The individual serving in this position oversees the advancement of LLS's policy agenda at the state level. This agenda is focused on protecting and promoting access to meaningful health insurance coverage, including the preservation of key patient protections established by the Affordable Care Act; securing reductions in the cost burden that patients encounter when accessing cancer care; and accelerating the development and approval of new, meaningful treatment options. To conduct this work, the Executive Director partners on a near-daily basis with the other members of the OPP leadership team – including its leads for federal government affairs, grassroots advocacy, policy, and advocacy communications – and manages a team of five field-based government affairs directors, each of whom works in partnership with a member of OPP’s grassroots advocacy field team to spearhead OPP’s engagement in one of five regions.
- Oversee state-level advancement of OPP’s policy agenda, ensuring that the organization’s government affairs field team is deploying effective strategies and tactics and refining those approaches as needed.
- In partnership with OPP leadership, help develop and maintain LLS’s policy agenda. Monitor relevant trends at the state level, recommending adjustments in priority as needed.
- Work closely with Senior Director, Advocacy to maintain a vibrant and productive partnership between OPP’s government affairs field team and its advocacy field team.
- Work closely with Executive Director, Federal Affairs to ensure alignment, as appropriate, across the organization’s government affairs efforts.
- Work closely with the Senior Director, Policy to maintain OPP’s position statements, template comment letters, and other supporting collateral needed to advance the organization’s state engagement. Play a key role in the development of policy studies, as opportunities emerge.
- Develop strong relationships with counterparts at patient organizations, provider associations, and other allies and collaborate to advance shared priorities.
- Establish and maintain productive relationships with counterparts working in relevant industries, including the pharmaceutical and insurance industries.
- Support the efforts of the Senior Director, Advocacy to grow volunteer engagement on policy priorities at the state level.
- Cultivate strong working relationships with partner colleagues based in LLS’s national office, including the organization’s communications team and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer.
- Grow team member skills by identifying high-value professional development opportunities and by ensuring that team members’ goals and metrics reflect a plan for long-term professional development.
- Maintain a strong understanding of LLS’s patient access programs and revenue-generating campaigns, to help promote the organization and its initiatives as needed.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
- Minimum of eight years’ experience working in state-level public or private sector lobbying or government affairs, on issues relevant to health care.
- Robust experience managing a team of multiple individual contributors.
- Proven ability to access and influence policy decision-makers and to forge partnerships with external allies.
- Experience working across multiple functions within an organization to achieve goals with enterprise-level impact.
- Solid knowledge of the major policy issues relevant to access to care, in particular those impacting the state-regulated health insurance market.
- Strong understanding of the current political environment and of legislative and regulatory policy-making processes.
- Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Ability to thrive under pressure and simultaneously advance multiple high-level tasks.
- Ability to travel regularly and work flexible hours.