STATE POLICY ADVOCACY SPECIALIST

SUMMARY OF POSITION

PHI’s State Policy Advocacy Specialist is responsible for implementing and steering PHI’s state-based advocacy approach, which emphasizes direct advocacy, technical assistance, and coalition-building in several states nationwide. As part of the PHI Policy Team, and in collaboration with other PHI staff and partners in target states, the State Policy Advocacy Specialist uses this strategic approach to promote legislation, regulations, and other initiatives to improve wages, benefits, and opportunities for the direct care workforce. Outstanding skills in collaboration, policy analysis, and writing are essential for success in the role.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with the Director of Advocacy and the PHI Policy Team to refine and implement PHI’s state-based advocacy model, set short- and long-term goals for this work, identify annual priorities, develop work plans, and monitor and evaluate progress.
• Lead and support PHI’s efforts to build advocacy capacity and effectiveness related to the direct care workforce in target states by:
  • Working with strategic partners to identify shared policy priorities and opportunities for collaboration;
  • Conducting policy analysis to inform advocacy efforts;
  • Developing written materials to support workforce policy goals, including blog articles, fact sheets, policy briefs, and reports;
  • Engaging in outreach and education with employers, managed care plans, labor organizations, community-based organizations, policymakers, and other stakeholders;
  • Participating in coalitions, task forces, work groups, and other efforts that offer the opportunity to further workforce policy goals; and
  • Designing and delivering testimony, webinars, conference presentations, and other types of presentations that describe and promote PHI’s research and recommendations to diverse audiences.
• Serve as a resource to PHI’s Workforce Innovations Team on workforce policy and collaboratively identify opportunities for PHI to engage in the design and implementation of training, employment, and advancement models for direct care workers in particular policy contexts.
• Assist PHI’s Director of Policy Research and Project Manager to develop and implement evaluation efforts to measure the impact of PHI’s advocacy activities.
• Work with other members of PHI’s Policy Team to identify resources and develop content for PHI’s National Direct Care Workforce Resource Center.

• Minimum five years’ experience in policy advocacy, preferably on issues related to workforce development, aging, disability, long-term care, and/or social and racial justice.
• Demonstrated expertise in identifying, researching, analyzing, distilling, and framing key policy issues.
• Ability to manage several complex projects simultaneously, often under tight deadlines.
• Excellent writing skills, including the ability to write in a variety of formats for a range of audiences.
• Self-motivated, with the ability to work well independently and as part of a team.
• Strong spoken communication and presentation skills.
• Experience working effectively with and facilitating collaboration among diverse individuals and groups.
• Experience or interest in learning about program design and evaluation.
• Computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite.
• Moderate travel required.
• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.