Policy and Advocacy Program Manager

Policy and Advocacy Program Manager

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Department: Medicine - Division of Hospital Medicine

Position #: 00847379 - Requisition #: 39725

Job Summary:

Join a nationally relevant advocacy and health policy research team at the University of Colorado in the Department of Medicine dedicated to advancing civic professionalism through scholarship, education, and systems-level change. This initiative is grounded in the belief that advocacy is a core component of medical professionalism and seeks to equip health professionals to move from observers to empowered advocates.

The Policy and Advocacy Program Manager will lead the day-to-day operations of advocacy informed research studies, policy and program evaluations, and advocacy education and training initiatives. This role will oversee projects from study start-up through closeout, including multi-stakeholder coordination, qualitative and quantitative data collection and management, quality oversight, budgeting, and timeline management. The Policy and Advocacy Program Manager will also play a central role in translating findings into advocacy and policy relevant deliverables for community partners, health systems, advocacy organizations, and academic audiences.

Operating with a high degree of independence, the Policy and Advocacy Program Manager will serve as the primary operational lead for the advocacy and health policy research team and work closely with the Principal Investigator to shape strategic priorities, support clinician mentorship, and advance a broader vision for advocacy as an essential component of medical professionalism.

Beyond operational leadership, this role offers substantial opportunities for professional growth, including co-authorship on peer-reviewed publications, participation as a co-investigator on advocacy and health policy projects, and meaningful contributions to the design, implementation, and dissemination of advocacy training curricula. Candidates with an MPH (or related degree) and/or PhD who are motivated to deepen their impact at the intersection of research, education, and social change are strongly encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end advocacy and health policy research initiatives, including qualitative, mixed methods, and program evaluation studies focused on equity and systems change.
• Design and oversee research execution, including development of interview/focus group protocols, data collection, coding workflows, and synthesis of findings.
• Drive cross-sector partnerships with community organizations, policymakers, and health system stakeholders to ensure aligned goals, shared accountability, and impactful outcomes.
• Translate research into policy and practice by developing briefs, toolkits, training curricula, and other advocacy-focused deliverables.
• Manage project operations and compliance, including budgets, timelines, IRB processes, data systems (e.g., REDCap), and reporting requirements.
• Contribute to funding and dissemination efforts, including grant writing and co-authoring manuscripts, abstracts, and presentations.

Work Location:

Hybrid - this role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of 3 days per week on campus and as needed for in-person meetings.

Why Join Us:

The advocacy and health policy program brings together community partnership, rigorous research, and actionable advocacy to advance policy change and improve the health and well-being of socially marginalized communities. The program is grounded in a commitment to reducing health disparities, advancing civic professionalism, and translating evidence into real-world impact across clinical, community, and policy settings. This role is ideal for individuals who are deeply motivated by health policy advocacy, value collaborative and community-engaged approaches, and are eager to contribute to scholarship, education, and mentorship that equips clinicians and stakeholders to drive meaningful systems change. Joining this team offers the opportunity to help shape a growing, nationally relevant program designed to strengthen advocacy as a core component of medical professionalism and to contribute to measurable progress in reducing health disparities.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in public health or a directly related field from an accredited institution.
• Four (4) years of professional experience managing research, advocacy, or policy projects with IRB/regulatory responsibilities.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's or PhD in Public Health, Health Policy, Implementation Science, Sociology, Public Administration, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Experience with advocacy informed and/or policy focused research, including translating evidence into policy relevant products or action.
• Experience with community engaged and participatory research methods, including working with community advisory groups and cross sector partners.
• Experience developing and delivering advocacy or health policy curricula and training programs, including coordination across multiple sites or audiences.
• Previous experience produce policy facing deliverables such as policy briefs, legislative summaries, implementation guides, or toolkits.
• Experience managing qualitative and mixed methods research workflows, including familiarity with REDCap, data management systems, and IRB processes across institutions.
• Formal project management training or certification (e.g., PMP, Lean/Six Sigma, Scrum).
• Professional experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
• Professional experience with advocacy research methods, implementation science frameworks, and approaches to measuring health equity and health disparities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of qualitative and mixed-methods research design and implementation, including community-engaged and advocacy-informed methodologies.
• Understanding of health advocacy, health policy processes, and systems-level approaches to reducing health disparities, including the ability to translate research findings into policy-relevant messages, tools, and strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to build, engage, and maintain productive relationships with diverse stakeholders, including community partners, advocacy organizations, health system leaders, educators, and policymakers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to produce clear, compelling scientific and policy-focused writing (e.g., manuscripts, policy briefs, reports) and to facilitate meetings, trainings, and collaborative discussions.
• High-level organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, timelines, and deliverables in dynamic, multidisciplinary, and policy-oriented environments.
• Strong judgment, problem-solving skills, and ability to work independently while partnering closely with faculty leadership on strategic priorities.
• Demonstrated experience guiding teams through complex workflows, coordinating across institutions or sites, and supporting mentorship and capacity-building in advocacy and research settings.
• Working knowledge of IRB processes, regulatory requirements, and ethical conduct of research, including experience maintaining documentation, SOPs, and data systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and collaboration/project management tools (e.g., Teams, Asana, Trello), and familiarity with data systems such as REDCap and dashboard or reporting tools.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as $70,836 - $85,000.