Senior Manager, State Policy & Advocacy

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Manager of State Policy and Advocacy is a member of AFC’s Policy and Advocacy department and reports to the Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy. The Senior Manager of State Policy and Advocacy serves as the organization’s lead for state policy & advocacy issues and supports the implementation of the policy priorities outlined in the most current Getting to Zero Illinois (GTZ-IL) Plan. This position develops, implements and manages AFC’s state government relations activities through efforts that improve public and private responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This position is the point person for HIV-related state legislative matters regarding appropriation, health care reform, and policy issues impacting the social determinants of health and health disparities.

This position builds and strengthens relationships with members of the Illinois General Assembly and their staff, and tracks and advocates for state funding for key HIV programs. The Senior Manager of State Policy and Advocacy provides policy analysis and leadership and support for the implementation of AFC’s state policy priorities, as well as provides leadership and support to help influence public policy through legislation, rules/regulations, and administrative advocacy.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Development and Monitoring of Policy and Legislation

• Serve as AFC’s principal staff on state public policy issues that include legislative, administrative and budget issues. Be solely responsible for all communications with state legislators and agency officials and staff, including the Office of the Governor.
• Develop and implement AFC’s state government relations activities including lobbying, grassroots mobilization, budget and funding analysis and advocacy, public education and communication.
• In partnership with the Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy and the Senior Vice-President of Policy & Advocacy, lead interactions with various state agencies including the Departments of Public Health, Healthcare and Family Services, Corrections, Human Services, Office of the Governor, and others on HIV/AIDS and other healthcare and related public policy development and funding.
• Partner with the Senior Manager of Federal Policy & Advocacy, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy, and Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy on research and analysis to advance access to high-quality, coordinated HIV prevention and care services in Medicaid, private health insurance, managed care settings, and other delivery system models.

• Support Senior Manager, Housing Policy & Advocacy with development and implementation of AFC and CHH housing policy & advocacy priorities and strategy.

Community Outreach, Engagement and Mobilization

• Cultivate strong working relationships with partner organizations and represent the organization in state policy & advocacy focused tables (e.g. coalitions, working groups, committees, etc.).
• Broaden awareness of HIV treatment and prevention, Ryan White, Medicaid, and the ACA to the entities and communities AFC serves.
• Communicate key issues to AFC key stakeholders and staff.
• Keep AFC and its key stakeholders informed of the continuous and rapid changes in the healthcare sector and state regulatory activities which may have an impact on HIV, Medicaid, and the ACA marketplace plans.
• Contribute and provide leadership in meetings between AFC staff/senior leaders and members of administrative agencies related to HIV, Medicaid, and the ACA.
• Support the implementation of Getting to Zero Illinois policy priorities related to HIV, Medicaid, ACA marketplace plans, and other health care delivery systems.
• Support the development and implementation of grassroots and grass tops engagement and mobilization strategies to improve HIV prevention, care, and housing funding and policy in Illinois.
• Develop and implement grassroots and grass tops community engagement and mobilization strategies to advance AFC’s state policy & advocacy work in improving HIV prevention, care and HIV housing funding and policy.
• As appropriate and need, lead and execute on HIV and Healthcare related Storytelling trainings, storytelling and story collection.
• Prioritize relationship building and deepening with people living with or vulnerable to HIV and other chronic conditions, including to inform AFC’s policy priorities and advocacy strategies. 

Communication and Education

• Under the direction of the Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy, create and develop publications and other mechanisms, such as webinars and community meetings, to educate stakeholders about topics including but not limited to Medicaid, Ryan White, HIV treatment and prevention and the ACA.
• Create written analyses of proposed health policy proposals and reports and evaluate their impact on the HIV sector and AFC.
• Lead and support the preparation of position statements and comments sent to state legislative and regulatory bodies and other interested parties concerning legislation, regulations, policies, published reports and statutes governing topics including but not limited to HIV treatment and prevention, Medicaid, and the ACA.
• Create content on AFC issue areas, state policy priorities, and on Medicaid, the ACA, and HIV treatment and prevention including but not limited to emails, fact sheets, issue briefs, action alerts and legislation.
• Under the direction of the Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy, partner with the AFC Communications team to craft and disseminate communications related to HIV and healthcare policy & advocacy priorities for AFC.
• Serve as media representative for all state legislative and policy initiatives.

Project Team Leadership/Supervision 

• Identify current and emerging issue areas that align with the organization’s strategic plan; 
• Determine project feasibility and develop project scopes and proposals based on identified issues or areas of opportunity for internal consideration.
• Assist in the development and achievement of team goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and related strategic plan items.
• Participate in and/or lead working groups, councils, and committees.

Other

• Lead the development and execution of AFC’s Advocacy Day(s) and support the execution of CHH’s Advocacy Day(s).
• Maintain and update job knowledge by participating in training and educational opportunities, reading professional publications, and participating in professional organizations.
• Assist the Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy and the Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy on other policy-related matters as needed.
• Serve as project manager for grants and special projects as needed;
• Assist with agency-wide activities as directed, including Annual Meeting, AIDS Run & Walk, and others.
• Assist with other AFC department activities as directed.
• Protect organization's value and manage risk by keeping information confidential.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in this class. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assignment of duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.