“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. Each year, Health Forward distributes close to $25 million in support of direct services and 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.

The 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 around 30 employees.

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.

IMPACT STRATEGIST - POLICY

Health Forward is currently looking for a Policy Impact Strategist who will be responsible for developing, managing and advocating for the policy agenda. With a strong commitment to health equity, this position engages with community partners and grantmaking to advance the systems change needed to accomplish Health Forward’s Purpose Plan. Working across the Purpose areas of People, Power, Place and Platform and cross-departmentally to integrate and align with other functional areas.

Strategy and Execution

• Stay abreast of current and emerging policy issues related to Health Forward’s policy agenda and purpose plan
• Draft Health Forward’s legislative updates with an emphasis on local and federal policy
• Provide Communications with timely policy agenda related articles for Health Forward’s internal and external communications

Advocacy

• Support the Vice President of Policy and Impact in the management of relationships with local and federal lawmakers
• Track legislation on the local and federal levels related to Health Forward’s policy agenda and provide timely updates
• Maintain organizational relationship with local policy government affairs consultant
• Organize and staff panels, public roundtables and convenings related to Health Forward’s policy agenda
• Organize and staff our creation of and participation in coalitions to advance our local and federal policy priorities
• Organize and staff our KS and MO educational series at the state capitols
• Provide research support and presentation preparation for Health Forward policy-related op-eds, blogs, podcast, and public presentations
• Support issue identification and drafting of policy issue papers
• Participate in policy related grantmaking opportunities
• Organize and staff learning opportunities for Health Forward staff related to policy and advocacy

Resource Allocations and Partner Support

• Maintain working relationships with advocacy grantees and partners to foster relationship building and support opportunities, including but not limited to attending and participating in external grantee, partner and community meetings and events
• Work across our purpose areas and cross functional teams to provide a policy perspective in our resource allocations

RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports to the Vice President of Policy and Impact
• Critical Member of the Policy and Impact Team which include team members supporting Policy, People, Place, Platform, and Power
• Supports critical relationships with organization associates and constituents, consultants, vendors, suppliers and other external parties for policy and advocacy related work

Education, Experience & Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in public science, public policy, public health, public administration or a related field. Master’s degree in public policy, public health, public administration or a related field or equivalent experience as well as a minimum of five years of professional experience in a related field
• Experience working with local or federal government preferred.
• Experience grantmaking and/or in philanthropy preferred.
• Experience working with community groups preferred.
• Strong listening, verbal and written communication skills. Public speaking experience preferred.
• Demonstrated research, writing, and editing skills.
• Strong interpersonal, communication skills and the ability to work well on cross-functional internal and external teams.
• Detail and solution orientations.
• Demonstrated results achievement.
• Flexibility and adaptability, particularly with evolving policy and advocacy work.

Personal Qualities

Advocate for the mission of the Health Forward Foundation who embodies our stated values of Trust, Partnership, Learning, Stewardship, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-racism - Purpose, Mission, and Values - Health Forward Foundation.

Compensation

The anticipated hiring salary range for this exempt position is $90,400 – $113,000. 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, group life insurance, paid time off, and a hybrid work environment.

Non-Discrimination

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.