Director, State Government Relations & Public Affairs

Opportunity at a Glance

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.

• 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…