a key liaison across BWHI departments, partnering with Programs, Research, and initiatives such as the Rare Disease Diversity Coalition (RDDC) to align policy priorities with programmatic efforts and advocacy activities.

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## Key Responsibilities

### Policy Strategy, Monitoring & Analysis
– Serve as BWHI’s strategic subject-matter policy lead on state-level Medicaid and 340B policy, advancing portfolio priorities across key states.
– Identify, analyze, and synthesize proposed legislation, regulatory actions, and emerging policy trends affecting Black women’s health.
– Translate complex policy developments into clear, equity-centered insights and actionable recommendations for internal and external stakeholders.

### Advocacy Leadership & External Representation
– Act as a senior representative and spokesperson for BWHI in state policy environments, including State Houses, legislative offices, regulatory agencies, and advocacy coalitions.
– Build and steward strategic relationships with policymakers, agency officials, community leaders, and partner organizations.
– Provide direction for BWHI’s participation in advocacy campaigns and coalitions aligned to 340B priority states, ensuring consistent and research-informed messaging.

### Cross-Functional Leadership & Organizational Alignment
– Contribute leadership within the Policy & Research team through internal briefings, presentation development, and strategic planning.
– Partner with senior leaders and cross-functional teams to translate Medicaid and 340B policy priorities into action.
– Collaborate with Marketing & Communications to shape and approve policy briefs, op-eds, public statements, and other advocacy materials.

### Strategic Project Management & Grant Oversight
– Oversee deliverables, timelines, reporting, and documentation related to grant activities.
– Provide oversight of Medicaid and 340B grant-funded initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and funder expectations.
– Lead planning and execution of state-based outreach, convenings, and stakeholder engagements.
– Participate in strategic discussions with funders to share insights and identify opportunities for deeper engagement.

### Field Leadership, Learning & Thought Partnership
– Assess and communicate emerging state-level policy trends, translating insights into policy positioning and advocacy materials.
– Represent BWHI in national working groups, coalitions, and multi-state policy conversations.
– Participate in conferences, webinars, and convenings, including drafting testimony and contributing to policy briefs.

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## Education & Experience

### Required
– Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Public Health, Political Science, Government, Racial Justice, Civil Rights, or related field (or equivalent lived/grassroots/professional experience).
– 8+ years of professional experience in health policy, with direct Medicaid-related work at the state or federal level.
– Deep understanding of Medicaid structures and the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
– Experience developing action-oriented policy content (analysis, briefs, legislative tracking, stakeholder materials).
– Proven ability to distill complex policy topics into equity-centered messaging.
– Excellent communication and facilitation skills, including motivational presentations.
– Successful collaboration with policymakers, coalitions, or community-based organizations.
– Proficiency with policy writing and cloud-based project management tools (Salesforce, Asana, Monday.com, Airtable, Smartsheet).

### Preferred
– Master’s degree in Public Health, Public Policy, Health Administration, Social Sciences, LLM, JD, or related discipline.
– Experience supporting Medicaid or 340B initiatives within nonprofit, legislative, or public agency settings.
– Familiarity with state legislative processes, especially in Georgia, Virginia, California, Minnesota, Washington, Illinois, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania.
– Deep understanding of the 340B state-to-federal landscape, including contract pharmacy issues, PBM practices, and Medicaid payment models.
– Demonstrated commitment to social and racial justice.
– Experience in grant-funded roles, including reporting and deliverable tracking.

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## Personal Attributes

**Mission-Driven & Equity-Centered** – Deep commitment to health justice and advancing outcomes for Black women and girls.
**Inclusive Communicator** – Skilled at engaging diverse audiences with culturally relevant messaging.
**Strategic Executor** – Translates vision into measurable action with operational excellence.
**Collaborative & Trustworthy Leader** – Builds strong, transparent, cross-functional relationships.
**Team-Oriented & Community-Minded** – Thrives in collaborative environments and supports positive team dynamics.
**Results-Oriented & Resourceful** – Finds innovative solutions and navigates competing priorities.
**Culturally Fluent & Audience-Aware** – Ensures tone and messaging reflect the lived experiences of Black women and girls.
**Composed & Discerning Under Pressure** – Operates with professionalism and clarity in high-stakes environments.

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## Physical Requirements & Work Environment

### Physical Requirements
– Primarily computer-based work with extended periods of sitting.
– Occasional light lifting (up to 15 lbs.).
– Ability to travel domestically up to 30–40%, including overnight and occasional weekend travel.
– Must be able to travel regularly from a major metropolitan area; preference for Washington, D.C./DMV.

### Work Environment & Availability
– Fully remote; must maintain a quiet, professional home office.
– Standard hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST, Monday–Friday, with core availability 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM EST.
– Flexibility required for urgent matters, travel, events, or time-sensitive activities.

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## Position Funding and Evolution

This position is currently supported through grant funding, with potential for long-term continuation depending on funding availability and organizational priorities. Responsibilities may evolve over time based on strategic needs.

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## Compensation & Benefits

**Estimated base compensation:** $88,000 – $100,000
Actual pay will consider skills, experience, and location.

BWHI offers a competitive total rewards package including:
– Medical, dental, vision, and wellness plans
– Extensive paid time off
– 14 national holidays
– Retirement benefits
– Life insurance
– Monthly remote stipend
– Employee assistance program

Paid leave and health insurance begin after a 60‑day probationary period.

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## Equal Employment Opportunity

BWHI is an Equal Employment Employer committed to equity in the workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs.

If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact **[email protected]**.

Apply here