Policy Coordinator – Emeryville or Glendale

The National Union of Healthcare Workers, the fastest-growing health care union in California, with 15,000 members in all health care sectors throughout the state, and the potential for organizing acute care, mental health, and substance abuse employees across the nation, seeks a Policy Coordinator.

The Policy Coordinator formulates NUHW’s public policy positions and provides counsel to the union’s officers and senior staff on policy developments in the areas of health care finance and regulation, state and local fiscal policy, and other issues of concern to the union’s members and employers. The Policy Coordinator monitors and analyzes federal, state, and local policy initiatives in areas that significantly impact the design and delivery of health care, including but not limited to Medicaid, Medicare, and the financing and regulation of acute care facilities, mental health care and substance abuse disorder services, publicly-operated health care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and home health care. NUHW is committed to the design and promotion of a single-payer health care system and the development of proposals for cost control and quality improvement that protect patients and workers; the Policy Coordinator will play a leadership role in pursuing these objectives.

ABOUT NUHW
The National Union of Healthcare Workers is helping revitalize the labor movement with its commitment to worker empowerment and democratic ideals.

Founded in 2009, we have grown to represent more than 15,000 mental health clinicians, nurses, nursing assistants, medical technicians, clerks, and service workers. NUHW members are leading the fight to improve patient care, raise living standards, hold healthcare corporations accountable to their employees and the communities they serve, and win Medicare for All. And NUHW-represented mental health clinicians are powerful advocates for ending the stigma surrounding mental illness and enforcing mental health parity rules so that patients get the treatment they need when they need it.

To learn more about NUHW and its values, see the video at NUHW.org/about. 

Primary Responsibilities

  • Works with officers and senior staff to determine policy needs and provide strategic policy support for the union’s organizing and contract campaigns.
  • Analyzes federal, state, and local policy initiatives and prepares briefing materials, response options, and recommendations for officers and senior staff.
  • Keeps current with federal, state, and local statutes and regulations, industry trends, economic trends, and demographic trends that impact the design and delivery of health care.
  • Reviews industry publications, scholarly publications, and governmental reports; meets with federal, state, and local legislative staff and agency officials; consults with patient and consumer advocacy groups, professional associations of caregivers, and major healthcare purchasers; and confers with leaders and staff of other health care unions as necessary to inform the development of the union’s public policy positions.
  • Initiates policy research, collects and analyzes health care, fiscal, and economic data, and drafts white papers as necessary to develop and promote public policies supportive of the union’s organizing and bargaining goals.
  • Prepares briefing materials and delivers presentations for governmental bodies, elected officials, advocacy groups, community allies, union members and staff, and a variety of public forums; occasionally participates in press conferences and conducts interviews with media.

The Policy Coordinator reports to the union president and performs with a high degree of independence. The Policy Coordinator proceeds on his/her/their own initiative, apprising the president of progress and challenges on an ongoing basis, and managing each project through to its completion.

Education and Experience

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with course work in health policy, public policy, or labor relations, advanced degree desirable; at least three years of related work experience in a health care union, health care patient or consumer advocacy group, professional organization of caregivers, legislative office, or public agency; or any equivalent combination of education and experience which demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

  • Knowledge of public policy issues affecting health care financing and regulation.
  • Ability to analyze state and local policy initiatives accurately and to develop timely and appropriate responses.
  • Ability to prepare and deliver policy presentations before governmental bodies, elected officials, advocacy groups, union members and staff, and other interested parties.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with union members and staff, elected officials and staff, health care advocates, and other community stakeholders in health care policy decisions.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in formats of varying formality and length.
  • Ability to work independently on complex projects and tasks.
  • Ability to work long hours, under stress, with tight timelines.

Previous knowledge of and experience with trade unions, their internal structure, and their external relationships is preferred, but not required.

Compensation:  Salary DOE plus $6,000 auto allowance, employer paid medical and dental benefits for employee and family; FSA and HRA plans; life insurance for employee; holidays, sick leave, vacation; 401(k) with 14% employer contribution.

How to apply:  Email your resume, cover letter, and references to: jobs@nuhw.org.