Director of Government Affairs; EMS

Director of Government Affairs

This is a remote-hybrid position with onsite work required during legislative session and as needed to support other business operations.

This recruitment is open to Washington State residents only.

As the Director of Government Affairs, you will lead the Agency’s legislative and government affairs strategy and serve as a key advisor to executive leadership on state and federal health policy. You will evaluate legislation and policy proposals, develop legislative strategies and recommendations, oversee the Agency’s legislative analysis and communications, and represent the Agency with legislators, legislative staff, the Governor’s Office, congressional offices, state agencies, and other partners.

You will also lead the Agency’s Legislative Affairs and Analysis staff and coordinate work across the organization to develop legislative proposals, prepare testimony and reports, respond to federal policy and rule making, and carry out legislative directives. This position reports to Chief Policy Officer in the Strategy, Policy and Innovation division. Through this dynamic work, you will help shape how the Agency responds to policy decisions affecting health care and behavioral health services for millions of Washington residents.

• Lead the Agency’s legislative and government affairs strategy, priorities, processes, and communications.
• Advise the Agency Director and executive leadership on legislative policy, health policy, emerging issues, and recommended courses of action.
• Evaluate state and federal legislation and policy proposals to identify impacts, risks, opportunities, resource needs, and strategic considerations for the Agency.
• Develop legislative and health policy proposals, strategies, bill language, and amendments that advance Agency priorities.
• Represent the Agency with legislators, legislative and congressional staff, the Governor’s Office, state agencies, and external organizations on legislative and health policy matters.
• Direct legislative communications and deliverables, including testimony, legislative reports, bill analysis, legislative directives, request legislation, and required lobbying reports.
• Coordinate the Agency’s response to federal rules and policy proposals, bringing together Agency leadership and subject matter experts to develop formal comments and recommendations.
• Lead the Legislative Affairs and Analysis team, setting priorities and ensuring the Agency has the analysis, coordination, and information needed to effectively navigate legislative activity.

• You’ll work at the intersection of health policy, legislation, government affairs, and executive decision-making on complex issues with statewide significance.
• You’ll have the opportunity to lead a team while working across the Agency and with state and federal leaders on rapidly evolving policy issues.
• Your analysis and recommendations will inform decisions about policies and legislation affecting Washington’s publicly purchased health care and behavioral health systems.
• You’ll help translate legislative and policy decisions into coordinated Agency action that affects health care and behavioral health services available to Washington residents.

You are a strategic thinker who can quickly make sense of complex health policy and legislative issues and turn that information into clear, practical recommendations. You communicate effectively with executives, policymakers, staff, and external partners and are comfortable representing an organization in high-visibility environments. You bring sound judgment, political awareness, and a collaborative approach to work that often involves competing priorities and…