Senior Fellow, Center Health Equity

DATE EFFECTIVE: May 8, 2024

DATE REVISED: May 8, 2024

LOCATION: Hybrid/Washington DC Metro Area

TRAVEL: Moderate

JOB CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

The NAACP Empowerment Programs, Inc., a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization for equal rights seeks a Senior Fellow, Center for Health Equity who is a dynamic and innovative. At the NAACP, Senior Fellows are content experts assigned to a core programming area, who contribute to the overall strategic direction of the Association. Senior Fellows are thought partners to the Center Directors, serving as strategists and as part of their brain trust.

Additionally, Senior Fellows hold the primary task to conceptualize, develop, and execute projects and initiatives centered around the Black experience.

The ideal candidate has the capacity to develop a compelling view of the future of health equity and how the NAACP can address rapidly evolving challenges in the field. The candidate has expertise in and expansive knowledge of health and well-being issues, public health and population health science, the political determinants of health, and clinical prevention. An ability to problem solve and think critically and a high level of emotional intelligence is required.

A proven track record in developing, implementing, executing, and evaluating impactful strategies with measurable outcomes to achieve defined goals is also necessary. The candidate should demonstrate success managing projects that involve multiple parties and people with diverse backgrounds and positions.

Health equity is best defined and operationalized as the assurance of the conditions for optimal health for all people; in this action frame, health equity is the pursuit of health justice, racial justice, and intersectional justice, especially for communities that have been historically excluded and marginalized in American society and culture. Centered on a whole person, whole community, whole ecosystem approach, the Senior Fellow, Center for Health Equity will work to execute on the mandate to drive equitable health outcomes and transform health care systems through a comprehensive socioeconomic approach and four strategic pillars and to identify and carry out policy and issue advocacy corresponding to:

• Equitable, quality health care and health outcomes
• Equitable food systems
• Inclusive healthcare system and infrastructure
• Healthy people, healthy communities, and health in all policies

• Act as the ambassador for the Association in the field to many important constituencies.
• Assess policy, social, cultural, and economic developments to identify priorities and help shape the Center’s strategy, advocacy and to guide its programming.
• Manage, coach, galvanize, and work closely with a nimble team in developing, monitoring, and evaluating integrated approaches contributing to the overall strategy.
• Maintain effective ties and promote strategic partnerships with local leaders, governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations, and others to leverage new resources, scale impact, and advance the work.
• Works closely with other Centers of Innovation to integrate various aspects of the work.
• Provide intellectual leadership, internally and externally.
• Manage ambiguity and devise timely solutions, even when a clear path is not evident.
• Foster strong and continuous communication across the Chief Strategy Office.
• Partner with Learning and Impact to measure and evaluate efforts and outcomes.
• Lead an ongoing process of continuous improvement and learning.
• Provide high-level technical assistance to state conferences, units, and NAACP committees, including consultation on key issues and initiatives.
• Articulate change strategies and convene key stakeholders as appropriate.

Education/Professional Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant or equivalent experience preferred.
• Minimum of three to five years’ experience in relevant fields; including direct industry experience, direct industry experience, experience in non-profit, policy, advocacy or other civil rights organizations. Graduate-level internships and fellowships are considered acceptable professional experience as well.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in written and oral communication.
• Experience in engaging in external partnerships and collaborations with foundations, non-profits, corporations, and other key stakeholders.
• Proven background in project management and grant reporting.
• Proven ability to support cutting-edge research projects and engage with broad diverse audiences.
• Experience with SAGE Intacct,  and/or ADP is preferred; and
• Advanced level of MS products, cloud-based accounting software preferred.