Director Government Affairs

Company :

Highmark Health

Job Description : 

JOB SUMMARY

This job leads and manages the Government Relations function for the Kansas City region, including Missouri, Kansas and local Kansas City affairs. This includes working closely with market leadership to set the government relations strategy for the company. Oversees the strategies and processes for communication with federal, state and local legislators, and government agency officials. The incumbent works closely with market leadership, relevant internal subject matter experts, including the broader Highmark Health government relations team, and other key stakeholders in the Enterprise to determine the impact of current legislation and regulations, including policy development, and to lead all legislative and regulatory discussions and collaborative actions at the state level. They will also collaborate on federal actions and other states as requested, overseeing efforts to analyze and determine how legislative and regulatory processes impact company operations, products, and health management services.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform management responsibilities to include, but are not limited to: involved in hiring and termination decisions, coaching and development, rewards and recognition, performance management and staff productivity.  Plan, organize, staff, direct and control the day-to-day operations of the department; develop and implement policies and programs as necessary; may have budgetary responsibility and authority.

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with government officials and their staff members, serving as primary contact for interfaces with federal, state, and local legislators and officials to help create an understanding of the organization and its objectives and mission. Build strong relationships with key external stakeholders, partners and coalitions and develop strategic alliances within the assigned regional market.

• Provide expert policy and regulatory advice and education internally to support the organization’s products, services, and strategic initiatives, and externally to government officials as needed.

• Track legislation and regulations relevant to the organization’s operations within the assigned regional market. Research and analyze proposed legislative and regulatory actions and determines the potential impact on the organization. Communicate government relations related information to market leadership and other relevant stakeholders,. providing routine updates to the Highmark Health Compliance Department while ensuring that the organization’s senior leadership is aware of impending policy and legal issues of interest to the organization.  Additionally, monitor and review proposed and enacted state legislation and regulations, educate the company on new laws, regulations, and guidance, and assist with identifying operational impact and compliance issues.

• Craft and implement the organization’s response to major state and federal public policy, regulatory and legislative initiatives within the assigned regional market.  Coordinate advocacy activities with state and national trade associations when appropriate.

• Manage and direct external lobbying efforts and/or the activities of contracted lobbyists to advance the organization’s legislative and regulatory agenda.

• Partner closely with Government Affairs staff to coordinate appropriate strategy and communications efforts to advance enterprise-wide positions and leverage all possible strategic relationships.

• Manage the organization’s relationships in state and national trade associations to maximize influence and to ensure that Highmark Health and Blue KC issues become a top priority.  Serve on trade association committees and workgroups, as needed.

• Develop effective communication tools to advance organization objectives, including testimony; comments on regulations, and policy-related talking points and messages; written reports related to advocacy activities; information for presentations; position papers; internal updates for senior executives; memoranda and other leave behind materials for meetings with government officials; and letters to legislators reflecting the organization’s positions on bills and/or requests for support.

• Serve as a key point of contact on regional advocacy issues and represent the organization at external advocacy-centric meetings and other related events.

• Other duties as assigned or requested.

EDUCATION
Required

• Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, Business Administration/Management, Health Administration, Pre-Law, Public Policy Analysis or related field.

Substitutions

• 6 years of related and progressive experience in lieu of Bachelor's degree

Preferred

• Master's Degree in Public Policy Analysis or Health Administration

EXPERIENCE
Required

• 7 years in a Legal, Lobbyist or Government Affairs role

• 5 years in a leadership or management role 

Preferred

• Healthcare Insurance or Healthcare Industry Experience

LICENSES or CERTIFICATIONS
Required

• Juris Doctor (JD)

Preferred

• None

SKILLS

• Demonstrated strategic thinking and ability to influence community members and establish and execute planning process.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues at different levels of the and community

• Demonstrated ability to deliver presentations to a diverse audience

• Demonstrated excellent organizational skills, strong analytical and conceptual skills, and solid financial analysis skills coupled with demonstrated problem-solving skills.

• Documented successful experience demonstrating strong capabilities regarding persuasion and influence.

Language (Other than English):

None

Travel Requirement:

0% - 25%

PHYSICAL, MENTAL DEMANDS and WORKING CONDITIONS

Position Type

Office-based

Teaches / trains others regularly

Occasionally

Travel regularly from the office to various work sites or from site-to-site

Rarely

Works primarily out-of-the office selling products/services (sales employees)

Never

Physical work site required

Yes

Lifting: up to 10 pounds

Constantly

Lifting: 10 to 25 pounds

Occasionally

Lifting: 25 to 50 pounds

Rarely

Disclaimer: The job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this job title. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to do this job.

Compliance Requirement: This job adheres to the ethical and legal standards and behavioral expectations as set forth in the code of business conduct and company policies.

As a component of job responsibilities, employees may have access to covered information, cardholder data, or other confidential customer information that must be protected at all times.  In connection with this, all employees must comply with both the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) as described in the Notice of Privacy Practices and Privacy Policies and Procedures as well as all data security guidelines established within the Company’s Handbook of Privacy Policies and Practices and Information Security Policy. 

Furthermore, it is every employee’s responsibility to comply with the company’s Code of Business Conduct. This includes but is not limited to adherence to applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations as well as company policies and training requirements.

Highmark Health and its affiliates prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on any category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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