The National Council on Aging (NCOA) has announced an opening for the Director of Health Coverage and Benefits position in its Arlington, VA/Crystal City office.
The Director of Health Coverage and Benefits oversees the Center for Benefits Access (CBA) work portfolio comprised of programs, products, services, and initiatives that help older adults and marginalized persons access health care, with a primary focus on Medicare beneficiaries and dual eligible populations that have limited income and assets. The Director is responsible for portfolio management and operational oversight, including financial performance for the portfolio, supporting business and partnership development within the portfolio, staff mentorship and development, and setting and executing a strategy that builds NCOA’s capabilities, offerings, and brand in the market.
The Health Coverage and Benefits team supports and collaborates with federal and state agencies, corporate partners and funders, and national, regional, and local nonprofits and CBOs. Examples of key focus areas and partnership types include:
- Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS)/Extra Help
- Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs)
- Medicare Preventive Services
- Original Medicare and Medicare Parts C and D
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
The Health Coverage and Benefits team also co-leads the National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment (NCBOE), which provides technical assistance to states, AAAs, ADRC/NWDs, SHIPs, and other community service providers to support their work with Medicare beneficiaries, particularly those in the greatest economic need. In support of NCBOE the team is responsible for:
- Providing online tools and resources that help Medicare beneficiaries identify and apply for the full range of benefits that they are eligible to receive.
- Supporting Benefits Enrollment Centers within public agencies and community-based organizations, including faith-based organizations and coalitions.
- Developing and maintaining an information clearinghouse on best practices and cost-effective methods for finding and enrolling beneficiaries.
- Provides training and technical assistance on effective outreach, screening, enrollment, and follow-up strategies.
Positions at this level typically report to a senior director and require advanced knowledge and experience as well as strong management capabilities. Incumbents are required to exercise latitude and judgement within their scope of work and require minimal oversight. Incumbents generally have eight or more years of experience in their discipline and a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent, as well as substantive experience at this level. Graduate level degrees may be considered in lieu of experience.
COMPETENCIES AND EXPECTATIONS
- Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; analyzes market and competition; identifies external threats and opportunities; adapts strategy to changing conditions.
- Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
- Managing People - Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; takes responsibility for subordinates' activities; makes self-available to staff; provides regular performance feedback; develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth; solicits and applies customer feedback (internal and external); fosters quality focus in others; improves processes, products, and services.; continually works to improve supervisory skills.
- Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict; maintains confidentiality; listens to others without interrupting; keeps emotions under control; remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
- Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions and profitability; demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; aligns work with strategic goals.
- Ethics - Treats people with respect; works with integrity; upholds organizational values.
- Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process; makes timely decisions.
- Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives; organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; develops realistic action plans.
- Leadership - Exhibits confidence in self and others; inspires and motivates others to perform well; effectively influences actions and opinions of others; accepts feedback from others; gives appropriate recognition to others.
- Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; educates others on the value of diversity; promotes a harassment-free environment; builds a diverse & equitable workforce.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide successful and accurate planning, execution, and oversight of multi-million-dollar portfolio of projects, which include numerous programs, products, services, and initiatives.
- Closely monitor and forecast financial performance and proactively take steps to mitigate risks, right-size teams, or take other mitigation steps when necessary.
- Manage deliverables and proactively monitor performance across the portfolio to ensure NCOA meets or exceeds performance and outcomes for grants within the portfolio and across CBA.
- Participate in strategic planning and visioning sessions and lead ad hoc strategic efforts. Manage and improve existing reporting systems with senior specialists to ensure quality assurance and proper documentation for grant compliance.
- Partner with the CBA leadership team to analyze market trends and identify opportunities/threats. Develop plans to achieve CBA’s and NCOA’s objectives related to its Equity Promise, revenue, presence, social impact targets, and other key measures.
- Embrace fiduciary responsibilities and model behaviors that demonstrate the professional pursuit of NCOA’s long-term financial goals and health.
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with existing funders, philanthropic and corporate sponsors, clients, consumers, and partners to ensure their needs and expectations are met.
- Work with the CBA Senior Director, NCOA’s Business Development team, and multiple other NCOA departments and staff to achieve growth in revenue and diversification among existing and across new funders, and enhance existing and cultivate new partnerships, with emphasis on portfolio area goals and in support of CBA- and NCOA- wide goals.
- Lead initiatives that drive long-term growth, including new initiatives, pilots, and partnerships nationally and, at times, regional or local areas. This includes developing new and enhancing existing programs, products, and services that are (1) evidence-based or guided by promising practices; (2) that show demonstrable impact on target communities and populations; and (3) for which there is sufficient evidence that the new or enhanced activity will add revenue to and be sustainable within CBA’s portfolio.
- Prepare and deliver executive presentations to senior leadership teams within NCOA and to external partners.
- Mentor and coach staff; maximize productivity, provide constructive feedback and guidance, identify and address performance concerns and areas for growth and progress, and support professional and career development.
- Other responsibilities as assigned.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree requied; master's degree (e.g. MPH, MPP, etc.) highly desirable.
- Minimum of 8 years of supervisory experience.
- 8-10 years of relevant work experience related to Medicare.
- 8-10 years of experience managing and leading federal and state contracts, corporate grants, sponsorships, and contracts, and collaborative efforts with external partners.
- Strong, demonstrable experience with and knowledge of federal, state, and local health coverage assistance programs (e.g., MSP, LIS, Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits, Medicaid), plus a strong understanding of various state and local programs and policies across the country.
- Strong understanding of Social Determinants of Health.
- Experience working with or on behalf of dual-eligibles vulnerable and marginalized populations such as those with limited incomes, BIPOC populations, and persons with disabilities, and understand the ways these groups are served by and access Medicare and Medicaid.
- Experience working with health plans and a strong understanding of health care systems, and the pain points, challenges and opportunities associated with addressing the needs of vulnerable, often high cost, beneficiaries/patient populations, older adults, and Medicare patients/beneficiaries is a plus.
- Understanding of and passion for building trusted-advisor relationships with partners to create tangible results.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with demonstrated intellectual and analytical rigor, including proven ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
- Advanced oral and written communication skills, including exceptional presentation, public speaking, negotiation, and interpersonal skills. Assertive and persuasive communication with an ability to communicate technical concepts and ideas succinctly to partners, funders, and senior level executives.
- Ability to manage a high level of daily communication with peers and junior teammates and be externally facing with a clear sense of audiences.
- Solid professional presence and operational instincts; strong strategic skills and sound business judgment.
- Financial acumen to manage budgets.
- Significant experience managing relationships with funders.
- Proficiency in MS Office and SharePoint, Salesforce, project management platforms, web-based platforms, and other tools.
- Willingness and ability to be actively present at the work location two (2) times per week as the role requires.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Occasionally required to sit.
- Occasionally required to walk.
- Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.
- Occasionally required to talk or hear.
- Occasionally required to bend, lift or climb stairs.
- Occasionally required to lift light weights (less than 25 pounds).
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- The noise level in the work environment usually is moderate.
NCOA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion. We are committed to a work environment that supports, inspires, and respects all individuals and in which personnel processes are merit-based and applied without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, national or ethnic origin, military service status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. NCOA believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.