Director, State Affairs

Job Description

The Director, State Affairs influences public and government policy at all state government levels. This role involves advocacy of interests that are affected, actually or potentially, by the decisions of government leaders.

Responsibilities Include:

• Partner with Humana Healthy Horizons to directly support Humana’s Cardinal Care Medicaid contract.
• Serve as Humana’s regional leader for state advocacy and government engagement in MD, NJ, PA, and VA.
• Engage directly with state government (Medicaid Department, Governor’s office, legislature, executive agency leadership, Departments of Insurance, Departments of Health/Health & Human Services, state boards, and state procurement agencies).
• Serve as HUM liaison with state/local leaders, working on behalf of and in coordination with state market leaders (Medicare, Medicaid and specialty insurance, pharmacy, primary care, and home health), as well as state-based business functions (Law Dept., Regulatory and Compliance, Finance, Corporate Communications) on strategic priority matters (legislative, regulatory, and public sector business development).
• Ensure that market and functional leaders receive timely updates on ongoing and emerging issues material to Humana’s business goals and objectives.
• Implement/advance state strategic advocacy and relationship outreach to advance Humana’s public policy agenda, product and growth initiatives, and overall public sector business development objectives.
• Manage and direct the work of state-retained consultants, state trade associations (as appropriate), and communications with state policy and regulatory officials on behalf of the company.
• Maintain legislative monitoring on priority issues (working with retained consultants).
• Monitor/engage in legislative and regulatory matters identified as Humana priorities, positioning the company to successfully influence the development of priority legislative and regulatory activity to create business opportunities and mitigate operational and/or competitive challenges.
• Facilitate public sector business development relationship outreach to key state and local officials while keeping the businesses informed about relevant public policy and emerging state and local procurement opportunities.
• Identify/manage opportunities for ongoing and targeted engagements with state policy officials (including site visits), underscoring Humana’s value proposition and role as a solutions-oriented “thought leader.”
• Develop strategies for engagements with traditional and non-traditional alliances/organizations to advance the company’s advocacy and reputation development agenda.
• Represent Humana at regional and national legislative, regulatory, and other intergovernmental organizations in coordination with the State Affairs policy team.

Additional Job Description

Required Qualifications

• Candidate must live in the Richmond, Virginia area.
• Minimum of ten or more years of professional experience in state government, government affairs, campaigns, health policy, and/or advocacy roles.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as public policy, communications, health policy, political science, or business.
• Proven ability to create and implement advocacy campaigns directly relevant to state government, with a clear record of achieving short and long-term milestones related to advancing policy, political, and/or advocacy goals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, analytical, and organizational skills, including the ability to write well under deadline pressure.
• Keen understanding of how the legislative and regulatory processes, along with the general state political/public policy environment, impact business organizations.
• Experience working in a highly matrixed organization in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledgeable about state Medicaid programs, especially Virginia’s and Pennsylvania’s programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree

Additional Information

• Solid understanding of relevant policy and regulatory issues, with the ability to translate complex issues clearly and concisely to business leaders and the policy team (technical and non-technical audiences).
• Experience working in a matrixed organization, with proven ability to work collaboratively across various departments and functional areas, promoting a culture of proactive teamwork.
• Strong conceptual and creative thinker with an ability to identify trends and interrelationships.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the polish, poise, and executive presence that ensure effective interaction with senior and executive-level audiences.
• Strong creative problem-solving, negotiation, and multi-tasking skills in time-sensitive settings.
• Highly-developed interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong working relationships, internally and externally.

Apply Here