Director Government Affairs

Highmark Health•Kansas City, MO

1d•Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, Business Administration/Management, Health Administration, Pre-Law, Public Policy Analysis or related field.
6 years of related and progressive experience in lieu of Bachelor's degree
7 years in a Legal, Lobbyist or Government Affairs role
5 years in a leadership or management role
Juris Doctor (JD)

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree in Public Policy Analysis or Health Administration
Healthcare Insurance or Healthcare Industry Experience

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.