Project Director — Coverage, Cost, and Value Team

The National Academy for State Health Policy’s Coverage, Cost, and Value Team is seeking a project director to help lead our Center for Health System Costs, as well as our payment reform work. This is an opportunity to work with and support states in developing emerging, innovative strategies to address rising health care costs while ensuring people have access to high quality care.

About us — The National Academy for State Health Policy — NASHP — is a nonpartisan, nonprofit forum of policymakers from across the spectrum of state governments, leading and implementing innovative solutions to states’ health policy challenges. At NASHP, we engage state leaders to solve problems and share solutions; conduct policy analyses and research; leverage state expertise to develop model policy solutions; disseminate information on state policies and programs; and provide technical assistance to states. We have an immediate opening for a project director to join our growing Coverage, Cost, and Value team. 

About you — You are a professional with at least 10 years of post-bachelor’s experience, who is organized and detail-oriented, a skilled communicator with excellent writing and analytic skills, and who thrives in a dynamic work environment, engaging in multiple projects at a time. You have a strong foundation and substantive experience in a state health policy and in understanding health coverage financing and state policy levers related to systemic payment reforms and/or cost containment strategies. Ideally, you have management experience that includes designing technical assistance for state leaders and supporting a team to execute it. You understand the complexities of public and commercial payers and the different approaches state policymakers have and are using to support better alignment to gain efficiencies within the health care system.

How you will spend your time — Project directors, working in conjunction with senior staff, will develop projects and project work plans, assist in the implementation of work plans, and assure timely delivery of work products and activities encompassed in those work plans. This may include but is not necessarily limited to conducting research, analysis and writing of reports, convening and supporting learning collaboratives or networks, staffing advisory committees, seminars and conferences. Project directors will likely be assigned supervisory duties, with day-to-day oversight of policy associates’ and research analysts’ work on specific tasks or projects, and will mentor other, more junior NASHP staff. Working with senior and executive level staff, the Project Director may oversee all aspects of project planning and implementation, including the development and management of project budgets. Your key responsibilities will include:

• Working closely with NASHP’s senior program director for the Coverage, Cost, and Value team, other NASHP staff and with state leaders to develop and implement projects for our Center for Health Systems Costs, that advance state goals to address health costs practically and in consideration of political realities and to support states in developing and implementing payment reform strategies
• Working independently and as part of a team, to conduct policy analyses, literature reviews, policy scans, surveys, key informant interviews, case studies and focus groups, write relevant analytic pieces that are targeted for specific state policymakers, and other stakeholders and design technical assistance opportunities
• Planning agendas and facilitating meetings (via conference call and in-person) ranging from small work groups to larger symposia
• Building and maintaining strong working relationships with state and federal program administrators, national policy organizations, experts and other key stakeholders
• Developing, coordinating and providing technical assistance to state leaders
• Representing NASHP and relevant project work at meetings and conferences, presenting or speaking at such events, as appropriate
• Assuring timely delivery of thoughtful, quality analytic products in compliance with all funder requirements as directed by the senior program director
• Staying abreast of relevant literature, national policy and state activity relevant to the health policy work of NASHP, with particular attention paid to access to and affordability of care, as well as hospital and health system costs
• Participating in NASHP staff teamwork of planning and implementing NASHP’s annual conference
• Develop grant proposals
• Periodically travel to states for site visits, meetings, and research

This position will be filled by a candidate who has considerable, real-world experience in state health policy. To be considered for the position you must meet these minimum qualifications:

• Relevant work experience and Master’s degree or other graduate degree in health finance, public policy, law or related areas, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Substantial knowledge of hospital and health system financing and costs and their impact across payers (Medicaid, state employee and commercial health plans), as well as innovative state efforts to curb rising health costs preferred
• Demonstrated understanding of state health policy and how ideas can be translated into practical policy solutions
• Strong analytic and qualitative research skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills
• Leadership experience
• Ability to manage a complex workload comprised of multiple projects
• Qualified to work in the United States

Working at NASHP — We are currently operating in a hybrid work arrangement, with two days in person, in the office each week; NASHP has offices in both DC and in Portland, Maine. We require all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and be boosted, as well.

The salary range for project directors ranges from $98,939 to $133,859; your salary will be commensurate with your experience. Note that this position is not suitable for those with little experience in state health policy.  NASHP offers a wide range of benefits including health, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, STD/LTD/ADD, paid time off and holidays and a transportation stipend. We also have a generous retirement benefit.

To apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter detailing their interest in this position and their salary requirements. The cover letter should address the following question:

What are the biggest hospital and health system cost issues facing states and why? What are the opportunities and barriers to state action to address these issues in the short-term and long-term?

Applicants are also asked to submit a current resume and specify salary requirements. Note that applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered. Applications should be sent to: search@nashp.org. Please put “Cost, Coverage, and Value” in the subject line.

NASHP is an Equal Opportunity Employer, providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age disability, genetic information, marital status, or military or veteran status in accordance with all applicable laws. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment and are committed to building a diverse workforce and leadership team. All persons are encouraged and welcome to apply.