GENERAL SUMMARY OF POSITION: 

Under the general direction of a Principal or Senior Associate, the Associate will manage and lead a small team in conducting policy and program development projects that aim to improve access to and quality of health care for underserved populations in Massachusetts and in neighboring states.  The Associate will build and strengthen consultative expertise, analysis, writing, and project leadership for programmatic and policy initiatives requested by CWM’s clients. The Associate may supervise Project managers and Policy Analysts and will contribute to the ongoing development of the Health Law and Policy group. This position will be a three year position supporting the MassHealth Office of Behavioral Health (OBH). The successful candidate will provide OBH with research, writing and policy implementation support in conjunction with major Behavioral Health policy reform efforts.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build and strengthen consultative expertise in health care system improvement to public agencies and non-profit foundations
• Manage team efforts in order to honor commitments to provide CWM clients with expertise in areas such as:  developing health policy, structuring  new legal and financial frameworks, identifying opportunities and requirements under federal health reform, developing new payment systems, and implementing new programs
• Develop written deliverables for clients, relating to client policy initiatives.  Manage small projects and components of larger projects by managing and supervising assigned staff and coordinating efforts of others as assigned.
• Develop project proposals for small projects and components of larger projects including workplans, analytic plans, timelines, and budgets to meet clients’ needs
• Conduct policy analyses using financial, economic, statistical, demographic and clinical data
• Draft presentations, policy recommendations, issues briefs, and reports for review by Principal or Senior Associates
• Present data, analysis and policy recommendations, orally and in writing, to Principal or Senior Associates.  Build presentation skills in order to present in formal settings, including large public meetings
• Build a rapport with and communicate with clients to ensure work products meet clients’ needs
• Review and analyze potential policy, revenue or research projects and business opportunities in areas of subject matter expertise
• Review team members’ work products to ensure that they are thorough, accurate and timely.  May develop, train and supervise assigned staff
• Build and strengthen expertise in and monitor changing federal, national, and state industry indicators
• Learn to monitor client satisfaction and participate in the resolution of client issues
• Contribute to state policy and client agency trend analysis to inform and support CWM executive planning and strategy
• Build and strengthen subject matter advice and expertise and analysis in order to support of top priority projects in other Centers within CWM, as needed
• Support professional development of assigned staff
• Participate in representing CWM at meetings and conferences
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree or comparable level graduate degree in relevant discipline (e.g., public policy, health care financing, health law, public health, health economics, public or business administration with a concentration in health care), or Juris Doctor.
• 5-7 years exceptional performance in related professional work experience 
• Knowledge of the health care delivery system and current health care policy issues
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent quantitative and qualitative analytic skills
• Demonstrated ability to present complex data, analyses and information in easily understood formats
• Demonstrated ability to interpret policy and state and federal regulations
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects and meet deadlines
• Demonstrated experience in computer-based tools, including spreadsheets, database management, word processing, and presentation software.
• Experience in leading projects and/or project teams
• Demonstrated ability to maintain harmonious working relationships with others at all levels of responsibility
• Travel to off-site location required

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Management experience indicating the ability to manage and motivate a small staff
• Knowledge of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
• Knowledge of the Massachusetts acute care system, including the 2006 and 2012 health reform laws, MassHealth and other coverage programs, and major private insurers and health care providers
• Experience with public policies for people with disabilities
• Knowledge of the Massachusetts long-term care system, including payment methods, interactions between Medicare and Medicaid for dual eligible individuals, the service continuum, and major providers
• Knowledge of health care payment methods
• Experience writing project proposals, grants, vendor contracts and other types of business proposals at the local, state and/or federal level or conducting a procurement initiative at a state agency or foundation.
• Experience using statistical software, such as SAS
• Experience analyzing publicly available administrative claims, eligibility, and cost report datasets
• Experience chairing or facilitating large public meetings
• Excellence in work performance, as evidenced by letters of reference, performance awards, or similar indicators

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