“Every day, we work to support and build inclusive, powerful, and healthy communities characterized by racial equity and economically just systems.”  With this as our purpose and reason for being, Health Forward Foundation is building the future of our region by grasping the issues that cause disparate health outcomes at their roots.  Health Forward Foundation’s mission is to achieve health equity and secure a fair and just region through leadership, advocacy, and resources. We support direct services and drive systems change for healthy people, community power, and equitable and just places. We support and partner with community-based and cross-sector organizations to improve health on all fronts, from providing vital health services, to working to advance safe and affordable housing, to amplifying the power that exists in our communities through civic engagement on matters that influence heath.

Health Forward Foundation was created in 2003 with an original endowment of $440 million from the sale of Health Midwest, a nonprofit hospital system, to Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), a for-profit hospital management company. Health Forward’s service area encompasses Kansas City, Missouri, and Jackson, Cass, and Lafayette counties in Missouri, and Johnson, Wyandotte, and Allen counties in Kansas. Our history in these communities predates the foundation, as these were the places served by Health Midwest, which after the hospital’s sale evolved to form Health Forward. The foundation is governed by a 21-member board of directors and is managed by a professional staff of 26 employees. As of December 2021, the approximate net market value of the foundation’s investment portfolio was $950 million. With nearly two decades of history, Health Forward has invested more than $340 million to improve health throughout its service area. 
 
Health Forward is committed to the process and the outcome of equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in its investments in services and systems change, employment practices, talent management, investments, vendor selection, and governance. Health Forward views equity as a fundamental element of social justice and integral in our purpose and to our mission. 

Health Forward is currently looking for an Administrative Assistant who will play a critical role in providing administrative support to the Health Forward Foundation and its Senior Leadership Team.  This role will report to and support the Vice President of Policy and Impact, while also providing scheduling and other support for large projects for our Director of Impact, and requires the ability to work independently and gracefully under pressure to handle a wide variety of activities including confidential matters with discretion.  The Administrative Assistant is a key interaction point with a diverse group of visitors, stakeholders and internal contacts. 

• Manage and ensure that all administrative and operational tasks and duties are conducted in a professional and efficient manner. Such functions include, but are not limited to:
  • Complex calendaring, meeting agendas and travel management
  • Project management
  • Reporting, analysis and creating visual presentations
  • Lead planning and support for Impact team events
  • Support events coordinated by other administrative and operations/events colleagues
  • Document management including organization wide mail, communications and related matters
  • Departmental operations, expense reports, filing, etc.
• Ensure all communication is precise, timely, and demonstrates a high degree of professionalism.
  • Ensure calls and messages to the Health Forward Foundation that need guidance reach the right associate
• Manage the reception of visitors and represent the organization in a professional and friendly manner, as needed.
• Perform general office administrative duties for the Executive Leadership Team and in support of Governance, as needed.
  • Daily cleanup of kitchen/pantry (starting dishwasher, coffee maintenance, etc.)
  • Assist in meeting set-up in Foundation offices (e.g. AV, refreshments, etc.)
• Provide support for the Board of Directors, CAC and related committees.
  • Provide administrative and logistics support for Board of Directors, CAC and Board Committees including meeting set-up/breakdown, catering and document preparation.
  • Provide Governance activity assistance when requested (i.e. meeting notices, meeting minutes, doodle polls, methods and procedures documentation etc.) and manage annual processes (i.e. Annual CAC fundraising mailing, conflict of interest database management).

• Minimum 5-7 years of combined education and/or related work experience.
• Demonstrated experience providing senior management support in a fast paced, service-oriented environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with the MS Office Suite. Additional skills and experience with office automation equipment, including phones, computers and related software, database reporting, etc. are preferred.
• Exceptional organizational skills and demonstrated success with managing multiple tasks including initiative, attention to detail and follow through.
• Project management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ideal candidate is proactive and organized with a reputation for persistence, flexibility, dependability and teamwork. Must possess ability to remain calm in the face of changing priorities and work with a sense of urgency.
• Vaccination for COVID-19 is a requirement for this position, requests for medical or religious accommodation will be considered.

Personal Qualities

Advocate for the mission of the Health Forward Foundation who embodies our stated values of Trust, Partnership, Learning, Stewardship, Equity, Inclusion and Antiracism. Service-oriented with commitment to follow-up and efficient outcomes. Works well in team environment and open to sharing experiences and ideas.

Compensation

The anticipated hiring salary range for this position is $47,200 – $65,000. The package will be determined by the experience level, credentials and personal characteristics of the candidate offered. Health Forward Foundation offers its employees a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a retirement plan, paid time off, and a hybrid work environment.

Health Forward Foundation firmly supports the principle and philosophy of equal opportunity for all individuals, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected category pursuant to applicable federal, state, or local law.