Director, Government Legislative Affairs

Position Summary

The Director of Legislative Affairs for Government and Regulatory Affairs serves as a healthcare policy expert and key advocate for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. The director identifies and analyzes policy issues, develops advocacy strategy, and creates policy analysis materials for senior and C-suite leadership. The role also acts as a strategic advisor, identifying emerging issues that may impact the business or the company’s community role.

The position is eligible for the Flex persona.

• Develop and execute state and federal legislative strategy, including policy development, legislative drafting, coalition building, and oral and written testimony.
• Identify, evaluate, and track all state and federal legislation that may impact the company, covering health-care, insurance, employers, and nonprofit issues.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with key legislators, regulators, and staff, including leadership members and congressional delegations.
• Serve as the direct point of contact for regulators on specific expertise areas such as behavioral health, substance use disorder, mandated benefits, and prescription drug cost transparency.
• Advocate for the company’s interests in hearings, regulatory sessions, and one-on-one meetings on issues such as behavioral health, substance use disorder, prescription drug pricing, provider payment, municipal health reform, and utilization management.
• Provide clear, concise, time-sensitive policy analyses for business leaders and executives, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to assess impact and craft advocacy action plans.
• Engage external stakeholders to build effective coalitions around priority issues.
• Lead regulatory efforts and coordinate with business leaders on state taxes and assessments on insurers.
• Manage responsibilities related to the company’s state and federal political action committees, including event planning, budgeting, compliance, and filings.
• Support federal legislative strategy, including drafting and monitoring reconciliation bills; conduct detailed reviews of federal legislation to understand its impact on the health-insurance industry.
• Monitor association legislative advocacy to inform internal strategy and assist in high-level documents for annual planning and the S&P rating review.

• Advanced analytic skills and in-depth knowledge of healthcare and health-insurance policies, especially behavioral health, substance use disorder, prescription drug pricing/transparency, provider payment, municipal health reform, and utilization management.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills; ability to convey complex information to policymakers, staff, senior leaders, and other stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Strong relationship-management skills and established relationships with relevant legislators and regulators, including leadership positions.
• Demonstrated project-planning and implementation management skills.
• JD preferred. Minimum of 15 years of experience in the state legislative or executive branch, or government-affairs work, with at least 10 years focused on health-care policy.

High-school degree or equivalent required; JD preferred.

Minimum 15 years in government affairs or state legislative/executive branch, with at least 10 years in health-care policy.

Boston, MA – Full-time

#LI-HYBRID (Hybrid work arrangement)

Salary range: $ – $. Variable pay and comprehensive benefits package includes paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k), and well-being benefits.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is an Equal Employment Employer – veterans, disability. Applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or other protected characteristics. The company will not discriminate or retaliate against employees or applicants who inquire about or discuss pay. Confidentiality of pay information is protected under law unless required for a formal process or investigation.