Director, Health Equity - Families Usa Skip to Main Content

Careers

Director, Health Equity

Position Location: Washington D.C. with Hybrid Work Schedule, Requiring 3-Days of In-Office Presence 

Who we are

Since 1981, Families USA Foundation has been a leading national voice for health care consumers.  Through our long-standing relationships of consumer leaders, advocates, and partner organizations across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, we have remained steadfast in our mission – Dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable healthcare and improved health for all.  We advance our mission through public policy analysis, advocacy, and collaboration with partners to promote a patient-and community-centered health system.

One of Families USA’s most important social justice missions is building a nation where no one faces barriers to a healthy life because of who they are or where they live. To achieve this goal, we are working with a highly diverse coalition of partners, including people of color, people with disabilities, rural communities, ethnic communities, and others to create a policy agenda to address inequities. We also are increasingly focused on addressing the social determinants of health by exploring upstream approaches, such as those employing community health worker models that protect and improve health, thereby preventing the need for medical care.

Your Role

We are looking for a Director, Health Equity to develop and implement strategies of Families USA’s Health Equity pillar. A key responsibility is ensuring the organization’s projects, activities, and outputs advance the achievement of health equity, including the elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities.  This person will develop recommendations, organize, and oversee targeted health equity-focused policy and advocacy projects, with a focus on advancing the intersection of health care transformation and health equity. The Director works to strengthen Families USA’s inter-organization relationships and public profile as a health equity-focused organization, will work in close collaboration with the senior leadership team and serve as a spokesperson for the organization around health equity issues and work.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

  • Work with the Senior Director in operationalizing health equity strategies by developing strategic organizational priorities, projects, and initiatives that advance health equity, ensuring that the elimination of racial, ethnic, and other inequities, are matrixed into FUSA’s three other focus areas: Health Care Value, Coverage, and People’s Experience.
  • Develop and direct health equity policy-focused projects, policy advocacy campaigns, and coalitions, including managing cross-departmental teams for specific projects and initiatives.
  • Advise, collaborate, and coordinate with the health policy team to ensure Families USA’s products adequately address the racial and social equity impact of policies and find opportunities to elevate the health equity objective as part of their work.
  • Maximize opportunities to promote, advocate for, and educate about the existence of, including the intersection of health equity and health care transformation.
  • In conjunction with the Senior Director of Health Equity, develop and maintain relationships with national, state level, and in some cases, local groups (including funders and government entities) and coalitions that advocate for health equity and advance racial justice, including identifying and implementing opportunities for collaboration.
  • Research, develop and draft specific content on health equity including, issue briefs, columns and articles for media, fact sheets, presentations, blogs, new media, newsletters, etc.
  • Provide strategic guidance, technical assistance, and training to national and state community leaders, advocates, and policy makers on health equity policy and advocacy.
  • Collaborate with the Communications team on media opportunities and act as a spokesperson, when necessary, on issues of minority health and health equity at conferences, coalition meetings, trainings, and other events.
  • Ensure that all public messaging reflects an inclusive vision and authentically elevates diverse voices and perspectives.
  • Develop and implement Health Equity focused programming for the Health Action Conference and advise other staff on how to matrix health equity in their programming and include diverse voices.
  • Collaborate with the Senior Director and the staff to brainstorm, identify, develop, and draft ideas for fundable projects around healthy equity and value.
  • Supervise staff including assigning and supervising work, providing feedback, helping staff set short- and long-term goals and monitoring progress, facilitating weekly check-ins, providing opportunities for enrichment through external opportunities and internal meeting participation, and providing mentorship and professional development.

Your Experience

Graduate degree preferred in public health, public administration, or public policy, related to the development, advocacy for, adoption and implementation of public policy and the promotion of social change. Candidate should have a minimum of eight (8) years of experience leading, fostering and advocating for improving outcomes related to health equity, health disparities, minority health, and health care. Experience and/or academic background preferred in issues of racial justice, reproductive justice, structural inequities, social determinants of health, health care transformation, and intersectionality.

Your Qualifications

To perform successfully in this role, applicant should possess the specific knowledge, skills and abilities outlined below:

  • Strong understanding of structural racism and other forms of discrimination that creates and perpetuates health inequities.
  • Strong knowledge and understanding of policy-relevant health equity issues and related policy levers, including as they relate to health-related social needs, health care transformation and improving population health.
  • Existing relationships with other health equity, civil rights, health policy and relevant government individuals and organizations.
  • Experience and sophistication in organizational and external leadership in the service of effecting social change and public policy making.
  • Thorough knowledge and understanding of the legislative and regulatory processes, federal health care programs and strategies for advocating for policy solutions in those forums, both at the state and federal levels.
  • Exceptional oral, writing, presentation, and organizational skills.
  • Sound judgment, critical thinking, problem solving and project management skills.
  • Experience communicating with the media and on various social media platforms.
  • Experience working at a systems level to address root causes of health inequities.
  • Demonstrated ability to have collegial relations – working and managing coalition partners and building consensus.
  • Demonstrated experience in translating evidence into policy and practice, understanding the role of social structures and determinants in advancing health equity and population health.

Families USA’s Benefit Offerings

We offer a dynamic, empowering, and collaborative work environment that allows staff to reach their full potential. We provide an extremely attractive total compensation package, including competitive salary, hybrid work schedule: 3 days in office/2 optional WFH days, medical, dental, vision, disability and life, 403(b) retirement matching plan, 3+ weeks’ vacation, eleven (11) Federal holidays and our offices are closed between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day and many more exciting benefit programs.  Our salary range for this role is $120K – $130K and will be commensurate with experience.

Application Process

We encourage all qualified candidates to apply online and include in your application: your cover letter, resume and writing sample.  This position will remain open until filled.  Successful candidates will be contacted for first interviews.

Families USA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity or expression, personal appearance, family responsibilities, political affiliation, results of genetic testing, or service in the military.