Policy Advocacy and Organizing Program Associate, Illinois Public Health Institute

Be prepared for your next career move: Foresight Career Innovation Seminar.

In collaboration with the director of IPHI’s CPPI, the full-time Program Associate will provide day-to-day program execution and leadership on IPHI’s policy advocacy and organizing initiatives, focusing primarily on IPHI’s obesity prevention policy initiatives. 

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate the work of advisory committees, councils, task forces and teams, including establishment of meeting schedules, recruitment and participant communication, creation of meeting agendas, minutes and materials, and facilitation of meetings to accomplish project goals as necessary.
• Coordinate with key project partners and leaders to develop and implement program goals, strategies and tasks.
• Recruit and provide guidance and support to interns and volunteers to assist with program implementation.
• Maintain and nurture relationships with partners at state agencies, local health leaders, policy makers, stakeholder organizations, and funders.
• Supervise program support staff.
• Identify, research and report on relevant evidence-based state, local and national public policies, systems and environmental change interventions using both the scholarly literature and the experience and content provided through national and state policy organizations.
• Gather data, information and intelligence from key informants and experts through both formal and informal networking strategies.
• Lead communications with partners, stakeholders, the public and the media through production and dissemination of e-newsletters, white papers, fact sheets, speakers bureau presentations, press materials, web-site content and other strategies.
• Organize and execute events and meetings to inform policy-makers, engage new stakeholders, and develop collaborative action agendas.
• Recruit and engage new participants and supervise development and maintenance of participant, stakeholder, partner, media and policy-maker database.
• Respond to stakeholder inquires and communications.
• Represent IPHI at stakeholder and partner meetings.
• Participate in implementation of policy research projects.
• Prepare and submit periodic, special and annual programmatic reports, and financial reports in collaboration with financial staff.
• Assist in grant writing and other philanthropic resource and business development work.
• Assist with programmatic budget development and monitoring.

Requirements:

• The ideal candidate will have a master’s degree in public health or public policy or related field with a minimum of three years work experience (five or more years is preferred) in policy development, policy research, and organizing and advocacy.  Equivalent professional experience is also acceptable.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills are required; must be thorough and detail-oriented within a big-picture, vision-oriented framework.
• Candidates should have the ability to work independently and as part of project teams; must be able to work with minimum supervision in the conceptualization, planning, management, and implementation of organizational and program activities.
• Excellent computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, electronic mail, and web page and social media development is required.
• The successful candidate will be able to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, be comfortable in a fast-paced environment, and able to adapt to change and growth.
• IPHI has a collegial, team-oriented culture where a sense of humor and a passion for the work is highly valued.

More information and link to application here.