Director, Health Legislative Affairs

Job Description

Job Description

Job Description
This position requires weekly in-office work (3 days) in our Washington D.C. office under a hybrid working model.

POSITION SUMMARY:
The Director for Health Legislative Affairs works with the Vice President, Health Policy to carry out legislative affairs strategies specific to health and long-term services and supports issues, primarily around nursing home and other residential healthcare settings, for the association and to implement LeadingAge’s related legislative agenda. The individual is a recognized content expert on, and works closely with LeadingAge’s other legislative staff, other organizations and coalitions concerned with issues affecting the LeadingAge membership to advance our agenda.

In Support of Organizational Strategy:
This individual is responsible for advancing the legislative agenda through LeadingAge’s vision for long term services and supports. Working with the Policy & Advocacy Team and other LeadingAge staff who have advocacy responsibilities, communications and grassroots, this position identifies legislative strategies to further the Association’s Leadership imperatives and policy priorities on health issues.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Represents LeadingAge on Capitol Hill, at coalition meetings and other forums and events.
• Develops and maintains relationships with key legislators, policymakers and their staff to advance LeadingAge’s strategic plan and policy platform.
• Researches and analyzes legislation at the federal level that may impact LeadingAge members, especially as it relates to nursing homes, assisted living, health providers insurers, and non-traditional providers. This includes providing recommended actions and strategies to achieve success.
• Attends, participates, and reports on legislative hearings, briefings, workgroups, and other relevant meetings.
• Supports the development and oversight of policy recommendations by monitoring, analyzing and assessing legislative, regulatory and policy trends in long-term care and health care.
• Assists the Policy Team in the development of strategic and tactical documents on key federal initiatives for consideration.
• Develops and prepares Congressional testimony, correspondence with Congress, policy and other official communications on public policy issues, including Medicare and Medicaid, transparency and accountability nursing home quality, assisted living cost and quality, patient/resident safety, medical liability reform, elder abuse, and other health-related issues.
• Writes policy communications, including action alerts (letters and articles) to advance LeadingAge’s policy priorities and educate LeadingAge members and the public, including through public speaking and presentations.
• Serves as a resource, liaison, and representative on a variety of health care issues, assisting with internal and external workgroups, and working with association members and legislators.
• In conjunction with other members of the advocacy and public policy team, develops, proposes, implements, and promotes LeadingAge’s health legislative agenda.
• In collaboration with the key policy staff, supports the development and implementation of grassroots/grass tops legislative advocacy by LeadingAge staff and members.
• Works with others on the Policy Team to support the legislative agenda for technology, workforce, long term care financing, and integrated systems.
• Troubleshoots state and local issues that are likely to have national legislative repercussions and works with the vice president and other members of the policy team to formulate solutions.
• Demonstrates LeadingAge’s Core Values, including a commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive community where all are able to meaningfully contribute and thrive.
• Coordinates and organizes lobby day, including preparing briefing materials, training participants on advocacy techniques, and ensuring alignment on key messaging and goals to effectively present LeadingAge’s policy platform.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION COMMITMENT:
LeadingAge recognizes the intersectionality of ageism, racism and other forms of discrimination. We are committed to being a just, inclusive, antiracist and equitable community that values and honors the unique qualities, wisdom and lived experience of all people. We are steadfast in our commitment and will invest in opportunities to foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive community, where all are able to meaningfully contribute and thrive.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE:

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and five years’ experience required; advanced degree in law, public administration, or field-related area desired; plus, at least five years’ experience working in one of the following areas or a combination of these areas: congressional office/committee; federal agency; government affairs department of a membership or trade association other public policy making body, or law firm.
• Professional experience with Congressional advocacy in issues surrounding aging, long-term care, and health care financing is essential.
• Minimum skills, including technical skills, required: knowledge of congressional legislative process; understanding of the impact of legislation on the legal, programmatic and regulatory issues affecting nursing homes, home health, hospice, assisted living and home and community-based services; excellent oral and written communications skills, including personal relationship skills with internal and outside audiences.

ADA SPECIFICATIONS:

• Ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand.
• Ability to learn/translate/refer to large amounts of technical material and produce extensive written communications.
• Ability to travel to external meetings both locally and nationally, including periodic overnight travel.
• Normal work requires frequent use telephone and computer (monitor, keyboard, mouse).
• Ability to be mobile at Annual Meeting; Leadership Summit Conference; and other meetings and events.
• May be required to move about frequently in the office to access file cabinets, office equipment, attend meetings, etc.
• May require standing/sitting for prolonged periods of time during meetings and conferences.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
The salary range for this full-time, (37.5-hour work week), exempt, D.C. based position is ($139,073 - $169,979). Salary offered may vary depending on relevant factors as determined by LeadingAge, which may include, but are not limited to, background and experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, certifications and licensures, internal equity, geographic location and other organizational needs.

For full-time positions, we offer:

• Unlimited Vacation after successful completion of the introductory period; 15 hours of Volunteer Time; 22.5 hours of Personal Time
• Accrue 12 days of sick leave per year, to maximum of 60 days or 450 hours.
• The full health & wellness benefits package includes medical, dental, short- and long-term disability and life insurance with generous employer contributions to medical, dental and vision premiums.
• Employer paid short- and long-term disability life & AD&D and long-term care.
• Employer contribution to Health Savings Account (HSA)
• 11-paid federal holidays
• Opportunity to join our 403(b) savings & retirement plan upon hire by making voluntary contributions. After you have successfully completed one year of service, LeadingAge will match up to 3% of your own per pay period contribution. And LeadingAge will contribute an additional 4% of your semi-monthly gross salary each pay period as a basic employer contribution.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary.

Applicants in need of special assistance or accommodation during the interview process or in accessing our website may contact us by sending an email to employeeexperienceteam@leadingage.org. In your email, please include your name and preferred method of contact, and we will respond as soon as possible.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to attracting and maintaining a diverse work force. We seek talented, dedicated professionals who have a genuine interest in helping us fulfill our promise to: Inspire. Serve. Advocate. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, status as a crime victim, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristics protected by federal and District of Columbia laws.