Job Description
Programs & Policy Director
Programs & Policy Director
Director Programs & Policy will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for all program areas, and manages the implementation of work that seeks to fulfill public policy and programmatic goals. S/he crafts strategies and provides strategic and contextual advice and counsel regarding policy and programmatic issues, has a solid understanding of health care policy in general and mental health and addiction policy specifically, and develops deep knowledge of each project and program operations. The Director is a member of the senior management team that drives the overall strategy for the organization and represents The Kennedy Forum Illinois on a local, regional, and national basis.
Responsibilities
Program Leadership & Management
●With the ED and Board of Directors enhance, flesh out, and implement organizational vision as established in The Kennedy Forum Illinois's Strategic Plan.
●Ensure ongoing programmatic excellence.
●Demonstrate consistent quality of finance and administration, fundraising, communications and systems; recommend timelines and resources needed to achieve the program goals.
●Cultivate relationships with philanthropy and programmatic funders to support programs and the growth of The Kennedy Forum Illinois.
●Work with staff to develop systems to ensure consistent, high-quality project management.
●Provide leadership in development of inter-team communication and cohesiveness, sustaining culture and supporting staff during organizational growth.
Policy
●Serve as an expert technical and policy resource and strategic advisor, internally and externally, to advance legislative, regulatory, and business policies and practices that advance The Kennedy Forum’s mission.
●Write up findings, recommendations, briefings etc. that can be shared with stakeholders and disseminated to impact public policy and assist partners in their work.
●Play a lead role in the relationships with stakeholders, including providers, advocates, civic & community leaders and business.
●Play lead role in developing and maintaining KFI relationships with key stakeholders in the policy community, including policymakers, think tanks, business associations and issue coalitions.
●Ensure KFI Lobbying Disclosure compliance.
●Provide timely and informative analysis regarding relevant policy developments.
External Relationships:
●Proactively partner with community, businesses, academia and governments, reaching out to new stakeholders, engaging diverse perspectives and expertise from around the state and the nation.
●Connect and champion others - linking experts, healthcare providers and payers, community and civic influencers, corporate executives and government officials, journalists, and people who live with mental health and addiction challenges to each other to advance opportunities for transformative change.
●Shape debate, craft common agendas and promote strategic alignment to align political will, financial support and evidence-based practice with demonstrated need.
●Guide collaboration by providing project management, technical and policy expertise, and platforms for discussion and convening.
●Challenge, question and push for better, stronger leadership, solutions, and pace of process.
Knowledge Management:
●Develop the necessary systems, processes, and tools to better support the facilitation, collection, and sharing of knowledge that is generated by the programs.
●Develop dissemination system to share organizational learning with a broad range of communities.
●Ensure that key project outcomes and/or policy, advocacy, and legislation are evaluated and leveraged for maximum community and organizational impact.
Qualifications
The Director of Programs & Policy will be passionate about The Kennedy Forum Illinois' mission. All candidates should have demonstrated leadership, coaching, and relationship management experience and strong demonstrated success working with stakeholders - including policymakers, experts and advocates. Specific requirements include:
●Program Leadership and Management: The ideal candidate will have a track record of effectively leading a performance-based and outcome-based programs. She or he will have developed and operationalized strategies that have taken a program or organization to the next stage of growth.
●Knowledge of the health care system and policy. Ideally, he/she will have worked in the healthcare space, and have a keen understanding of behavioral health issues, health systems and finance and public health.
●Exceptional communication and influencing skills: As a voice/advocate of The Kennedy Forum Illinois, he/she will have strong written and verbal communication skills. She or he will be a kind, persuasive, credible, and authentic communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills. Ideally, this person will have served as an effective spokesperson.
●Experience managing coalitions of stakeholders, convening disparate groups, working with diverse groups of people and grasstops organizing.
●Advanced degree, with at least 10 years of policy/program experience
●Integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed with demonstrated passion for The Kennedy Forum Illinois's mission
●Strong analytical skills; basic business intuition.
Contact: Kelly O'Brien, , 312-532-4881
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