Senior Policy Advisor, Health

## About UnidosUS

UnidosUS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that serves as the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Since 1968, we have built a stronger America by creating opportunities for Latinos and breaking down barriers to expand economic and social progress for all. UnidosUS partners with an Affiliate Network of nearly 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico. For more information on UnidosUS, visit [www.unidosus.org] or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and Threads.

## Summary

The Senior Policy Advisor, Health will join UnidosUS’s Policy and Advocacy team. The Senior Policy Advisor will play a key role in developing and enacting policy solutions to foster health in the Latino community on issues that include Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Marketplace coverage, mental health, healthcare affordability, and barriers to coverage and care encountered by low-income children and families, including immigrants and people with limited English proficiency.

Bringing a strong health equity and social justice lens to every task, the Senior Policy Advisor will be a primary source of highly skilled policy analysis, help manage and implement the health policy team’s strategic priorities, lead key components of our work, and contribute to collective success in accordance with organizational priorities. The person filling this position will develop policy recommendations and advocacy strategies to influence key audiences, deepen the team’s expertise, strengthen engagement with Congress and state officials, reimagine systems, steward investments responsibly, and build power among local voices.

The Senior Policy Advisor, Health will be responsible for researching and writing policy publications while supporting the development of broader collective team products. To achieve federal- and state-level policy gains for Latinos, and to limit harm experienced by Latinos, the person filling this position will work collaboratively with other UnidosUS components including Health Programs, Marketing and Communications, Affiliate Engagement, and UnidosUS state directors in Arizona, Florida, and Texas. Success in this position will require a focus on strategies with good prospects for long- or short-term success.

**Location:** This is a hybrid position based in Washington, DC. In accordance with UnidosUS policy, employees are expected to work onsite two days per week, with Tuesdays designated as a common in-office day. Additional in-office days may be required as needed.

**Salary:** $104,000–$125,000

## Essential Functions

### Policy Analyses and Advocacy

– Analyze health policy issues affecting the Latino community and produce policy recommendations that take into account prospects for success. Target audiences include national and state-level legislators and executive-branch agencies.
– Draft, edit, and publish a range of policy analyses such as issue briefs, white papers, reports, and blog posts using primary and secondary research sources.
– Represent UnidosUS in high-visibility settings, including appearances before Congress, the Executive Branch, state legislators and agencies, national conferences, and the media.
– Lead and participate in coalitions of experts, advocates, and other stakeholders addressing health issues important to Latinos.
– Communicate and partner with UnidosUS Affiliates (community-based organizations, including federally qualified health centers) to learn about emerging health trends, lived experiences, and solutions; develop policy advocacy approaches that effectively address community needs; and educate and collectively advocate about issues relevant to our collective work.
– Help develop a strong, viable, and proactive agenda to promote and protect Latino families’ health and health care in key states including Arizona, Florida, and Texas.
– Provide support to the Director to ensure quality performance on grants, including grant reporting, performance management, and funder relations including fundraising.

## Required Qualifications

– Master’s degree in public health (MPH), public policy (MPP), public administration (MPA), health economics, health administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and significant relevant professional experience.
– Minimum of 5 years of experience in health policy, including federal or state policy analysis, regulatory advocacy, or health systems reform.
– Demonstrated ability to assess strategic strengths and weaknesses of possible advocacy strategies.
– Strong writing skills, evidenced by articles, studies, reports, testimony, or other public documents.
– Experience communicating policy ideas in public settings such as coalition meetings, congressional hearings and briefings, major conferences, and media interviews.
– Strong project management skills suited to a dynamic work environment with multiple ongoing responsibilities, tight deadlines, and expectations for high-quality work.
– Flexibility for occasional travel.
– Demonstrated experience with and knowledge of the Latino community.

## Preferred Qualifications

– Juris Doctor or other advanced degree in a relevant discipline.
– Spanish-language fluency.
– Familiarity with nutrition and food security issues.
– Skill with quantitative analysis and manipulation of microdata.
– Experience working on Capitol Hill, the Executive Branch, or in state-level legislatures or agencies.
– Familiarity with federal and non-federal budget processes.
– Experience managing staff.

## Skills and Abilities

– Steadfast commitment to UnidosUS mission, vision, and values (Excellence, Respeto, Accountability).
– Commitment to supporting and advancing the needs of the U.S. Latino community, Latino nonprofit organizations, and the Latino market.
– Capacity for innovative approaches to substantive policy and advocacy strategy.

## Competencies

– **Analytics:** Synthesizes complex and diverse information; collects and analyzes data; uses intuition and experience to complement data; designs effective and efficient workflows and procedures.
– **Managing People:** Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating, and process improvement; takes responsibility for subordinates’ activities; provides regular performance feedback; develops subordinates’ skills; encourages growth; solicits and applies feedback; fosters quality focus; improves processes, products, and services.
– **Ethics:** Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires trust; works with integrity; upholds organizational values.
– **Written Communication:** Writes clearly and informatively; edits work to develop high-quality written products; varies style and approach to fit audiences; presents numerical information effectively; interprets written information accurately.
– **Oral Communication:** Speaks clearly and persuasively; listens and seeks clarification; responds well to questions; demonstrates group presentation skills; participates in meetings.
– **Strategic Thinking:** Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; understands organizational strengths and weaknesses; analyzes policy environment and stakeholder capacities; identifies threats and opportunities; adapts strategy and tactics to changing conditions.
– **Teamwork:** Balances team and individual responsibilities; welcomes feedback; contributes to positive team spirit; puts team success above individual interests; builds morale and group commitment.
– **Motivation:** Sets and achieves challenging goals; demonstrates persistence; overcomes obstacles; measures self against standards of excellence; takes calculated risks.
– **Quality:** Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; seeks ways to improve and promote quality; applies feedback; monitors own work.
– **Initiative:** Volunteers readily; undertakes self-development; seeks increased responsibilities; takes independent actions; looks for opportunities; asks for and offers help when needed.

## Physical Demands and Work Environment

– Perform some repetitive motion activities.
– Sit for long periods of time.
– Frequently required to stand and walk.
– Frequently required to utilize hand and finger dexterity.
– Frequently/continually required to talk or hear.
– Occasionally required to lift/push light weights up to 25 pounds.
– Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
– Utilize visual acuity to operate equipment, read technical information, and use a keyboard.
– Noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderately loud.

## COVID-19 Considerations

UnidosUS follows CDC guidance and strongly encourages employees to stay up to date on vaccinations and practice preventive measures to support their well-being and maintain a healthy work environment.

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The above is intended to describe the general content and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Employment with UnidosUS is contingent upon the successful completion of a background screen.

**EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.** All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, marital status, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, personal appearance, family responsibilities, political affiliation, or enrollment in a college, university, technical school, or adult education.

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