Legislative Relations Manager (WMS3​/SPI

Legislative Relations Manager (WMS3/SPI)

The Legislative Relations Manager represents the agency in external engagement on legislation, strategic initiatives, financial issues, and other health policy priorities. Working alongside Executive Leadership, this role helps build and maintain trusted relationships with the authorizing environment, develops proactive legislative engagement strategy and serves as a credible voice on behalf of the agency. Based in Olympia with telework flexibility outside of session, this role is a strong fit for a skilled communicator and strategic thinker with experience in government relations, health policy, or legislative affairs.

All HCA employees will apply an equity lens to their work, which may include but is not limited to all analyses of core business and processes.

About the division:

The Strategy, Policy, & Innovation division (SPI) of the Health Care Authority (HCA) is statutorily directed to study all state-purchased health care, alternative health care delivery systems and strategies for the procurement of health services, and to coordinate state agency efforts to develop and implement uniform policies across state purchased health care programs. SPI serves as the focal point for coordinating the agency's strategy, affordability, and health policy efforts.

The division is structured to provide expert direction, consultation, and support for these activities. SPI is responsible for driving policy design, development and implementation of health reform, and health transformation activities and program development and refinements for all programs.

About the position:

The Legislative Relations Manager reports to the Special Assistant for Policy and Legislative Affairs and works directly with the Chief Policy Officer and other members of the executive leadership team (ELT) as appropriate. Alongside the Special Assistant for Policy and Legislative Affairs, the position represents the agency in external engagement on legislation, strategic initiatives, financial issues, and other activity.

This position builds trust with the authorizing environment through clear, consistent communication on behalf of the agency and director, and will establish relationships with legislative staff, lobbyists, and government relations counterparts. The incumbent will establish and proactively pursue a strategic plan for legislative engagement during the legislative session and support outreach during interim, ensuring a constant and trusted voice on behalf of the HCA's priorities.

This position is eligible to telework but is frequently required to report onsite and to the capital during legislative session to meet business need. The default assigned work location of all Health Care Authority (HCA) positions - both on-site and telework eligible positions - is within the State of Washington. This position reports to Olympia, WA. Frequency of onsite work will vary based on business and operational needs.

All agency employees are required to report on-site in Olympia on their first and last days of employment to pick up and return state-issued equipment, regardless of telework status or location.

Some of what you will do:

* Responsible for developing and implementing agency legislative strategy, including policy and budget priorities.

* Responsible for legislative communications and advocacy on behalf of HCA.

* Leads legislative engagement activities for approximately half of HCA program areas, including strategic planning and responding to legislative requests.

* Drafts legislation and policy papers to assist HCA programs.

* Facilitates stakeholder outreach and engagement in HCA activities, proactively sharing information and responding to inquiries.

* Consults agency executive leadership and recommends actions to be taken on legislative and political issues.

* Consults with agency managers to coordinate the development of the agency's engagement with the Governor's Office, OFM, the legislature, other agencies, and external lobbyists.

* Develops subject matter knowledge on the breadth of the agency's program portfolio.

* Supports legislative affairs in training staff to support bill analysis and legislative report drafting.

Required qualifications:

Qualifying candidates will meet one of the following criteria options:

Option 1:

Master's or Law degree with preference for competency in a health-related field and three (3) years of the required experience below

Option 2:

Bachelor's degree in a field identified above, and five (5) years of the required experience below

Option 3:

Associate degree in a related field and (7) years of the required experience below

Option 4:

Nine (9) years of the required experience below

The required experience includes:

* Experience in legislative or similar external relations, demonstrating in-depth knowledge and understanding of the state legislative process and experience with drafting legislation and amendments.

* Demonstrated experience in making presentations to external audiences on…