Job Opening

The Medicare Rights Center is a national, nonprofit consumer services organization that works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling and advocacy, educational programs, and public policy initiatives. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2009, Medicare Rights is an independent, consumer-oriented source of Medicare information for all Americans, whether they are older consumers, people with disabilities, their caregivers, or the professionals serving them.

In carrying out its mission, Medicare Rights works in three main areas to help the 45 million Americans with Medicare. First, through its Client Services Department, it provides direct assistance to individuals who need answers to Medicare questions, and help resolving problems with access to health care -- through counseling, enrollment, casework, and, when necessary, legal representation in individual appeals cases. Second, the Education Department at Medicare Rights leverages its content expertise in the field of Medicare through a number of media, most notably the online tool “Medicare Interactive,” (MI) a comprehensive source of easy-to-understand information about all aspects of Medicare provided in a user-friendly format at www.medicareinteractive.org. Third, Medicare Rights draws on its day-to-day experiences helping Medicare beneficiaries to bring the consumer voice to Congress, the executive branch, the state government of New York state and other states, and to the ongoing national policy debate on Medicare.

Medicare Rights’ unique blend of direct service, education, advocacy, and policy work ensures that real consumer experiences reach the highest levels of policy-making, and that policies and laws adopted at state and federal levels are translated for consumers and effectively implemented.

Since its founding in 1989, Medicare Rights has provided assistance to more than one million people. In its most recent year, it received almost 49,000 Hotline calls, and handled 16,000 new counseling cases. Its annual budget is approximately $3.3 million, with slightly over half provided by foundations and private donors, and the balance by government grants and contracts. The staff of approximately 40 professionals is headquartered in conveniently-located midtown Manhattan, with additional offices in Washington, DC and Westchester County. Approximately 200 skilled and dedicated volunteers support the work of the Medicare Rights Center, many of them having served in their roles for several years.

The Director of Education Position

At this critical juncture in its history, the Medicare Rights Center is seeking a new Director of Education, a key senior role in the organization, reporting directly to the President. This role will be responsible for directing the work of the Education Department and its staff. In addition, the Director will work collaboratively with his/her colleagues in the Client Services, Policy, Marketing, and Communications departments to ensure that the external messaging of the Medicare Rights Center is optimized across all channels, and is appropriately aligned with the organization’s mission.

Specific responsibilities of the Director of Education include:

• In conjunction with the President, develop and implement a new vision and strategy for the role of the Education Department at Medicare Rights, one that aligns with the overall mission of the organization and supports the highest and best contributions of the Education staff;
• Continually champion the important role of educating consumers about Medicare, across all constituencies of the Medicare Rights Center, and across all forms of media, both new and traditional;
• Maintain “Medicare Interactive,” a key service of the Medicare Rights Center, as an up-to-date and accurate online source of Medicare information. Design and implement an annual work plan with the Education staff that will ensure that MI is continuously updated and enhanced. In the next 18 months, prepare a redesign plan for MI that will support Web 2.0 technologies;
• As a subject matter expert in Medicare, supervise the writing, editing, and vetting of Education Department materials prepared for external use by all departments at Medicare Rights, including newsletters (online and offline), monthly webinars, community presentations and trainings, volunteer-support materials, and specific subject matter pieces that address individual topics in Medicare;
• As a spokesperson for the organization, conduct trainings and presentations on Medicare-related topics in community settings, at health care policy conferences, and in support of building partnerships with other social service organizations;
• Collaborate closely with colleagues in the Marketing Department in the successful execution of a marketing plan focused on fee-based strategies for monetizing Medicare Interactive and Medicare Interactive University;
• Establish strong working partnerships with peers in the Client Services and Policy departments, in order to ensure that the work of the Education Department is aligned with the external messaging of the Center’s advocacy and policy goals.

Qualifications:-

The successful candidate will be an experienced leader, with a commitment to working in a mission-driven organization, and an ability to adapt quickly and smoothly to a new organizational culture. Because of experience and strong skill set, he/she will be able to add value early in his/her tenure, even as he/she climbs the learning curve for this new role.

Specific qualifications include:-

• Undergraduate degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 7+ years of post-undergraduate work experience, preferably in a health care policy or social services organization; candidates with either non-profit or for-profit work experience are of interest.
• Evidence of strong writing ability is required, preferably in dealing with complex subject matter, and “translating” it into consumer-friendly language. Submission of a writing sample is required as part of the application process.
• A working knowledge of Medicare is preferred, but not required. (On-the-job training in Medicare will be provided.) The key requirement is a demonstrated passion for and commitment to educating consumers about health care issues.
• Experience in managing online information tools that are directed at consumers, as well as managerial experience in maintaining a web site on a day-to-day basis.
• Experience in the marketing of both online and offline products and services in a non-profit setting is preferred, but not required, as well as an understanding of how to develop new sources of earned revenue in a non-profit.
• A leadership style that is highly collaborative – a willingness to work across departmental lines on a consistent basis in order to enable the Medicare Rights Center to deliver high quality client services and educational materials.
• Demonstrated sound judgment and strong managerial skills that will support the professional development of the Education department staff members.
• Analytical in orientation with a high tolerance for complexity in subject matter, and an ability to meet deadlines on a regular basis.

Salary is commensurate with experience and we offer a very generous benefits package.

The Medicare Rights Center is committed to diversity, and welcomes applications from individuals of any race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation.

To Apply:-

Interested candidates should send their resume with cover letter and salary requirements.

Please click below to apply.