Senior Manager, Public Policy

Colorado Hospital Association; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorado Hospital Association is seeking a Public Policy Senior Manager to lead policy development and advocacy across state and federal issues for Colorado hospitals. The role requires rapid policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and clear strategic guidance to CHA members and policymakers, spanning issue identification, strategy, negotiation, and communication.

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years in public policy, a relevant degree, and a track record of cross‑functional collaboration in

Qualifications

• Five or more years of relevant public policy, government affairs, or health policy experience.
• Ability to translate complex policy into actionable advocacy strategies.
• Experience managing multiple projects and external engagement.

Responsibilities

• Develop expertise across a growing portfolio of state and federal health care policy issues.
• Advocate for CHA priorities through testimony, meetings, and coalition engagement.
• Coordinate policy analyses, memos, and talking points for external audiences.

Skills

Policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Written communication

Public policy

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Policy, Health Policy, Political Science, or Law

Master's preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Zoom

Teams

Job description

Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) is the leading voice of Colorado’s hospital and health system community. Representing more than 100 hospitals and health systems throughout the state, CHA serves as a trusted, credible and reliable resource on health issues, hospital data and trends for its members, media, policymakers and the general public. Through CHA, Colorado’s hospitals and health systems work together in their shared commitment to improve health and health care in Colorado. For more information on CHA, visit www.cha.com.

Position Summary

The Public Policy Senior Manager supports the development and execution of the Colorado Hospital Association’s public policy and advocacy priorities across legislative, regulatory, and federal policy. The Manager serves as a policy expert, project lead, member convener, and advocate on a dynamic portfolio of health care issues.

This position is responsible for quickly developing expertise on complex and emerging policy issues; engaging members to identify priorities and develop solutions; translating complex policy into actionable advocacy strategies; and representing CHA and Colorado hospitals with policymakers, regulators, stakeholders, and coalition partners.

The successful candidate will be a versatile public policy professional who can independently manage complex projects from issue identification and policy development through advocacy, negotiation, communication, and implementation.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop expertise across an evolving portfolio of state and federal health care policy issues; monitor emerging developments and identify opportunities, risks, and implications for hospitals.
• Analyze complex policy proposals and translate legislative, regulatory, operational, financial, and political considerations into clear recommendations and advocacy strategies.
• Develop proactive and defensive policy solutions with CHA leadership, members, and subject-matter experts, identifying practical paths forward in complex or rapidly changing environments.

Member Engagement & Policy Development

• Convene and facilitate members and subject-matter experts to gather input, navigate differing perspectives, build consensus, and develop member-driven policy positions.
• Serve as a trusted policy resource to member hospitals, providing strategic guidance on policy developments, implementation considerations, and advocacy opportunities.
• Develop member education and engagement opportunities that translate complex issues into actionable information and strengthen participation in the policymaking process.

Advocacy & External Engagement

• Represent CHA and Colorado hospitals with legislators, regulators, federal policymakers, coalitions, stakeholder organizations, and other external audiences.
• Advocate for CHA priorities through testimony, public comments, policymaker meetings, negotiations, coalition engagement, and other legislative and regulatory forums.
• Build productive relationships and negotiate practical solutions that advance hospital priorities while navigating political realities and diverse stakeholder interests.

Strategic Communications

• Translate complex policy issues into clear, accessible, and actionable information for members, policymakers, stakeholders, and other audiences.
• Draft high-quality policy analyses, memos, talking points, testimony, comment letters, fact sheets, advocacy alerts, presentations, and other strategic materials.
• Develop and continually adapt compelling communications that effectively articulate CHA positions and tell the story of Colorado hospitals.
• Independently manage a significant and evolving portfolio of public policy initiatives from issue identification and strategy development through advocacy, implementation, and evaluation.
• Coordinate complex projects involving members, CHA staff, consultants, policymakers, and external stakeholders while maintaining clear timelines, documentation, decision points, and deliverables.
• Take ownership of emerging priorities and special projects, proactively identifying risks, resolving challenges, and improving advocacy and member-engagement processes.

Organizational Collaboration

• Collaborate across CHA teams to develop and execute coordinated policy and advocacy strategies.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner and resource to colleagues, contributing policy expertise, political judgment, and problem‑solving across organizational priorities.
• Bring curiosity, flexibility, creativity, and a willingness to jump into emerging issues where additional policy capacity or expertise is needed.
• None.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience required (unless otherwise noted)

• Five or more years of relevant experience in public policy, government affairs, health care policy, advocacy, regulatory or legislative affairs, or a related field; Colorado and health care experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Health Policy, Political Science, or Law; Master’s preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly understand complex issues, synthesize significant amounts of information, and translate analysis into practical policy and advocacy strategies.
• Experience independently managing complex projects, engaging diverse stakeholders, developing high-quality written materials, and representing an organization with external audiences.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Exceptional analytical, strategic, written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong relationship‑building and facilitation skills, including the ability to navigate disagreement, incorporate diverse perspectives, and build consensus around practical solutions.
• Highly organized, adaptable, and self‑directed, with the judgment and initiative to manage multiple complex priorities and take ownership of issues with limited supervision.

Physical Demands / Work Environment

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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Working conditions are normal for a fast‑paced office work environment
• Presentation of technical material in group settings required occasionally
• Individuals may need to sit or stand as needed
• Weekend or evening work may be needed
• May include lifting up to 25 pounds for files on a regular basis. Proper lifting techniques required

Material and Equipment Directly Used

• Company issued laptop with Microsoft Office 365 software applications
• Cell phone
• AV platforms such as Zoom and Teams

Hiring salary range

$90,000-$100,000 annually, benefits eligible

The hiring salary range represents a targeted hiring range based on candidate’s experience, education, and/or skill level. The actual starting salary may be more or less depending on individual qualifications and does not represent the position’s full salary range.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.The employee will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by their supervisor. Nothing in this job description shall create or is intended to create, or shall be construed to constitute a contract of employment, express or implied. Employees are held accountable for all duties of this job.