Career Center

Are you looking for a great opportunity to support states as they work to recover from the pandemic and meet the challenges of modernizing their public health systems? Then consider joining the NASHP Population & Public Health Team! 

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 Policy Associate to join our growing Population and Public Health team.

About You – You are a professional with at least four years of post-Bachelor’s experience, who is organized and detail-oriented, a skilled communicator with strong 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 particular, in state policy approaches to addressing public health. You know public health policy related to immunizations, pandemic response, Medicaid, public health workforce or other aspects of public health. You are state-focused, interested in and understanding what state policymakers need to know to effectively meet their most difficult challenges.

How you will spend your time – Policy Associates are lead content experts on policy issues and topics facing state decisionmakers. As a NASHP PA, you will conduct qualitative policy research and analysis, contribute to project development and management, work with a team to provide technical assistance to state officials, write policy briefs and other related resources aimed at a broad policy audience and work collaboratively with colleagues across the organization and directly with state health policy officials. Your key responsibilities will include:

• Tracking, researching, analyzing and summarizing state and federal legislation, rules and regulations that will impact state public health systems – with a focus on public health modernization approaches (including data and workforce infrastructure, addressing inequities, and linkages to broader health systems)
• Providing technical assistance to state officials in a multi-state immunizations project
• Facilitating state-to-state learning and exchange using multiple strategies, both virtual and in-person, when practical
• Leveraging knowledge and expertise of public health policy to support state technical assistance, developing issue briefs and tools states can adopt to advance policies in those domains
• Working with both internal and external stakeholders at the state and national level, effectively communicating information on trends and emerging issues in health policy
• Planning, researching and writing blogs, briefs, reports, proposals and other publications
• Assisting in the development of grant proposals
• Assisting in staffing and support of NASHP’s policy committees and participating in the planning and implementation of NASHP’s annual conference
• Representing NASHP and relevant project work at meetings and conferences

As a Policy Associate, you may also be called on to mentor and manage the work of early career professionals, NASHP Research Analysts. Some travel will be required, following COVID-19 safety protocols.

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

NASHP offers a comprehensive package of benefits including health, dental, vision and life insurance, STD/LTD/ADD, paid time off, a transportation allowance and a generous retirement plan.

To apply –Interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter describing their interest in the position and in our organization, along with salary requirements to: search@nashp.org. Please be certain to put PPH PA in the subject line.

NASHP is an Equal Opportunity Employer, providing 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, 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 people are encouraged and welcome to apply.

You will need to minimum qualifications, including:

• Previous employment in state government is highly valued and strongly preferred. If you do not have relevant government experience, you need to have professional health policy or qualitative analytic experience closely tied to state programs
• Excellent writing, communication and analytic skills, along with a focus on detail and organization
• Proven ability to function effectively in a dynamic work environment, managing multiple projects and simultaneous demands, achieving quality results in a timely manner
• Self-motivated and able to work both independently and collaboratively
• Bachelor’s degree in health policy, social work, public policy or administration, public health, law or related area. A Masters in a relevant field is a plus. This is not an entry level position; you must have real-world experience in policy areas relevant to the position and have at least four years of experience post-Bachelor’s.