Position Summary
Western Center offers an opportunity for an experienced and enthusiastic advocate to join our successful and dedicated team to work in a unique multi-strategy position on a variety of issues critical to improve health outcomes and significantly reduce health disparities impacting parents, expecting parents, and infants and children of low-income and BIPOC communities in California. This position will have a particular focus on the health of Black women, birthing people and infants.
We seek a team member who has experience practicing in diverse forums, thrives in a collegial and dynamic team environment, and is committed to addressing race-based inequities. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong interest in fighting for the health needs and rights of those experiencing poverty.
This position can be based in any of the Western Center offices, with a preference for our Los Angeles or Sacramento offices. Western Center is a hybrid work environment and supports both in-office and remote work.
Responsibilities
• Collaborate with community partners, stakeholders, and agency staff to increase awareness and ensure the proper implementation of the historic (SB 65) momnibus legislation that addresses the health care injustice impacting BIPOC women, birthing people, and infants throughout California.
• Identify and establish collaboration opportunities with partners to support and empower communities experiencing poor birth outcomes.
• Analyze, monitor, and advocate for pertinent administrative policies and regulations that promote best practices that center racial and socioeconomic disparities and racial equity, and account for queer, trans, and gender non-conforming birth outcomes in BIPOC communities.
• Study and provide feedback on legislative and administrative policies and procedures to promote best practices to reduce mortality and morbidity rates for women, birthing people, and infants.
• Collaborate with the Western Center health team and community partners to identify and develop advocacy and outreach strategies to ensure that every person has access to affordable, quality health care.
• Develop and distribute print materials for advocates and know-your-rights resources for birthing people and their providers statewide.
• Respond to requests for information from public officials, agencies, and the media.
• Create and disseminate policy analysis and educational materials to our partners.
• Work with teams to implement initiatives, including work with administrative agencies on guidance and training as appropriate.
• Engage with community groups and coalitions of stakeholders.
• Research and answer technical assistance inquiries from community partners, policymakers, and local legal services advocates in areas of expertise.
• Embrace and participate in internal and external organizational diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Some travel, including overnight travel, may be required.
Qualifications
• A minimum of nine years’ experience (for Senior Advocate position) or a minimum of three years’ experience (for Advocate position) in litigation, policy advocacy, and/or community organizing, preferably in California.
• A commitment to the mission of Western Center, available at www.wclp.org.
• Ability to think creatively, be strategic, and exercise good judgment.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships.
• Ability to develop and work in diverse coalitions in which participants may have multiple interests.
• Ability to work in a team setting but independent enough to be able to implement team objectives effectively outside the team setting.
• Ability to work under time pressure.
• Exemplary ethical standards.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience working with or coming from historically marginalized communities.
• Experience with community-based organizations or nonprofit legal services agencies.
• Knowledge and understanding of California health or public benefits law and policy.
• Knowledge of state and county health benefits and systems.
• Knowledge and experience working with California’s Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Committee, the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Process, Home Visiting Program and/or Medi-Cal.
To promote racial and social justice and achieve our mission, Western Center is committed to maintaining a diverse staff and creating an inclusive and respectful workplace. Western Center strongly encourages applications from persons of color, women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, persons with disabilities, and persons from other underrepresented groups whose background may contribute to effectively representing low-income people and underserved communities.
Applications received by June 15, 2023, will receive priority but applications will be accepted until the position is filled. In your cover letter, please explain how you think your experience or background has prepared you to contribute to a work environment with a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Please email a cover letter, résumé, two writing samples, and a list of references to: [email protected].
NLADA Mutual Insurance Co., RRG
