Description

Vitalyst Health Foundation is an independent, non-partisan public foundation whose mission is to connect, support and inform efforts to improve the health of individuals and communities in Arizona.  Vitalyst Health Foundation is recruiting for the Director of State Health Policy and Advocacy and reports to the CEO and is responsible for two primary areas. 

• Setting the agenda for state-level public policy efforts across Vitalyst’s goals.  This is done by analyzing public policy issues, developing state-level policy 
priorities, and engaging with community stakeholders to further Vitalyst’s public policy agenda and legislative priorities. 
• Serving as the primary lead in developing strategy within Vitalyst’s priority to advance health care systems that integrate the physical, mental, and social 
determinants of health (SDOH). This portfolio includes investments to increase health insurance coverage, supporting healthcare’s journey to address SDOH, 
and advancing the healthcare workforce.

The Director works closely with the President/CEO and other staff members to ensure strategic collaboration across Vitalyst’s goals and priorities.

To succeed in this work, the role of the Director of State Health Policy & Advocacy includes:

State Health Policy and Advocacy

• Overseeing the development and implementation of Vitalyst’s public policy agenda and annual legislative priorities. 
• Identifying emerging health policy issues at the state and national level.
• Establishing and maintaining relationships with legislative, administrative, health policy and organizational staff to advance issues. 
• Informing and educating policy leaders and stakeholders through meetings, convenings, the media and public presentations. 
• Managing a grants program to build the capacity of nonprofits engaged in policy advocacy.
• Serving as the staff lead for the Board’s Public Policy Committee. 

Program Director: Access to Care and Coverage
• Leveraging opportunities to ensure that all Arizonans have access to affordable, high-quality health insurance and health care. 
• Developing strategies and managing annual budgets ranging from $500k-$1M to support the advancement of healthcare systems that reward value, coordinate care, and address the social determinants of health. 
• Overseeing contracts, grants, forums, and publications to help achieve the Foundation’s objectives related to access to whole-person healthcare and public 
policy. 
• Working with local leaders and community-based organizations to promote strategies that improve health insurance coverage, transform healthcare 
systems, and develop a healthcare workforce that is prepared to meet current and future needs.

Strategic Integration and Administration
• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, reporting directly to the CEO.
• Work with leadership to strategically align initiatives across Vitalyst’s key priority areas. 
• Actively participate and assume leadership roles in community organizations and coalitions aligned with Vitalyst’s strategic initiatives. 
• Benchmark, develop, and implement best practices to enhance efficacy and promote operational efficiencies.
• Collaborating with program staff, a wide range of community groups and other philanthropic organizations to further the Foundation’s mission.

Requirements

Desired Competencies (Knowledge, Skills, and Capacity):
• Experience in public health and/or healthcare policy.
• Experience advocating and/or lobbying at the state, federal and local levels.
• Experience working with health-related providers and social service organizations in Arizona.
• Experience working with and/or leading coalitions.
• Experience working with underserved communities throughout the state.
• Demonstrated ability to comprehend and present complex topics to a wide range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse array of stakeholders using tact, empathy, and diplomacy.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Experience and Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications: bachelor’s degree in public health or related field and 5 years 
of related experience; OR any equivalent combination of experience and/or education 
from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.