Policy Analyst

 Position Summary:

Methodist Healthcare Ministries is seeking a Policy Analyst to provide information and analysis on public policy issues. The Policy Analyst will help the Department of Policy & Advocacy carry out its strategic and legislative priorities aimed at addressing the intersection of health inequities and the social determinants of health with a focus on affordable housing, water, broadband, economic mobility, and food insecurity. 

Knowledge of state and federal policy development process | Strong skills researching, interpreting, and analyzing data and policies | Strong skills in synthesizing complex information and communicating verbally and in writing | Able to drafts content for multiple audiences including leadership, elected officials, and the public | Ability to prioritize times and manage multiple projects

Salary:

Annual salary rate begins at $78,701.00. Mid range at $98,377.00. Actual starting rate will be commensurate with experience and education. 

Essential Duties:

• Track and analyze federal, state, and local laws or regulations affecting access to health care and MHM’s legislative priorities to produce explainers, issue briefs, and position papers
• Research legislative proposals, conduct statistical analysis and draft advocacy documents to address health inequity
• Draft content for website, newsletters, social media, and print materials to strengthen public policy support and awareness on initiatives (including preparing fact sheets, advocacy alerts, presentations, testimony, and coalition letters)
• Oversee a diverse portfolio of policy and advocacy-related contracts, including assisting with contract negotiation, monitoring, budget expenditures, and deliverable review
• Participate in coalitions aimed at growing grassroots efforts, and mobilizing communities to affect policy change
• Coordinate the scheduling and planning of federal, state, and local policy and advocacy meetings and events
• Perform all other duties as assigned

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

Will assist in acclimating and training part-time graduate student interns, temps, summer program and work study interns.

Education/Experience: 

Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Public Health, Health Care Administration, Social/Behavioral or Government related fields required. Master’s degree in same fields preferred. Must have 2 years of experience in public policy and advocacy at local, state or federal levels, with an emphasis on state health care delivery systems, public health or related fields required.  

Must have strong analytical and organizational skills. Must have skills to build relationships and to engage with internal and external constituents. 

Experience working on behalf of underserved populations and/or specifically addressing disparities that impact the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities is strongly preferred.

Language Ability: 

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret health status and policy reports, publications, professional journals, and governmental regulations. Ability to interpret and prepare policy positions via white papers and presentations. Ability to speak effectively and respond to questions from diverse audiences. Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

Reasoning Ability: 

Must have critical thinking skills and able to define problems collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Must be able to analyze and interpret an extensive variety of local, state, and federal public policies and comprehend implications for populations served by MHM. 

Certificates and Licenses: 

None

Computer Skills: 

Demonstrates advance working knowledge of the Internet, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Able to customize toolbars, import and insert graphs, develop spreadsheets, and complex reports.

Other:

Passion to create change that leads to better lives and healthier communities.

Capacity to adapt rapidly to changing priorities, objectives, and situations.

Ability to work in a changing environment and take on tasks at all levels. 

Must be able to drive and have access to a vehicle; maintain valid driver’s license and auto liability insurance. 

Travel:

Must be available to travel at least 25-50% of the time as job duties require, depending on biennial state legislative sessions, including overnight stays. Must work some evenings, weekends and holidays as job duties may require, depending on biennial state legislative sessions.  

Work Environment and Physical Demands: 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a team member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the team member is exposed to an office environment and community settings having direct contact with people on a regular basis. Position may necessitate bending, stooping, twisting, turning, walking, sitting, and standing for periods of time. Must be able to lift and maneuver up to 25 pounds. 

Organization’s Mission and Commitment to Health Equity:

The mission of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM) is “Serving Humanity to Honor God” by improving the physical, mental, and spiritual health of those least served in the Rio Texas Conference area of The United Methodist Church. The Board of Directors approved a strategic plan in October 2019 that places health equity at the center of the work MHM wants to do. The Board of Directors approved the following statement:

• Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. believes that to improve the wellness of the least served and fully live out its mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God,” it must recognize the inequities inherent in its communities that contribute to poor health outcomes. Health Equity is both the process and goal by which Methodist Healthcare Ministries seeks to carry out that purpose. Health Equity is a framework of thought and action that strives to reduce racial and socio-economic disparities and create fair and just opportunity for every person to reach their full potential for health and life and contribute to that of others.

Medical, Dental and Vision.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries pays 100 percent of team members’ premiums and 55 percent of dependent premiums on the base medical plan. The Methodist Healthcare Ministries dental plan allows team members to freely choose their dentist, regardless if they are in or out of the Guardian’s DentalGuard Preferred Network. The Methodist Healthcare Ministries vision plan allows team members to receive an annual eye exam for just $10.

Voluntary Life Insurance.

Team members have the option to purchase voluntary life insurance through a payroll deduction. The benefit maximum for team members is $300,000, not to exceed five times one’s annual salary. Team members may increase their benefit amount by two increments ($10,000) without having to complete an Evidence of Insurability (EOI) form.

Flexible Spending Account.

Team members have the opportunity to pay for out-of-pocket medical, dental, vision and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars through a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) while being automatically deducted through your payroll. Team members can save approximately 25 percent of each dollar spent on these expenses when participating in the FSA!

Employee Assistance Program.

All full-time team members, as well as any family members residing in their household, have access to the Methodist Healthcare Ministries Employee Assistance Program offered through Unum. Members can receive confidential counseling and referral services designed to help with any personal, job or family related problems.

401(k) Plan and Roth 401(k).

Methodist Healthcare Ministries currently makes a matching contribution of 7 percent after one year of service and 9 percent after 10 years. With a 401(k) plan team members can save pre-tax dollars to lower taxable income to take more income home. With a Roth 401(k), contributions are taxed now, earnings grow tax-free, and no taxes are paid when a withdrawal is made (certain conditions apply).

Holidays and Paid Time Off (PTO).

Methodist Healthcare Ministries observes nine official holidays. In these instances, Methodist Healthcare Ministries closes all operations for the day. Team members begin accruing paid time off (PTO) upon their date of hire. Team members who have been with the organization for sixty continuous days may use their accrued PTO.

Health & Wellness Incentive Program.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries is committed to the emotional, mental, physical, spiritual and occupational well-being of our team members. The Be Well program encourages a healthy lifestyle for all team members through the availability of an incentive program for health improvement related expenses.

Education Reimbursement.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries offers education reimbursement for completion of courses of study that support both the business plans and future objectives of the organization and meet the individual aspirations of the team member.

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret health status and policy reports, publications, professional journals, and governmental regulations. Ability to interpret and prepare policy positions via white papers and presentations. Ability to speak effectively and respond to questions from diverse audiences. Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.