Senior Equity & Quality Specialist

Covered California; California (MO); On-site; USD 81,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

Covered California’s Health Equity and Quality Transformation Division seeks a senior specialist to lead health-improvement initiatives in California. The role focuses on advancing equity, quality and value-based care within the quality improvement program for Qualified Health Plans.

The Health Program Specialist II will design, implement, and evaluate strategies, translate policy into actionable requirements, and collaborate with internal teams and external partners in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience leading complex cross-functional workstreams with multiple stakeholders in fast-paced policy or health-care environments.
• Knowledge of advanced primary care models, delivery system reform, and value-based care strategies.
• Strong understanding of the ACA, California health care landscape, and roles of health plans and public agencies in improving quality and affordability.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex information and translate into actionable recommendations.
• Advanced degree in public health, public policy, health administration, health services research, or closely related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional workstreams, translating policy into actionable requirements.
• Design, implement, and evaluate quality improvement and health equity initiatives.
• Collaborate with health plans, issuers, and external partners to advance equity and quality.
• Review plan data submissions and support benchmark development and performance measurement.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Policy expertise

Analytical thinking

Delivery system reform

Value-based care knowledge

Education

Advanced degree in health policy or related field

Job description

Become a part of Covered California’s Senior Equity & Quality Specialist

Join the Covered California team!

At Covered California, we recognize our employees are our most valuable asset. We have a variety of career fields that help make a difference in the lives of Californians, and we’re looking for talented and enthusiastic individuals to join our team! Learn more about why you should join the Equity and Quality Transformation Division.

Covered California works to improve the health of all Californians by assuring access to affordable, high-quality care. Since opening in 2014, it has helped more than four million people obtain health coverage and currently supports about 1.7 million Californians. As the first state-based marketplace, Covered California has played a leading role in implementing the Affordable Care Act in California.

The Health Equity and Quality Transformation Division (EQT) advances Covered California’s health equity and quality agenda. EQT is a high-impact, high-visibility team that helps shape both statewide and national conversations on health care quality and equity.

The Health Program Specialist II serves as a senior subject matter expert within Covered California’s Health Equity and Quality Transformation Division, supporting the Quality Improvement team’s work to advance health care quality, equity, and delivery system reform. Under the direction of the Health Program Manager II, this role helps design, implement, and evaluate components of Covered California’s quality improvement and health equity agenda for Qualified Health Plans and Qualified Dental Plans.

This position is ideal for someone who can lead complex workstreams, translate policy and evidence into actionable requirements, and collaborate across teams and external partners. The HPS II conducts research and analysis, reviews plan data submissions, helps establish performance benchmarks, and supports strategies that improve care quality and reduce disparities for Covered California members.

Within the Quality Improvement team, HPS II staff often lead subject-matter areas such as behavioral health, maternal health, advanced primary care, affordability, hospital quality and safety, disparities reduction, and quality measurement. They also play key roles in contract and certification development, issuer accountability, quality improvement programs, and engagement with health plans and other stakeholders.

The work requires strong critical thinking, project management, relationship-building, diplomacy, and the ability to independently move complex initiatives forward in a fast-paced and highly collaborative environment.

This position is headquartered in Los Angeles County at 1000 N. Alameda St., Suite 406, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Business travel may be required, and reimbursement considers an employee’s designated headquarters office subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. Travel expenses associated with commuting to the employee’s office headquarters location are not reimbursable, other than authorized transit subsidies.

NOTE: To be considered for this job opportunity, applicants must be reachable on an employment list, have transfer eligibility, or have reinstatement eligibility. If you are new to California State service and you do not have list eligibility, you must take the exam for this classification. To gain employment list eligibility, please click here to access the exam bulletin.

Possession of minimum qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If it is determined an applicant does not meet the minimum qualifications, the applicant's name may be removed from the eligibility list.

Covered California does not provide visa sponsorship and is not an E-Verify employer.

Effective July 1, 2025, in response to the budget deficit, the Department of Human Resources (CalHR) has implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025). PLP 2025 requires that each full-time employee working their assigned work schedule receive a 3 percent reduction in pay in exchange for 5 hours of PLP 2025 leave credits monthly through June 30, 2027.

Health Program Specialist II

$7,276.00 - $9,107.00

Application Deadline: 9/18/2026 @ 11:59 pm PST

Required Documents: Application and Statement of Qualifications (SOQ)

Qualifications We’re Looking For:

• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional workstreams with multiple stakeholders, timelines, and deliverables in a fast-paced policy, health care, or quality improvement environment.
• Knowledge of advanced primary care models, delivery system reform, and value-based care strategies, including experience applying these concepts in program, policy, contract, or performance improvement work.
• Knowledge of the Affordable Care Act, California’s health care landscape, and the role of health plans, purchasers, and public agencies in advancing quality, equity, and affordability.
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills, including the ability to interpret complex information, identify key issues, synthesize findings, and develop clear, actionable recommendations.
• Advanced degree in public health, public policy, health administration, health services research, or a closely related field.

Minimum Qualifications for Health Program Specialist

• Health Program Specialist – Class specs

Employee Benefits:

Covered California provides incredible benefits for our employees, including healthcare, retirement and savings, work-life services, leave benefits, and work-life balance. To learn more, visit https://hbex.coveredca.com/careers/benefits/.

Note:

• New to state civil service employees are typically hired at the minimum of the salary range