The Health Initiative Senior Director, State Policy

Job Description

Job Description

ABOUT THE HEALTH INITIATIVE:

It is well-established that 80% of a person’s health is determined by factors outside the doctor’s office — healthy food, safe housing and a livable income. Yet our healthcare system is built backwards, with more than 99% of US healthcare dollars spent on medical care alone. The amount of money going toward healthcare is huge — the US government and private health insurance companies spend $10.7B on healthcare every day . This is projected to grow 6% annually through the next decade, despite recent safety net cuts. But what exactly do we get for all this healthcare spending? Right now, the US has some of the worst health outcomes across all high-income countries, including for preventable heart disease and obesity, which cost the system nearly $500B each year. This is inefficient and leaves people behind, especially low-income children and families.

But what if our healthcare system was built to pay for health, not just healthcare? What if it moved dollars upstream to pay for the basics people need to get and stay healthy, like safe housing and nutritious food? The result would be a win-win-win: Children and adults would have better access to healthy food and safe housing and, as a result, have better health outcomes. When healthier patients use less care, the government saves money – and insurance companies’ revenues increase – incentivizing both to pay for these basics.  

The Health Initiative (THI) is a national organization that crosses political divides, taps market forces and activates stakeholders to shift dollars toward health. By providing strategic guidance and technical assistance, we activate healthcare institutions to move dollars into the hands of patients and communities to pay for food and housing— improving health outcomes for those most at risk and reducing overall healthcare costs.

Since 2018, THI has used our playbook to spur healthcare institutions to spend nearly $1B in healthcare dollars on food, housing and other basics. For example, we supported North Carolina to use Medicaid dollars to provide patients with groceries, rental assistance and other basics, keeping them out of the hospital and saving the state a net $1,020 per person per year. THI also advised a Fortune 25 insurance company on how to provide food and housing benefits for 22K high-risk patients (87% living on less than $20K a year) and to design an evaluation which found that those receiving higher benefits have lower healthcare costs.

THI maintains a diversified revenue base which enables staff stability, long-term planning, and meaningful impact.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

The Senior Director, State Policy, is a key member of the THI Leadership Team and responsible for efforts to unlock dollars within state healthcare funding mechanisms to invest in the drivers of health. This role will be creative in re-imagining how healthcare mechanisms can be leveraged towards that goal and persuasive in communicating this approach to others. The Senior Director will lead a cross-functional team (aka a ‘swim lane’) to achieve THI’s goal in various states and has three primary responsibilities:

• Develop creative and practical strategies for investing in health within state-level financing mechanisms

• Lead internal and external work with stakeholders, adapting strategies as necessary

• Mentor team members and ensure activities are flawlessly executed

A successful candidate will thrive in the fast-paced context of issue-based campaigns and/or start-up environments. They must demonstrate excellence in relational instincts, attention to detail, and communication skills.

The position reports to the Chief Operating Officer on an interim basis, and works closely with the Co-Founders and Co-CEOs, Rebecca Onie and Rocco Perla. As part of a small organization, the Senior Director, State Policy may or may not have direct reports at any given time but will always be responsible for leading a cross-functional team to ensure deliverables are executed well. This includes program staff such as Research Associates and a to-be-hired Director of Research & Analytics to support technical content development, Project Managers to achieve timelines, and operations staff on systems. The role is responsible for the performance and retention of team members, regardless of reporting relationships.

They will also partner with other swim lane leaders (e.g. Fed) and specialists (e.g. Communications, Development /Partnerships) to achieve cross-cutting organizational goals as a member of the THI Leadership Team. In the latter capacity, this role will contribute actively to both culture and organizational evolution as needed.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the effort to unlock dollars at the state level to invest in the drivers of health (aka lead the state ‘swim lane’).

• Define quarterly, annual, and multi-year swim lane goals with corresponding deliverables.

• Create and execute plans to meet those goals, identify key stakeholders and define analysis and artifacts that will compel action.

• Oversee the creation and finalization of all swim lane deliverables, e.g. briefings, articles, public comments, presentations, reports for a diverse set of stakeholders including policymakers, health plan executives, researchers, and funders. Ensure quality of content and process.

• Direct, mentor, and coach the cross-functional team members supporting the swim lane.

• Manage a subset of external relationships and support other THI executives in managing additional stakeholders.

• Monitor the healthcare landscape/ecosystem for developments relevant to THI goals, efficiently communicate internally or externally as appropriate, and integrate into prioritization.

• Collaborate with other THI swim lane leaders to achieve organizational goals, including partnership/development initiatives.

• Actively participate in the THI Leadership Team to strengthen organization-wide operations and culture.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

There are innumerable ways to learn, grow, and excel professionally. We respect this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. We want to get to know you and the unique strengths you will bring to the work. This said, we are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate the majority of the qualifications and experiences listed below.

• Deep understanding of Medicaid and state healthcare financing, including Medicaid managed care (RFPs, contracts).

• Experience supporting senior executives/leaders (e.g., preparing oral and written briefings).

• Knowledge of state leadership priorities and challenges.

• Knowledge of how drivers of health impact health outcomes, costs, and utilization.

• Understanding of the role of local enterprises/CBOs in delivering drivers of health resources.

• Experience leading change management efforts in public health agencies.

• At least 5 years’ experience leading a division or team, ideally with cross-functional team members.

• Ability to manage up, down, and across peers.

• Skill in activating stakeholders and facilitating complex, multi-party discussions.

• Strategic goal-setting and execution in dynamic environments.

CORE THI ATTRIBUTES AND BEHAVIORS:

• Commitment to THI’s mission, vision, and values.

• Continuous improvement mindset; eagerness for learning and feedback.

• Confident in leading with a point of view and recommendations while being open to changing position when necessary.

• Takes full accountability for swim lane goals, deliverables, and team performance.

• Ability to navigate ambiguity and work both independently and collaboratively.

• Drives forward progress amidst change.

• Ability and willingness to learn and adapt to THI’s approach to building transformative relationships based on humility, reliability, openness, humor, and confidence.

• Good judgment: knows when to act independently and when to seek input.

• Clear, concise, and compelling communication.

• Strong program management and prioritization skills including ability to manage multiple projects with short, medium, and long-term deadlines.

• Ability to manage up, down, and with peers.

• Efficiently leverages cross-functional team members and technology.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: THI offers a comprehensive benefits package. The salary for this position is $180,000 - $205,000. In addition to a competitive salary, THI also offers:

• Full coverage of medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Generous 401K matching and parental leave.

• Unlimited sustainable vacation and sick time

This is a full-time, exempt role and is fully remote within the US. THI expects staff to work in the Eastern Time Zone. Some travel and flexible evening and weekend work expected.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT: THI is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage all qualified applicants to apply.