Public Affairs Consultant

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota•Eagan, MN

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, we are committed to paving the way for everyone to achieve their healthiest life. We are looking for dedicated and motivated individuals who share our vision of transforming healthcare. As a Blue Cross associate, you are joining a culture that is built on values of succeeding together, finding a better way, and doing the right thing. If you are ready to make a difference, join us. The Impact You Will Have As a Public Affairs Consultant, you will be responsible for assisting the Director of Public Policy in the planning and execution of public affairs strategies to help raise the profile of the organization, advance priorities and build support among stakeholders. You will support the Director of Public Policy in collaborating and communicating with internal stakeholders to align business and advocacy strategy. You will also work to convey the organizations point of view on key issues externally through a variety of communication strategies and engagement with cross-functional leaders and third-party stakeholders. By acting as an internal advisor on public affairs trends, you will support the public affairs team in identifying win/wins that balance business needs and the volatile political environment.

Requirements

5-7+ years of related professional experience. All relevant experience including work, education, transferable skills, and military experience will be considered.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to develop accurate and timely communications under tight timelines in a variety of formats.
Strong facilitation skills and ability to prioritize in a highly complex environment.
Ability to remain flexible and adapt to change, while navigating areas of significant ambiguity.
Attention to detail and ability to prioritize and work in a fast-paced environment.
A self-starter: ability to collaborate with a team but work independently with little direction.
Ability to remain nonpartisan, be inclusive and work across differences.
Demonstrated interpersonal skills for working with business partners, cross-functional teams and for making formal presentations.
Demonstrated personal computer skills and the willingness to learn in the use of a suite of software tools (PowerPoint and Excel) and project management tools.
High school diploma (or equivalency) and legal authorization to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree or master’s degree in related field.

Responsibilities

Working closely with Director of Public Policy, lead the development and implementation of a proactive Public Affairs strategy.
Prepare drafts of executive communications and materials for department and enterprise initiatives.
Work with the public affairs team to develop compelling materials to educate stakeholders and advocate for our positions.
Produce a weekly (during legislative session) /monthly (during the interim) companywide public affairs newsletter: coordinate article submission, write articles, edit material, and circulate for review and approval.
Drive execution of public affairs strategy through communications, thought leadership and stakeholder engagement across a variety of platforms.
Lead team communications, including presentations, talking points, key messages, position papers, blog posts, letters, and executive communications.
Partner with subject matter experts and leadership to develop positions on key issues and determine appropriate response and/or engagement strategy while honoring our mission and managing our reputation.
Demonstrate public affairs and health care business savvy by helping identify win/win solutions on high-profile issues.
Serve as a trusted advisor on public affairs and policy trends and the impact on business issues, collaborating cross-functionally on a variety of strategic initiatives.
Build strategic relationships, leading engagement and ensuring representation with chambers, nonprofits, educational institutions, coalitions, and other organizations.
Provide leadership and direction to the CitizenBlue corporate civic engagement program, promoting associate engagement in government through a variety of means, including capitol tours, get out the vote activities, and educational events and materials.
Coordinate CitizenBlue programming, event planning and promotion, including coordinating events with elected officials and civic leaders, in collaboration with the employee-led Citizen Blue Advisory Team.