The Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) seeks a Coalition Coordinator and Policy Analyst to join our committed team of health equity advocates. This position is based in Boston. MPHA staff are currently working a hybrid weekly schedule – meaning some days remotely and some days in the Boston office. More details are below.

Mission and Organizational Overview
MPHA, a statewide nonprofit organization, is a champion for public health in the Commonwealth. MPHA uses a combination of coalition organizing, community capacity building, advocacy, lobbying, and communications to change laws, policies, and systems and supports grassroots leaders to build greater power to influence the policymaking process. 

Promoting racial justice is a core component of MPHA’s work and identity. As MPHA pursues policy changes to promote health equity, we strive to confront the history of structural racism that has been embedded in public policy. MPHA’s Health Equity Policy Framework is an evolving document designed to guide us in addressing all forms of health inequities in our external work and internal practices. The framework places special emphasis on racial inequities because we believe that this injustice needs explicit attention.

MPHA’s success depends on a small but excellent staff and its ability to work as a team. We believe that our ongoing success depends on a diversity of lived experiences and talents as we strive for greater health equity in Massachusetts.

Position Summary
The Coalition Coordinator and Policy Analyst will be a core part of a four-person Policy & Campaign Team working to advance MPHA’s health equity policy agenda. MPHA’s success depends on this small but excellent staff and its ability to work as a team. We believe that our ongoing success depends on a diversity of talents and lived experiences as we strive for greater health equity in Massachusetts. The selected candidate will have a fire in the belly for justice and liberation and be a bold advocate for fundamental systems change. They will value teamwork and strong connections with staff and allies.

MPHA is a multi-issue organization. The Coalition Coordinator and Policy Analyst will work on a variety of public health policies with a focus on local public health infrastructure. Familiarity with Massachusetts’ local public health system is not required but is a plus. As with all MPHA policy staff positions, issue areas of focus for the Coalition Coordinator and Policy Analyst may shift over time as MPHA’s policy agenda evolves. The position reports to the Deputy Director.

Job Responsibilities

• Coalition coordination and facilitation: play a key coordination role in MPHA-led coalition efforts, including coordinating the Coalition for Local Public Health and the Massachusetts Large Cities Health Coalition. Responsibilities include coordinating coalition membership and relationships, meeting agendas, logistics, facilitation, and coalition communications in order to drive coalition advocacy.
• Policy tracking: track and analyze policy developments related to MPHA priorities, including monitoring the state budget, legislation, and regulations.
• Gather and synthesize information: represent MPHA with coalitions, community partners, and policymakers and synthesize information from external partners for MPHA staff and Policy Council in order to propel MPHA’s policy agenda forward.
• Advocacy coordination: coordinate advocacy activities, including State House and field outreach, advocacy events, panels for public hearings, etc., as needed in support of coalition and/or MPHA priority campaigns.
• Research and writing: research and draft materials to support MPHA advocacy, including testimony, reports, fact sheets, action alerts, and talking points.
• Execute other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

We understand that there are many paths to acquiring experience. Therefore, we welcome candidates from diverse and nontraditional backgrounds for this role, including those who have demonstrated transferable skills to carry out the major duties outlined in this job description.

• Confident and persistent facilitator: experience facilitating meetings with an eye towards moving agendas and coalition work forward; able to allocate time across tasks within a timeline; ability to listen critically to discussion on topics where you may not yet have expertise and synthesize main points and action steps to move the process forward; willingness to follow up and follow through in order to maintain relationships with partners and achieve coalition goals.
• Strong communicator and team player: excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience translating complex policy topics for a variety of audiences. Ability to flex communication styles and methods for a variety of organizational cultures and settings. Comfortable with public speaking and facilitating challenging conversations. Great sense of humor. Rigor and high standards are complemented with an ability to encourage fun and contribute to a strong team internally and among coalition partners. 
• Highly organized and motivated: exceptionally well-organized with strong attention to detail. Ability and desire to work in a fast-paced environment, and ability to prioritize and switch gears quickly between multiple projects and subjects. Fast and enthusiastic learner interested in growing knowledge in a wide variety of topic areas.
• Strategic: skilled at communicating in ways that build credibility, inspire, align people, and motivate action. Experience identifying the appropriate asks of individuals, creating commitments, and establishing mutual accountability. 
• Trustworthy: able to build relationships and establish deep trust with folks across identities and socially assigned circumstances (e.g., race, class, religion, orientation, gender).
• Humble: able to listen well and support problem-solving processes grounded in the experiences of low-income communities and communities of color; willingness to adapt plans and make decisions that align with the goals and values of stakeholders.
• Minimum of 2-4 years of experience working in community, legislative, labor, or public policy campaigns. A graduate degree may be substituted for professional experience. Recent graduates with advanced degrees in public health, law, social work, and public policy are encouraged to apply.
• Knowledge of the Massachusetts local public health system or experience with municipal government preferred but not required.
  

MPHA  is  an equal opportunity employer committed to a workplace that reflects the diversity of the people of Massachusetts. We make a particular effort to recruit people of color to apply.

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $55,000 – $65,000. MPHA offers excellent health, dental, and paid time off benefits. 

Location

MPHA is located at 50 Federal Street in Boston, accessible by public transportation. MPHA staff work hybrid schedules – meaning both in the office and remotely. Staff are in the office together on Tuesdays for staff meetings and team building and are requested to be in the office other days as needed. Beginning in September, all staff will come to the office at least one additional day per week, the day to be determined by the needs of their role. Availability for occasional early morning, evening, or weekend events and meetings is required.

To Apply:

Application period closed on Monday, July 17 at 10:00 am.