Director of Public Health Watch

Protect Our Care, which has led the fight against efforts to roll back health care access and affordability while working to improve and expand coverage for millions of Americans, is seeking an experienced, energetic, and politically savvy Director of Public Health Watch. The Director of Public Health Watch will work with research, digital, and policy teams to advance the work of Protect Our Care and its recently launched Public Health Watch Project.

The ideal candidate is a strong communications professional comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with experience drafting messaging, statements, fact sheets, talking points, op-eds, and memos, preferably in the area of public health or health care advocacy and policy. The Public Health Watch Project Director will leverage their existing relationships with media, allies, and surrogates in these fields, while working with Protect Our Care colleagues to drive a robust, multi-dimensional national conversation to protect public health.

Position: Director of Public Health Watch

Location: Remote

Status: Exempt, Full-Time, Temporary (1 year)

Reports to: President of Protect Our Care

Comprehensive benefits package included

Responsibilities 

Oversee Protect Our Care’s Public Health Watch Project including:

• Production of press materials, including releases, statements, reports, fact sheets, and memos tracking, analyzing, and calling audiences to action on public health topics
• The creation and distribution of talking points and messaging guidance
• Conducting regular rapid response by identifying opportunities for communicating with the press, public, and allies on critical issues related to vaccines, scientific research into diseases and cures, and public health infrastructure
• Representing the Protect Our Care Public Health Watch Project on calls and at meetings with partner organizations
• Managing and conducting national and local media outreach, planning, and pitching
• Supervising the work of employees of and contractors to the project

Preferred Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• Strong personnel management, writing, and communication skills
• 5+ years experience in communications and press relations, preferably on a campaign, at an advocacy organization, or in government
• Fluency in public health and health policy issues 
• Experience with key national health care and political reporters

Attributes

• Passion for the protection of public health and health care politics and policy
• Energetic, flexible, collaborative, creative, and proactive with a sense of humor
• Extremely well-organized and detail oriented while moving in a fast-paced environment
• A deep understanding of health equity and structural racism
• An ideal candidate would be someone who served in a communications role at HHS, CDC, NIH, FDA or other role in public health advocacy with some campaign and/or rapid response background

Details and Compensation

The position is fully remote and the salary range is $125,000 to $150,000 per year. There will be a preference for candidates living in the Washington, DC area but candidates from any location will be fully considered. This position is considered exempt for overtime purposes. The Public Health Watch Project Director position is a temporary, at-will position supported by grant funding. The role is expected to continue for one year, with any extension contingent upon grant renewal.

Protect Our Care

Protect Our Care is dedicated to making high-quality, affordable and equitable health care a right, and not a privilege, for everyone in America. We educate the public, influence policy, support health care champions and hold politicians accountable. Our strategy combines an action-oriented mentality with a best-in-class earned media and communications program, a highly effective inside game with policy makers, and deep engagement at the state and local level. Learn about the impact of our work here. 

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families). Employees are able to enroll in 401k retirement plans and are eligible for a 3% automatic contribution and up to a 3% employer match on 401k contributions. Employees are also eligible for pre-tax transportation benefits. Employees will receive 120 hours of vacation time, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, and 20 hours of volunteer leave annually. Employees will also receive 13 paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Employees are eligible for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment.

How to Apply

Email your resume and cover letter to jobs@protectourcare.org.

Hiring Statement

Protect Our Care is a project of New Venture Fund (NVF), a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. NVF is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential. NVF’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

NVF participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the United States. Job candidates and employees authorized to work may not be discriminated against on the basis of national origin or citizenship status.

Please send your resume to jobs@protectourcare.org.