Senior Policy Associate

The Public Health Institute (PHI) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health, well-being, and quality of life for people throughout California, across the nation and around the world. As one of the largest and most comprehensive public health organizations in the nation, we are at the forefront of research and innovations to improve the efficacy of public health statewide, nationally, and internationally.

PHI was distinguished as one of the top 50 "Best Non-Profit Organizations to Work For" by the Non-Profit Times in a national search.

SUMMARY:

The Population Health Innovation Lab (PHIL) at the Public Health institute (PHI) creates opportunities to experiment, share learning, and lead lasting change. PHIL exists because community change work is hard, often isolating, and deeply complex. PHIL equips communities and change makers to navigate challenges, catalyze equity-centered solutions, and strengthen systems that support lasting well-being. This position is a key member of a dynamic team and supports the development, alignment, and implementation of Population Health Innovation Lab (PHIL) projects and activities.

The Senior Policy Associate will serve as PHIL's lead for monitoring and analyzing policy changes affecting Medi-Cal populations in California, with a focus on implications for rural, tribal, and under-resourced communities. This position will identify and communicate policy trends, support strategic alignment across PHIL's initiatives-including the PATH Collaborative Planning Initiative, PATH Technical Assistance Marketplace, Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), and the Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR), and more-and facilitate alignment and partnership development opportunities.

This position may also provide program or project management for specific projects, such as the Merck Foundation's Collaborative for Cardiac Care, that require more in-depth alignment and partnership development. This project requires a deep understanding of Medi-Cal services and gaps to strategically align diverse partners around Medi-Cal delivery reforms. It will build on new Medi-Cal systems and services, strengthen relationships with Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans. and enhance equity-based quality improvement initiatives.

The role includes planning and conducting site visits, cultivating and maintaining relationships with community partners, and identifying areas where initiatives can work together for greater impact. This position will also provide targeted technical assistance and thought leadership to ensure PHIL's work remains responsive to emerging needs and policy directions in California.

The position requires effective coordination skills, diplomacy, broad general and technical public health knowledge, experience working with clinics, community-based organizations, vulnerable populations, and under-resourced communities, and the skills to ensure coherence and consistency despite urgent deadlines. This position reports to PHIL's Director.

This is a remote, part-time 60% FTE position with a work schedule of 24 hours/week. The incumbent must have access to reliable transportation and ability to travel within Northern California to the PHIL assigned regions when required, at minimum of 2-4 times per year. The incumbent is required to be based in Northern California and work during core business hours for the Pacific time zone.

Full salary range for this position: $91,910 to $137,348 per year based on 100% FTE. The typical hiring range for this position is from $55,146.00 (minimum) to $68,777.40 (midpoint), based on 60% FTE. The starting salary is determined using a variety of factors, such as the candidate's knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as internal equity consideration and budget availability.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

Cross-Initiative Alignment & Strategy

• Identify and advance opportunities for alignment across the PATH TA Marketplace, PATH CPI, CYBHI, OYCR, Merck Heart-to-Heart, and other PHIL initiatives.
• Convene cross-initiative workgroups to share learnings and policy updates, coordinate outreach, and align technical assistance strategies.
• Develop tools, processes, and communication pathways that enhance integration across projects.

Policy Monitoring & Analysis

• Monitor federal, state, and local policy changes impacting Medi-Cal populations, with emphasis on CalAIM and related initiatives.
• Analyze policy implications and prepare strategic briefings, including actionable recommendations, for PHIL leadership, partners, and stakeholders.

Partnership Development

• Conduct in-person partner engagement activities to strengthen relationships, assess needs, and support local implementation.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans, community-based organizations, tribal governments, and other key stakeholders.
• Represent PHIL at statewide meetings, forums, and workgroups related to Medicaid policy and behavioral health system transformation.

Technical Assistance

• Provide targeted technical assistance and training related to policy implementation, cross-sector collaboration, and systems change.
• Support development and delivery of policy-informed learning materials, presentations, convening agendas, and technical assistance resources.
• Contribute to funding proposals and sustainability planning for policy and alignment work.

Others

• Provide oversight to the Merck Heart-to-Heart budget, workplan, and subcontractors.
• Perform other duties as needed in support of the program as assigned by the PHIL Director.

QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5 years of relevant experience in policy analysis, public health, public policy, healthcare administration, or other related field.
• Bachelor's degree, or substitute with four additional years of relevant experience.

Other Qualifications

• Experience in convening design and facilitation.
• In-depth understanding of Medi-Cal Medicaid Waiver policy and behavioral health policy and the ability to translate to practical implementation and related strategy.
• Experience and skills in project management; non-profit marketing strategy/implementation; accounting/reporting; fundraising; relationship/coalition-building; curriculum development/instructional design; supervision/people management; program development; media/PR.
• Demonstrated experience serving in high-level leadership roles with a proven record of successfully implementing and managing complex, multi-sector initiatives.
• In-depth practical knowledge and hands on experience in the planning, implementing, and tracking of quality improvement and related methodologies.
• Ability to design and facilitate meetings, build consensus, and work collaboratively.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including ability to translate technical material for a lay audience and establish effective working relationships with all levels within the organizations and with other stakeholders with different backgrounds and points of view
• Ability to make independent decisions following standard policies and procedures and to work independently with limited supervision.
• Ability to create a fair, open, and transparent process, and an impartial environment where constructive, disparate points of view can be expressed.
• Ability to support the identification of challenges and conflicts associated with the implementation of CalAIM.
• Ability to identify potential resolution strategies and tactics to overcome challenges and conflicts, including identification and dissemination of successful practices to a diverse set of stakeholders.
• Ability to facilitate comprehensive programming (e.g., webinars, in-person convenings, etc.) that allow for robust collaboration amongst participants.
• Ability to conduct outreach to organizations that serve historically marginalized populations and other entities to actively participate in collaborative planning groups.
• Ability to exercise initiative, be creative, and be resourceful.
• Ability to function in a fast-paced environment, make simultaneous progress on multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Good computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and internet searches.
• Demonstrated understanding of Medicaid health policy, including experience, and understanding of Medi-Cal, CalAIM and the California market.

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA) STATUS

This position is classified as exempt based on the job duties. However, based on the FTE, salary level of the employee, or federal/state/local laws, the employee may be classified as nonexempt.

The Public Health Institute is committed to a policy that provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and to make all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment opportunity. To this end, the PHI will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are offered employment and employees are treated during employment without regard to these characteristics.

For further information regarding Equal Employment Opportunity, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

To apply for any position, you must create an account on the Public Health Institute's job application site. After creating your account, you may search the open positions and apply for the specific position that interests you. Please note, mailed and emailed applications will not be accepted.

We're so pleased the Public Health Institute is an organization you would like to work with. Do you have questions about this opportunity? If so, email our recruitment team at Recruitment@phi.org.

Additional information about PHI's benefits and compensation offerings can be found here.

The Public Health Institute is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Recruitment Team at least 48 hours in advance at Recruitment@phi.org.