Program Director, Advancing Public Health & Health Equity in the Courts

About the Opportunity

About the Center for Health Policy and Law:

The Center for Health Policy and Law (CHPL), “The Center” promotes innovative solutions to public health challenges at home and around the globe. The Center advances law and policy reforms to strengthen population health, reduce health disparities, nourish public health programs, and enhance access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. Housed in the School of Law and firmly rooted in Northeastern University’s nine academic colleges and international network of campuses, the Center brings together Northeastern faculty, students, and experts across disciplines to share knowledge; conduct and disseminate research; and influence the formulation and implementation of health policy and law.

Position Summary:

CHPL is seeking a Program Director to oversee projects and deliverables within the Advancing Public Health & Health Equity in the Courts program, as well as CHPL's broader initiatives. The Program Director position require distinct levels of experience, aligning with their respective responsibilities and strategic involvement within CHPL. The Program Director will play a strategic role in guiding initiatives and projects.

The Program Director must have a strong understanding of public health legal and policy issues, excellent legal research and writing skills, commit to demonstrating and deepening that expertise, and contribute to research and writing on topics related to health policy and health law. Additionally, the Program Director must be able to facilitate meetings, organize events, present at conferences, work with external partners, supervise law students and be adept at project management. Ideally, the Program Director should have experience in brief writing.

We are looking for an attorney who wants to be part of a team that has a passion for health policy and law. This position will be lead staff for the Advancing Public Health & Health Equity in the Courts project, which includes maintaining communications, documentations, monitoring budgets and grants.

The Program Director will lead efforts identifying cases of significance for public health and/or health equity critical cases and connecting public health and health equity advocates and workers with law firms, lawyers, and scientists to facilitate the filing of amicus briefs in such cases.

The Program Director will also bring together lawyers, community groups, and health experts so that litigators can more effectively represent the views of public health scientists, workers, and advocates for health and equity. The Program Director will lead the hiring and supervision of a part time program coordinator.

The Program Director will lead the Gorge Consortium, a group of public health academics and attorneys to facilitate the filing of amicus briefs in cases with significant implications for public health and health equity. The Program Director will also help to research, organize, and write some amicus briefs, and will  form and lead an Advisory Committee consisting of members of the Consortium, community organizations, and public health experts.

This position is grant-funded for 24 months with the possibility of extension based on funding and at the discretion of CHPL.

Here are the programs and initiatives that the Program Director will oversee and/or support:

Advancing Public Health & Health Equity in the Court

Building on the work of the Act for Public Health partnership, the Center will implement parts of the Action Plan to create a new strategy to secure public health in the courts. The Center will coordinate and facilitate filing of amicus briefs on behalf of public health and health equity, leverage the resources of a consortium of public health law scholars to support public health and equity in the courts, connect experts and advocates with lawyers and legal scholars, and inform public health and health equity advocates about crucial litigation developments.

Center for Health Policy and Law (CHPL)

The Program Director will assist CHPL as needed, including in events, budgeting, grant proposals and building coalitions and partnerships.  The Program Director will work in collaboration with other members of CHPL, NUSL and partner organizations.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• JD and