Company: Association for Behavioral Healthcare
Job description:
For more than 40 years, the Association for Behavioral Healthcare (ABH) has been the leading advocacy organization in Massachusetts’ mental health and addiction services arena. Fighting for high-quality, community-based care for families and individuals with mental illness, addiction and substance-use disorders, ABH provides leadership on important public policy, financing, regulatory, and programmatic issues.
ABH is a statewide association representing eighty community-based mental health and addiction treatment provider organizations. Our members are the primary providers of publicly-funded behavioral healthcare services in the Commonwealth, serving approximately 81,000 Massachusetts residents daily and over three-quarters of a million residents annually, and employing 37,500 people.
ABH represents its member providers to funding, legislative and regulatory agencies at the state and national levels and has become a powerful and compelling advocacy organization to ensure that citizens throughout the Commonwealth have access to quality, comprehensive community-based care.
ABH has had important leadership roles in key legislative and policy successes, including the state’s landmark rate setting law (Chapter 257 of the Acts of 2008), substance use disorder treatment access law (Chapter 258 of the Acts of 2014), and mental healthcare access law (Chapter 177 of the Acts of 2022.
More information about ABH is available on our website: www.abhmass.org.
Position Summary:
The Public Policy Manager is responsible for working with the President/CEO, ABH’s external lobbying team and the Board of Directors to design and implement ABH’s public policy agenda, particularly as they relate to public and private insurance coverage of behavioral health services. ABH is intensifying its focus on insurance coverage, and payment policies for mental health and addiction treatment services as a critical component in expanding access to care.
Reports to: President/CEO
Position Responsibilities:
● Staffs and oversees portfolio of member-based operational and/or policy committees.
● Work with the President/CEO to develop and implement advocacy strategies relating to state and federal government budgets, legislation, regulations, programs, and other initiatives.
● Provides leadership and support to President/CEO and Board on areas of strategic focus or political complexity, including workforce development and retention and criminal justice and makes recommendations in furtherance of Association’s agenda.
● Portfolio management includes the following:
o Develops broad content expertise on issues, identifying ABH members to serve as experts for advocacy with policy makers as needed.
o Represents ABH in policy and/or advocacy coalitions.
Researches, writes, and disseminates legislation, action alerts, memos, letters, position documents, and periodic updates for members, as well as external circulation on issues of critical importance related to portfolio.
o Monitors, daily, legislation via professional legislative-tracking services and identify those related to ABH’s legislative priorities.
o Oversees the tracking, analysis, development, and dissemination of the state budget at every step of annual budget setting process.
o Oversees the development of legislative, budgetary, and select regulatory testimony.
o Works with Committee Chairs to set meeting agendas and invite strategically selected speakers; prepare and distribute notices, reminders, minutes, and other materials.
o Convenes and/or chairs issue-focused subcommittees and workgroups as needed.
o Presents general or topical updates on issues of interest at monthly Board meetings and to all members as needed.
o Follows-up on tasks recommended or positions adopted by the committee.
o Promotes each committee’s agenda both within and outside the committee.
● Provides related member services and serve as resource to members and staff on current issues and developments in the behavioral healthcare policy arena.
● Presents public testimony before legislative and regulatory bodies as necessary.
● Works collaboratively with ABH’s contracted state and federal government relations consulting firms under the supervision of the President/CEO.
● Serves as staff lead to and partner with advocacy partners and coalitions.
● Works in collaboration with national provider association public policy staffs to further the interests of ABH members at the federal level.
● Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
● Bachelor’s degree plus at least two years of directly related experience in a nonprofit or governmental environment.
● Experience working within a legislative, regulatory, and/or governmental agency is required.
● Demonstrated expertise in state legislative process, including state budget process.
● Exceptional written/oral communication skills, strong research skills, and the ability to develop compelling arguments based on information available.
● A self-starter with the ability to work independently; but also operate as an integral part of a strong team of professionals.
● Computer literacy and working knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and database software.
● Valid driver’s license and access to motor vehicle. Extensive in-state travel required as in-person association business resumes.
Preferred Qualifications
● Previous work as Massachusetts legislative staff strongly preferred.
● Master’s degree in related field is preferred.
● In-depth familiarity with mental health and addiction aspects of health and human service policy and associated federal and state programs is preferred but not essential.
Who Should Apply
We believe that a diverse team makes a strong team. ABH encourages people from all backgrounds to apply.
Candidates who are flexible, team-oriented, and highly responsive to internal and external constituents are best suited to the ABH environment.
The ideal candidate for this position believes that:
• Access to high quality mental health and substance use disorder treatment and recovery services is essential to healthy individuals, families and communities.
• The Commonwealth and the nation can do more to improve access to services.
• Short and long-term policy and operational successes are important.
• Provider associations and their members bring strength to policy advocacy.
• Delivering prompt and informed services to member organizations is essential to strong association and strong advocacy.
Position Type
This is a full-time position. Hybrid work mode is option, with regular required office attendance of at least two days per week.
ABH Offers:
• A great environment with smart and passionate individuals working as a team.
• Competitive compensation
• Medical and Dental Insurance
• Long and Short Term Disability and Life Insurance
• Contributory 401(k)
• 12 Paid Holidays
Employer’s Rights
ABH reserves the right to revise, change or reclassify this job description at any time in accordance with ABH’s business needs. This job description is not an implied contract.
To Apply:
Send resume and cover letter to the link below.
No calls or emails, please.
Job type: Full Time
Fully remote: Hybrid
Salary range: $68,000-$78,000
Location: Framingham Massachusetts