Position Overview The Senior Specialist reports to the Senior Director of Public Policy and provides assistance in the management of the associations’ federal government relations activities including relationship building and outreach with federal government policy makers and national public health and health advocacy organizations, with limited direct lobbying activities.
This skilled professional is responsible for strengthening public health laboratory policy by engaging in strategic advocacy, utilizing public and private partners when beneficial. The Senior Specialist, Public Policy either performs the duties listed below personally working collaboratively with others on staff.
Specific Responsibilities The position has two essential functions, which broadly define the senior specialist’s scope of responsibility. They are: (1) identifying, developing, and compiling the knowledge needed to support effective public policy development for public health laboratories, with an emphasis on federal regulatory activity, and (2) disseminating this knowledge to key audiences, including federal policy makers, administration officials, and the laboratory community. There are three specific goals for this position:
SPECIFIC GOALS • Maintain the credibility and name recognition in the public health and scientific advocacy community, on Capitol Hill and within the Administration and relevant federal agencies • Play a key role in the development of a body of public policy for the advancement of public health laboratory practice • Influence the development of support within the public health and private sector communities to assist efforts to strengthen the nation's public health laboratory system.
ONGOING DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: • Shape the development of objectives, strategies and priorities for APHL’s public health advocacy in conjunction with the Senior Director of Public Policy, committees and governing board; advise the Senior Director of Public Policy, Executive Director and governing board regarding legislative objectives, strategies and tactics. • Provide APHL input on relevant federal regulations. • Manage development, and application of APHL policy on public issues; • Play a key role in planning, development and coordination of strategic project activities and initiatives on priority national issues, such as public health preparedness, quality laboratory practice, environmental health, infectious diseases, and global health, among others. • Influence the coordination of liaisons with federal government agencies, quasi and advisory policy, non-governmental agencies such as the IOM, and others. • Represent APHL in external policy development activities including serving as deputy federal advocate, representing APHL issues and policy agenda to members of the federal legislative and executive branches; Represent APHL at DC-based coalition meetings (CDC Coalition, Coalition for Health Funding, TB advocacy groups, HIV/AIDS advocacy groups, newborn screening advocacy groups) • Further develop APHL’s relationships with laboratory, scientific, and other public health agencies and organizations; • Monitor government activities to identify regulatory public policy issues as they may relate to APHL members and direct various activities aimed at informing policy makers; Analyze and interpret relevant federal legislation and regulation and share such information with APHL members and relevant staff; • Provide staffing support to the following APHL committees: Policy Committee, assist in providing regular updates to APHL's governing board, Council of Chairs and staff/committee leadership; • Support APHL programs in public policy aspects of their activities; and • Play a key role in the coordination of the development of Hill Day Fact Sheets, issue briefs, status reports, testimony, alerts, in conjunction with the APHL members and staff; Work with Communications staff to provide ongoing updates and communications on all federal issues including posting to website. • Perform other duties as assigned.
Employment Standards
Education/Experience: BA/BS required; Master's in public health policy or other relevant area preferred. State or local public health experience and/or association experience desirable. A minimum of 5 years prior policy experience or a Master’s degree and a minimum of 3 years experience. Experience working with scientists, public and private agencies strongly preferred; knowledge of public health laboratory systems is desired, but not required.
Knowledge: Public health, public affairs, and partner relations; relevant federal agencies including HHS, CDC, HRSA, FDA, and NIH.
Skills and Abilities: Self-motivated professional with excellent verbal and written communications, highly developed interpersonal skills and diplomatic finesse. Equally effective working alone and in teams. Strong analytical skills; Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office and PowerPoint programs required.
Special Requirements: Incumbent must be flexible and able to accommodate moderate domestic travel.
Level: Senior Specialist
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a colleague to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the colleague is required to sit for long periods at a time; type using a computer keyboard; visually read information off of a computer monitor; talk, hear, and orally communicate information over the telephone. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision and color vision and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee could be exposed to outdoor weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment may vary from light to moderate depending on the location.
CRITERIA FOR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION:
Performance evaluation will be based on the abilities in meeting the criteria outlined herein.
POSITION REPORTS TO:
Senior Director of Public Policy
POSITION DESCRIPTION STATUS:
The duties and responsibilities listed in this job description are illustrative ones anticipated for this position. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned as required. Association of Public Health Labs (APHL) reserves the right to amend or change this job description to meet the needs of its programs. This job description and any attachments do no constitute or represent a contract.
Please submit cover letter, resume and salary requirements to jobs@aphl.org for consideration.
