Summary
Description
Salary + Benefits: $75,000 – $90,000 annually; 100% employer-paid health, dental, & vision insurance; 401K with 3% employer contribution; monthly phone/internet stipend; hybrid w/ 1 day in-office, flexible work schedule; generous vacation + sick/personal leave + 12 paid holidays + week between Christmas and New Years
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis
Application Deadline: October 15 , 2025
Hire Date: Early to mid-November 2025
To Apply
Email a resume and cover letter with “Director of Policy & Government Relations” in the subject line to: apply@coloradoafp.org l ATTN: Emily Bishop, Executive Vice President & CEO
Summary
The Director of Policy & Government Relations is responsible for directing the CAFP’s Government Relations activities. It is a dynamic role working on behalf of family physicians to enhance their ability to serve patients and to improve Coloradans’ access to equitable and affordable health care. The Director will work with the CAFP contract lobbyist to carry out CAFP’s advocacy agenda. This position represents CAFP in federal and state legislative issues, and undertakes multiple advocacy efforts including coalition-building, arranging testimony at the state Capitol, scheduling and coordinating the Doctors of the Day, regulatory advocacy, health policy research, policy development, CAFP Political Committee and Small Donor Committee fund development and event planning, member outreach, action alerts, report writing, and assisting in media/communications activities.
Responsibilities
- Legislative Advocacy and Policy Development: Staffs the CAFP Legislative Committee and works with CAFP lobbyists to monitor and analyze Colorado state legislation, budget, regulations, policies and issues that affect family physicians and their patients’ health. Help to identify and develop legislation and policy priorities that reflect CAFP’s agenda and devise actions and strategies for these priorities; inform internal departments and CAFP leadership of legislative changes and activities.
- Advocacy: Direct association advocacy by:
- Collaborating with partner organizations on legislative strategy to pass and/or defeat bills
- Promoting CAFP policy in local, state, and federal government
- Elevating health equity in CAFP advocacy objectives and activities
- Advocating alongside and on behalf of patients
- Promoting a public health agenda for the overall health of Coloradans
- Developing an annual legislative agenda
- Member Advocacy/Assistance: Recruit and develop CAFP Family Physician leaders by training them on government/public policy structures and opportunities, and assist with individual member needs.
- Research: Research quantitative and qualitative data and background material to support policy positions; draft and revise recommendations, position papers, articles, and updates.
- Coalition Building: Establish and develop relationships with key elected and appointed officials, community, employer, and physician based organizations, and maintain a network with other health related organizations with similar interests and goals.
- Meetings and Conferences: Attends meetings with external and internal partners in coordination with the EVP & CEO. Organizes representatives and attends American Academy of Family Physicians Family Medicine Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. Manages CAFP Legislative Committee.
- Doctor of the Day: Oversees recruitment, scheduling, and coordination for the Doctor of the Day program at the Capitol. Maintains Doctor of the Day office, equipment, and supplies
- Member Communications: In coordination with communications staff, writes communications to CAFP members on timely legislative issues, including Doctor of the Day and legislative alerts.
- Political Committee & Small Donor Committee Development: Coordinate PC/SDC activities in coordination with the CAFP lobbyist. Develop and implement a fund development plan including identifying and securing new contributors.
Specific Duties:
- Direct, develop, and coordinate strategy and tactical plans, policies, and activities.
- Monitor, review, and summarize legislation important to CAFP programs.
- Establish and maintain good working relationships with key personnel in the legislature, executive branch, regulatory agencies, and representatives of other organizations interested in health care and health policy; contribute to CAFP’s visibility and influence within these bodies.
- Research and write reports, blogs, articles, and other legislative communications.
- Provide primary staff leadership and support to the Legislative Committee, and Political Committee.
- Oversee planning and execution of member education related to legislative affairs and other advocacy topics.
- Write articles for CAFP publications, including Colorado Family Physician magazine, and weekly e-newsletter.
- Assist CAFP’s public relations team with development of communication strategies regarding media relations activities, ensuring a consistent public image and organizational message.
- Effectively communicate committee activities to the EVP & CEO and other organization staff.
- Work interdepartmentally to fulfill strategic plan objectives.
- Participate in organization-wide strategic planning and budget development for areas of responsibility.
- Budget and monitor expenses and income for projects and programs assigned to position
- Provides staff support during CAFP educational conferences and other scheduled meetings as assigned.
- Performs miscellaneous duties as assigned. Assists with the responsibilities of other staff as needed.
Qualifications:
- Experience and understanding of health care policy, social determinants of health, and barriers to health equity. Working knowledge of healthcare system and insurance reform developments, Medicaid, and patient advocacy concerns preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree in political science, public administration, health policy, public health or related field. Four years relevant experience in government/legislative affairs and/or policy preferred but not required. Master’s degree in relevant field a plus.
- Passion for enhancing the lives of family physicians and their patients through a more affordable, equitable, and accessible health care system.
- Strong planning, project, and time management skills.
- Excellent written, verbal, analytic, and presentation skills.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds.
- Highly collaborative, skilled in building and maintaining relationships, and experience working on teams to accomplish work.
- Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Strong leadership skills, self-directed, possesses initiative, able to motivate others, and multitask. • Ability to organize a variety of projects and tasks and complete them effectively and in a timely manner.
- Ability to evaluate situations, identify options and resources, and recommend creative solutions to problems within assigned responsibilities.
- Flexibility to work occasional weekends and evenings as needed.
CAFP Workplace
Travel of up to 15 days per year can be anticipated.
The CAFP represents 2,500 family physicians, residents, and medical students. Our mission is to serve as the bold champion for Colorado’s Family Physicians, patients, and communities through education and advocacy. To learn more about the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians, please visit the website at www.coloradoafp.org.
CAFP is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a work environment that supports diversity and inclusion, and we strongly encourage candidates of all backgrounds and experiences to apply.
