Director of Health Care and Education Policy

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association requires all new employees to present proof they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 when they start work. Currently, “fully vaccinated” is defined as someone that has received both doses of the Pfizer/Moderna COVID-19 vaccines or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine 14 days or more before they begin work. Individuals with a disability or a religious reason preventing them from taking the vaccine may request an accommodation.

Description
This position is responsible for the identification, development, and management of health care and education policies, and related policy initiatives, for the purposes of advancing ASHA’s Public Policy Agenda on behalf of the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology.
 

Responsibilities

1. Collaborates on identifying, developing, executing, and evaluating coordinated advocacy strategies designed to advance ASHA’s Public Policy Agenda.
2. Oversees the development of high-quality analyses and health care and education policy recommendations with implications for the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology.
3. Facilitates and coordinates the development of issue briefs, letters, testimony, regulatory comments, model legislative language, and other policy-related resources as needed that are designed to advance ASHA’s Public Policy Agenda.
4. Identifies, develops, maintains, and leverages strategic relationships with relevant staff of executive branch agencies responsible for policymaking; arranges appropriate policy “Subject Matter Experts” to engage federal or state officials as needed.
5. Identifies, develops, maintains, and leverages strategic relationships with relevant staff of external organizations, including coalitions, in accordance with relevant ASHA policies.
6. Collaborates on strategic communications, messaging, and grassroots materials that are designed to advance ASHA’s Public Policy Agenda.  Develops articles and other products for online and print communications.
7. Provides technical assistance to ASHA’s membership, consumers, and other interested parties as needed.
8. Coaches staff on the HCEP Team.
9. Responsible for budget and planning activities of the Health Care and Education Policy Team and coaches the Team’s members.

Qualifications
Knowledge Typically Acquired Through

• Advanced degree in public policy, economics, political science, or a related field.
• 10 years of experience in health care or education policies in an association, corporation or government; experience at a nonprofit association is preferred.
• Previous management and coaching experience, including team planning and budgeting.

Scope and Depth of Technical Skills/Knowledge

• Demonstrated ability in strategic policy analysis and development activities.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality and impactful analyses, issue briefs, letters, testimony, regulatory comments, model legislative language, and related products.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain strategic relationships with policymakers and allied stakeholders.
• Demonstrated negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of legislative and regulatory processes.
• Working knowledge of health care or education policies that impact ASHA, especially health care reimbursement policies, is desirable.
• Working knowledge of communication sciences and disorders is desirable.

Scope and Depth of Non-Technical Skills/Knowledge

• Strong collaborative and facilitative leadership skills.
• Strong mentorship skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize, organize, and execute multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and a creative approach to work.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure with tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve consensus when opposing viewpoints are presented.