Manager, Policy and Community Relations

Position Description

The Policy and Community Relations (PCR) Manager serves as a vital member of the team by providing direct management of the department's primary functional and operational processes. The PCR Manager also works to advise and support the Director of PCR in efforts involving strategy development and management of the PCR team. The PCR Manager facilitates the management of key projects of scale and contract deliverables as initiated and/or assigned by the Director. This includes responsibility for constructive and successful outputs of Committee work.

Key Responsibilities

Lead a team of Policy and Community Relations (PCR) staff to achieve department goals:

• Manage policy development projects and verify the quality and effectiveness of department products
• Be a contributing member of the PCR leadership team; collaborate with other managers to achieve collective success.
• Manage, develop, and support a team with combined purpose and focus on outcomes.
• Understand career development goals of team members, provide feedback, and update professional development plans to grow the individual.
• Foster a supportive environment in which team members work together efficiently and effectively.
• Be an active contributor to the PCR leadership team by helping set goals and strategy.
• Foster an environment in which process innovations, continuous improvement, and operational performance assessment become routine.
• Participate in training and teambuilding exercises, as needed.

Advise national committees on policy development process and opportunities for action:

• Work closely with the Director of Policy to help guide committees in the development of evidence-based policy proposals that conform to the frameworks established in the Final Rule and OPTN bylaws.

• Foster the achievement of a consistent policy development process that complies with the OPTN governance and operations plan.
• Be accountable for policy-related products that meet the high standards established by UNOS leadership.

• Methods may include organizing subcommittee work groups, participating in project management teams, planning and hosting national consensus conferences, coordinating public forums, utilizing groupware and related technologies that enable virtual meetings, or other events, meetings, or group methods as appropriate.

Facilitate project management of key initiatives, contract deliverables, and meetings.

• Assist in the generation of various UNOS reports, deliverables, and manage special projects as directed by the Director of PCR.
• Assist the Director of PCR, as needed, in responding to verbal and written inquiries on various topics related to the OPTN. Responses may include face-to-face meetings with leadership of other organizations, members of government agencies, and others.
• Respond to verbal and written inquiries concerning organ procurement and allocation policies.
• Attend and sometime facilitate regional and committee meetings. Travel will often be required for these meetings.

Minimum Requirements

• 5 years of experience in a position that demonstrates progressively responsible competence in health policy, public policy, healthcare-related field, business, and/or research analysis required. 7-10 years of experience preferred.
• 2+ years of experience managing a team required.

Critical Skills

• Policy experience at the federal, state, or healthcare organization level is desirable.
• Relevant experience dealing with both the public and professional health care communities is preferred, particularly in a medical setting.
• Familiarity with the field of organ transplantation is an added benefit, though not required.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Demonstrate ability to assess and address complex policy and political situations (strong analytical skills).
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well with individuals from a wide range of diverse backgrounds, educational levels, and personality types.
• Possess and foster flexibility and enthusiasm in all personal and professional challenges, as well as organizational change.
• Understand and promote process improvement principles and display an honest desire in applying them to the full work environment.
• Proven ability to work in a demanding, fast-paced environment.
• Strong project and process management skills are required.
• Possess the ability to skillfully work with all levels of the organization, senior members of the health care profession, high-level federal officials, and transplant professionals including physicians, surgeons, and management.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills required.
• Demonstrated capacity for successfully preparing and completing formal reports. Advanced Microsoft Office and Adobe skills are helpful.
• Self-motivated, detail-orientated and able to support multiple projects simultaneously.

Education

* 4-year degree in public policy, health care administration, business or related field, or equivalent level of professional work experience required. Advanced degree preferred.

Physical Requirements

• About 10-15% travel required for this role
• General office demands

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Frequent reaching, handling, and fine manipulation for using office equipment, filing, and managing paperwork.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, mouse, and other office tools.
• Occasional standing, walking, and bending.
• Ability to lift up to 10-20 pounds occasionally.
• Vision abilities required include close vision for computer work and reading documents.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

UNOS provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. It will not unlawfully discriminate or permit harassment against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, familial or marital status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, or any other characteristics or classification protected under applicable law ("protected categories"). This policy applies not only to hiring, but also to working conditions, benefits and privileges of employment, training, appointments for advancement, transfers, layoffs, recalls, terminations of employment and all other terms and conditions of employment.

UNOS is also an affirmative action employer. It takes affirmative action to recruit and provide opportunities for advancement to qualified females and minorities, individuals with disabilities, special disabled veterans and other protected veterans. It hires and promotes based on job-related requirements and individual qualifications. Action is taken to ensure the fulfillment of this policy as to all phases of the employment process including hiring, placement, training, upgrading, transfers and/or demotions, recruiting, layoffs and termination of employment.

UNOS invites individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to identify themselves, if they wish to do so. Such communication will be kept as confidential as possible and will be used only in accordance with the law. Candidates may contact the EEO/AA Officer at human.resources@unos.org to self-identify or request an accommodation.

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