PROGRAMS DIRECTOR, POLICY AND POWER BUILDING (Full-Time, Contract, Remote)

Job Description

Job Description

About the position

HealthBegins is seeking a Programs Director, Policy and Power Building to lead the Health Equity Policy Hub, a dynamic national initiative advancing racial, economic, and health justice through policy analysis and grassroots mobilization. This full-time remote position reports directly to the Managing Director and offers a unique opportunity to shape institutional, local, state, and federal policy engagement, grow a high-impact team, and support a distributed organizing network of health professionals and advocates.

As Programs Director, Policy and Power Building, you will guide strategy, oversee program operations, and build partnerships that help drive transformative policy and systems change. To start, you will lead a largely volunteer team across three core workstreams of the Health Equity Policy Hub —policy tracking, resources for action, and mobilization—ensuring that our policy insights and organizing efforts work together to protect and advance health equity.

You will join a passionate and growing team that is helping courageous leaders across the country confront the upstream social, economic, and structural conditions that produce health inequities, especially for historically marginalized communities. This role offers the chance to lead with purpose and vision in a collaborative, supportive work culture that values equity and continuous learning.

HealthBegins is committed to radical transformation in health equity. We help our clients and partners equitably and effectively integrate health and social care, address health-related social needs, improve community-wide social determinants of health, and dismantle structural inequities. We are proud of our dynamic and supportive work culture that uplifts team members with great benefits and values, supports the balance of work and family commitments, and promotes excellence and impact.

Who will love this job:

• A mission-driven policy expert, with a bias to action: You are deeply passionate about addressing healthcare and social inequities, particularly in the context of current policy challenges. You thrive on the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on health outcomes and social justice.

• An adept strategist: You excel in navigating complex policy landscapes and developing innovative solutions to address systemic challenges. Your strategic mindset allows you to anticipate trends and adapt to evolving environments effectively.

• An expert program manager with consulting acumen: You are an expert in aligning and integrating the various projects, resources, stakeholders, and risks that are involved in a service line.

• A motivator, driving teams for results - You cultivate a work environment where people want to do their best. You know how to unlock your team’s powers, whether they are on staff or volunteers, inviting input from each person and sharing ownership and visibility.

• An exceptional communicator: You possess strong communication skills, both verbal and written, allowing you to articulate complex ideas and influence stakeholders effectively. You excel in building relationships and fostering partnerships to drive positive change.

• An expert consultant with business acumen: You are knowledgeable about current and possible future policies, practices, and trends and maintain awareness of innovators, funders, potential clients, collaborators, and competitors. You translate this knowledge into client impact through your consulting expertise and skills such as data-informed decision-making, executive communication skills, and indirect influence with clients.

What you’ll do:

Client Services, Portfolio Management (60%):

• Oversee the development and management of HealthBegins' projects related to Policy and Powerbuilding initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and objectives.

• Lead the client services and success approach for our Policy and Powerbuilding practice area, utilizing metrics to track performance and quality.

• Work closely with executive leadership to define strategic priorities, allocate resources, and pursue business development opportunities in the policy and power-building practice area.

• Monitor project timelines, budgets, and deliverables to ensure successful outcomes and client satisfaction.

• Analyze policy and market trends to inform portfolio strategy and decision-making.

Team Leadership, Resource Management, Business Development (30%):

• Lead and manage consulting projects within the Policy and Powerbuilding domain, ensuring profitability and alignment with organizational goals.

• Recruit, inspire, and mentor a diverse team of professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.

• Provide strategic direction and guidance to team members, supporting their growth and development in the areas of policy initiatives.

• Foster an inclusive work environment that promotes professional growth and employee satisfaction.

• Identify and standardize best practices, supporting continuous process improvement efforts within the consulting practice.

Business Operations and Systems Management (10%):

• Collaborate with Business Operations to ensure fidelity to consulting project systems and processes, optimizing project scoping and staffing efficiency.

• Ensure that prospect scoping and staffing processes within the Building and Sharing Power domain are streamlined and efficient, maximizing resource allocation and project effectiveness.

• Facilitate the efficient scoping of prospects, ensuring projects are staffed appropriately and resources are allocated effectively.

You should have

• Bachelor’s or Master’s preferred in Public Health, Public Administration, Public Policy, or in a similar field,

• At least 5 years of experience leading and supporting major healthcare initiatives and managing diverse teams, with at least two (2) of those years in a consulting role supporting or guiding Medicaid-managed care plans, healthcare systems, and/or community-based social service providers to navigate and implement Medicaid transformation

• Deep understanding of the Medicaid policy environment at the state and federal level, and how that policy impacts and can best be implemented by providers and partners on the ground.

• Experience planning and implementing health equity strategies (including strategies addressing social and structural drivers of health equity) is a plus

• Knowledge of organizing fundamentals: You possess knowledge of organizing that can be applied to address institutional. local, state, and federal nexus of power.. Your understanding of organizing complements your fluency in policy and strengthens your ability to develop comprehensive solutions to address social and structural determinants of health.

• Familiarity with financial concepts and the ability to review and interpret financial reports. A strong desire to learn and understand financial principles, especially if lacking direct experience in this area, is highly valued.

Technical skills include

• Expert proficiency in Microsoft 365 and Google Suite software.

• Excellent experience with databases and CRM software.

• Proficiency using platforms like Zoom, Slack, MS Teams, and Webex

• Knowledge and experience working with industry-leading project management methods, tools, and resources.

• Adept at managing department, project, and staff budgets, resources, and capacity; interpreting and using financial reports (including P&L reports); and can understand and communicate core financial management concepts to team members.

Physical requirements

• Ability to regularly work and meet on Pacific Time

• Will provide reasonable accommodations to support candidates to work remotely and to support physical ability

• Ability and willingness to travel up to 20% of the time, inclusive of company retreats or team conferences

Don’t meet every requirement?

Even if you don’t meet all requirements, we still want to hear from you! Research shows that women, non-binary applicants, and people of color often hesitate to apply unless they check off every box. HealthBegins strives to maintain a diverse and inclusive workforce through recruitment, retention, and promotion policies. We strongly encourage applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and identities as well as those who have been directly impacted by the social needs and systemic barriers we seek to address.

HealthBegins believes that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunities and does not discriminate against its employees or applicants because of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or medical condition.

Why work at HealthBegins

HealthBegins is a mission-driven consultancy firm that drives radical transformation in health by helping Medicaid-managed care plans, health systems, and social sector clients advance health equity and improve the social and structural drivers that put patients and communities in harm’s way. Better health for all begins with equity. Learn more here. The compensation package for this position includes a salary range of $110,000 - $140,000 for a year ($4,230 - $5,384 per pay period) commensurate with experience. We also provide great benefits that value and support you as you balance work and family commitments.

How to apply

In order to apply, you must be authorized to work in the United States. Submit your cover letter and resume online via our applicant portal. We will not accept candidates without a cover letter and resume.

This is a primarily remote position with some requirements for in-person meetings and travel, and preference will be given to qualified candidates based in California.