Director, State Government Relations & Public Affairs

Covista•Chicago, IL

16h•$100,172 - $181,035•Hybrid

About The Position

This role sits within Covista's Corporate Affairs team and reports to the Senior Director, Government Relations and Public Affairs. You'll lead Covista's state-level government relations strategy — owning the relationships, managing the in-market resources, and driving the proactive policy engagement that allows Covista's institutions to operate, expand, and compete. This is not a reactive role. You'll be expected to anticipate and navigate fast-paced news, legislative and regulatory environment, build the political conditions for Covista's strategic priorities before they're at risk, and serve as a proactive counselor to institutional and segment leaders and other internal stakeholders needing to navigate state- and local-level decisions. You'll work across a portfolio of priority states while managing a network of contract lobbyists and building direct relationships with state officials, legislative staff, industry associations, and healthcare system partners. As part of an integrated Government Relations and Public Affairs function, you'll bring to life the on-the-ground impact that Covista’s institutions, workforce partnerships, and Foundation partners have in the communities where they operate.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in state government relations, public affairs, or legislative affairs
Demonstrated experience managing contract lobbyists or external government affairs consultants across multiple states simultaneously
Track record of proactive state legislative engagement — not only defensive advocacy but building relationships and advancing priorities before they are at risk
Experience working with or within healthcare, higher education, or similarly regulated industries preferred
Familiarity with state student financial aid frameworks, clinical education policy, or state authorization of distance education programs a plus
Experience serving as a strategic advisor to senior business or institutional leaders on government affairs matters
Bachelor's degree required
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple workstreams, competing priorities, and urgent matters simultaneously with sound judgment and composure under pressure
Experience with state compliance and state disclosure reporting (e.g., state ethics filings)
Deep knowledge of state legislative processes and the ability to track and synthesize activity across multiple states and sessions simultaneously
Builds and maintains relationships with state officials, legislative staff, industry associations, and healthcare system leaders
Strong political instincts: knows when to engage directly and when to work through coalition
Strong project management skills; able to develop timelines, track multiple workstreams, and deliver on cross-functional commitments with rigor and follow-through
Highly adaptable; brings a sense of urgency to emerging issues while maintaining accuracy and strategic focus in a fast-moving, high-stakes environment
Translates complex policy developments into clear, actionable guidance for non-GR audiences, including institutional presidents and segment executives
Manages external consultants with clear direction and accountability
Exceptional written communicator: policy memos, legislative briefs, stakeholder correspondence, and executive counsel
Comfortable moving at pace in an integrated Corporate Affairs environment where advocacy and narrative working hand-in-hand is a must
Familiarity with legislative intelligence platforms (Quorum or similar) and a data-informed approach to tracking and reporting outcomes

Nice To Haves

advanced degree in public policy, law, or related field preferred

Responsibilities

Own and drive Covista's state government relations strategy across priority markets
Develop and maintain a proactive state legislative agenda — identifying opportunities to advance Covista's interests before issues materialize, not only in response to them
Monitor state legislative sessions, regulatory proceedings, and executive agency actions across multiple states simultaneously; ensure no significant development reaches leadership as a surprise
Translate state policy developments into clear, actionable intelligence for segment and institutional leaders making strategic decisions about campuses, programs, and partnerships
Partner closely with Legal and Regulatory Affairs on state licensing, authorization, and compliance matters — ensuring legislative strategy and regulatory strategy are coordinated, not siloed
Manage Covista's network of contract lobbyists across priority states — setting clear direction, holding them accountable to outcomes, and ensuring their efforts are tied to Covista's strategic priorities
Conduct regular lobbyist performance assessments; make recommendations on where to invest, where to restructure coverage, and where gaps exist
Build and steward direct relationships with state legislators, legislative staff, governors' offices, state agencies, and healthcare system partners in key markets
Identify and pursue opportunities for Covista to take a proactive seat at the table in state policy conversations — through testimony, coalition engagement, or direct stakeholder outreach — rather than showing up only when legislation threatens
Serve as a key GR partner to Chamberlain University and Walden University segment leadership, providing ongoing intelligence, strategic counsel, and engagement support as they make decisions about campus operations and community positioning
Connect institutional leaders to the policy environment in their markets — surfacing relevant legislative activity, identifying local relationships worth building, and flagging risks early enough to act on them
Partner with business development colleagues on new initiatives, providing the political groundwork and stakeholder engagement that supports strategic growth decisions
Work in close partnership with the broader GR/PA function to ensure state-level advocacy is supported by a proactive public affairs strategy
Leverage the Covista Foundation's programming and community partnerships as substantive assets in state relationships
Deploy Covista thought leadership materials at the state and local level to show the impact of healthcare workforce shortages
Represent Covista at state-level legislative engagement events, political functions, and industry convenings — maintaining a visible, credible presence on behalf of the organization in priority markets
Oversee administration of Covista’s state political contributions operations — including strategic disbursement decisions, budget management, and coordination with state laws and regulations, compliance firm, and internal stakeholders to include Legal to ensure accuracy and alignment with advocacy priorities
Ensure full compliance with state and/or federal ethics requirements, campaign finance reporting obligations, and lobbying disclosure regulations across all active jurisdictions; ensure all compliance deadlines