Health Care Advocate

High Value Health Care Advocate, OSPIRG

Portland, OR

OSPIRG seeks a High Value Health Care Advocate to help lead our campaigns to address the high cost of health care in Oregon. While the debate around health care usually focuses on improving access and affordability, the root problem is the underlying cost of care. We’re working to lower out of control prescription drugs costs, address runaway hospital prices, and stop unfair medical bills.

OSPIRG has a 50-year history of consumer advocacy in Oregon, advancing policy solutions to solve problems that affect our health, our safety and our well-being. The health care advocate will work closely with our national health care program director, our state director, and our network of coalition partners and volunteers to make sure Oregonians’ spending on health care results in better health outcomes.

Key responsibilities

• Program Development: Help develop programs and campaigns around relevant health care policy, including researching the issue, creating viable policy solutions, and proposing the right political strategy and messaging.
• Advocacy: Represent OSPIRG in legislative meetings and hearings. Build relationships with players in key regulatory agencies, the Governor’s office, the Capitol and more.
• Campaign Strategy: Develop plans to win our campaigns; assess opportunities for building political support for our agenda through coalition-building, grassroots organizing, media coverage, and message development.
• Fundraising: Write grant proposals, build relationships with foundation staff, and meet with major donors, all to bring more resources to our campaigns.
• Recruitment & Training Recruit new staff, interns and volunteers to increase our impact and build our power. Oversee interns to develop and implement work plans, provide training and leadership development opportunities.

This position requires exercising discretion and independent judgment in making decisions in matters of significance.

Qualifications

Candidates should have at least 2 years of relevant professional experience, including (but not limited to) work in political, policy, legal, journalistic or government settings. Qualified candidates will have a demonstrated commitment to public interest or consumer issues and to citizen-based social change, as well as a track record of leadership and an ability to drive significant projects. We're looking for people who are goal-driven and results-oriented, who have excellent verbal, written and analytical skills, the ability to speak persuasively in a charged atmosphere, and who are driven to make positive policy change.

Compensation and Benefits

The starting compensation range for this position for someone with 2-5 years of relevant experience is $37,000-$40,000. OSPIRG offers an excellent benefits package. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, paid time off, our commuter benefit program, a 401(k) plan with employer match, parental leave, long term disability insurance, and may include needs-based student loan assistance. We also offer an excellent training program and opportunities for advancement.

Location: Portland, OR

Apply

Apply online here: https://jobs.publicinterestnetwork.org/postings/344964ff-e058-4880-a634-a0da7c4273d4

Why work with OSPIRG? Check out 10 reasons: https://ospirg.org/why-work-with-us/

About OSPIRG

OSPIRG is the Oregon State Public Interest Research Group and is an advocate for the public interest. We speak out for the public and stand up to special interests on problems that affect the public's health, safety and wellbeing.

How is it possible that, in the richest country the world has ever seen, dissatisfaction is rising and life expectancy is lower than in any other high-income country? Is it just inequality? Or could it be that, in the name of producing and consuming more "stuff," we’ve lost sight, as a society, of what really matters -- including health, wellbeing, community, and a clean environment?

OSPIRG’s mission is to spotlight these problems and find new solutions. Let's make more stuff reusable, repairable and recyclable, instead of single-use and designed for obsolescence. Let's choose conservation and renewable energy over fossil fuels. Let's value clean air and water over short-term profits and lower costs. Let's grow food that nurtures us as well as the land, with fewer pesticides, antibiotics and other quick fixes.

Getting governments and corporations to make these choices is hard, and steps in the right direction are almost always small. But we have a 50-year track record of training and putting even our newest staff in a position to overcome powerful interests and win real results for the public interest.

Our Mission and Values

OSPIRG is part of The Public Interest Network, which operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to social change. Visit https://ospirg.org/core-values/ to learn more about our network before you apply.

OSPIRG is an equal opportunity employer.

COVID-19: We take COVID-19 safety very seriously. Employees must follow our COVID safety protocols and be fully vaccinated and boosted. Accommodations are provided to the extent required by law.