Health Policy Director

Tennessee Primary Care Association

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Job Summary

Classification:             Full Time

Reports to:                 Chief Executive Officer

Salary Range:             $63,000 to $80,000               

Direct Reports:              Policy and Advocacy Coordinator

The Tennessee Primary Care Association (TPCA) is a membership association of Community Health Centers serving low-income populations in Tennessee.  TPCA places a high value on member relations.  It is a dynamic, team-oriented non-profit that provides support and technical assistance to health centers located in underserved communities.  The Health Policy Director contributes to this work by advocating for health centers at the state and federal level, interpreting regulatory and legislative changes and communicating these to health centers, and furthering health center growth.

Job Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the Health Policy Director are to serve as lead staff to promote legislative and budget policy advocacy efforts on behalf of health centers and coordinate with members and external organizations to advance initiatives.  This position also provides information and technical assistance to health centers and is a member of the TPCA Leadership Team. 

Essential Duties: 

Duty 1: Serve as the Lead Staff to Promote Legislative and Budget Policy Advocacy Efforts on Behalf Health Centers

1. Stay abreast of federal and state legislative, regulatory, and policy issues by communicating with the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) staff, attending relevant meetings and conferences, maintaining strong working relationships TennCare, the Tennessee Department of Health, Managed Care Organizations, congressional staff and state legislators.
2. Work with the TPCA Policy Committee, the CEO and TPCA’s contract lobbyist to develop and present an annual legislative agenda for the Board of Director’s adoption prior to each legislative year.
3. Work with TPCA’s contract lobbyist to monitor, track, prioritize, and analyze legislative and policy developments at the state level that impact community health centers and to develop testimony, visuals, or educational materials for policy makers.
4. Prepare comments on state and federal regulatory, legislative, and budget issues in conjunction with TPCA’s Policy and Advocacy Coordinator.
5. Communicate relevant policy information to TPCA members through written policy updates, policy update calls, reports to the TPCA Board of Director meetings, and through one-on-one communications with members.
6. Work with TPCA’s Policy and Advocacy Coordinator to organize TPCA’s annual Hill Day visits to the Tennessee General Assembly and NACHC Policy and Issues Forum congressional visits.
7. Meet compliance requirements by completing lobbying disclosure reporting to the state on a quarterly and annual basis and assuring that no state of federal contract or grant funds are utilized by TPCA for lobbying activities.

Duty 2: Provide Information and Technical Assistance to Health Centers

1. Participate in HRSA webcasts and conference calls,  attend NACHC conferences and educational events in order to learn about  health centers and identify connections to information resources
2. Respond to health center inquiries and provide information and/or one-on-one technical assistance on issues.  Topics may include TennCare policies, state and federal payment policy, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grants policy, the Prospective Payment System (PPS), Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), 340B Drug Pricing, and value-based payment.
3. Provide technical assistance to health center through one-on-one communications via phone and email.

Duty 3: Promote Awareness of Community Health Centers

1. Work with TPCA Policy and Advocacy Coordinator to develop and distribute materials promoting community health center mission and achievements.
2. Work with TPCA Policy and Advocacy Coordinator and Marketing and Partnership Engagement Manger to maintain up to date written and digital materials including the Health Center site guide, maps, white papers, talking points, and fact sheets.
3. Work with TPCA Policy and Advocacy Coordinator and Marketing and Partnership Engagement Manager to develop media strategies around CHCs and specific policy issues.

Duty 4: Lead TPCA’s Policy Committee and FQHC Payment Committee

1. Each year, work with the CEO to update the description and roster of the committees and recommend their annual goals.
2. Provide staff leadership and organize the face-to-face meetings and/or teleconferences
3. Facilitate committees’ meetings in conjunction with the committees’ chair.
4. Facilitate the Policy Committee’s activities resulting in a recommendation for TPCA’s annual Policy priorities for the legislative session.

Duty 5: Supervision and Administrative Duties

1. Supervise direct reports by monitoring workload, assessing job proficiency and offering training, developing performance goals, giving on-going feedback, communicating clear expectations, evaluating performance and providing recognition for excellent performance.
2. Complete and deliver performance reviews for supervised staff according to the TPCA Employee Handbook.
3. Review, complete and approve TPCA-related forms and activities for supervised staff, such as effort and activity reporting, travel authorizations/travel expense reports, and annual/sick leave requests within the timeframes set in TPCA procedures.
4. Manage TPCA’s Membership & External Affairs budget.
5. Participate in team meetings.  At the request of the CEO, complete progress reports on grants, contracts programs and progress toward the TPCA Strategic Plan’s goals.
6. Work with Operations Director and Finance Director to inform budgets for TPCA programs.

Duty 6: Support TPCA Team Work by Supporting TPCA Policies, Procedures, and Participating in Staff Activities

1. Maintain knowledge of TPCA policies, procedures, and software.
2. Participate in TPCA staff huddles, staff meetings and pertinent conferences and meetings.
3. Provide staff support at Association sponsored events, such as the Annual Conference and President’s Dinner.
4. Perform other tasks and duties as identified by the immediate supervisor.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Master’s Degree public policy or related field. May substitute experience for education requirements.
• At least five years of progressively responsible work experience and demonstrated knowledge of the health care field and public policy. 
• Knowledge of legislative processes and familiarity with the Tennessee General Assembly.
• Experience and demonstrated ability in technical writing and ability to analyze legislative documents.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the Tennessee General Assembly and its legislative processes.
• Familiarity with federal governmental policy-making and regulatory processes.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and maximum accountability, organize multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Ability to manage several projects concurrently and adapt to changes in project requirements and/or the work environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with other staff, members, community-based organizations, health center staff, customer/client groups, and policymakers.
• Awareness of the needs of medically underserved populations, demonstrates cultural competence, and an understanding of community-based primary health care systems.
• Excellent computer skills, particularly with software in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, including excellent presentation skills.
• Professional demeanor.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Work Environment (includes physical requirements):

• Office environment (both virtual and physical).
• Prolonged sitting, use of computer, monitor, and keyboard; occasionally lifting of lightweight boxes.
• Travel to health centers, local travel, and some national travel.

Additional Information

Benefits

How to Apply

Contact Information and Procedure:

Interested candidates should apply by submitting their application in TPCA’s online application system by 3/1/2021.  Apply here.

The position will remain open until filled by an excellent candidate. No email applications or applications in any other system will be accepted; no telephone inquiries, please.

Tennessee Primary Care Association

710 Spence Lane

Nashville, TN 37217

http://www.tnpca.org

Details

• Date Posted: December 31, 2020
• Type: Full-Time
• Job Function: Legal
• Service Area: Health (Physical, Mental)
• Salary Range: 63,000 - 80,000 annually
• Working Hours: 40 hrs/wk