Senior Director, Government Relations

Medica is a nonprofit health plan with more than a million members that serves communities in Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Missouri, and beyond. We deliver personalized health care experiences and partner closely with providers to ensure members are genuinely cared for.

We're a team that owns our work with accountability, makes data-driven decisions, embraces continuous learning, and celebrates collaboration - because success is a team sport. It's our mission to be there in the moments that matter most for our members and employees. Join us in creating a community of connected care, where coordinated, quality service is the norm and every member feels valued.

The Senior Director of Government Affairs leads the development and execution of legislative strategies across Medica's service area. As a strategic adviser to business partners across the enterprise, this role leverages internal and external influence to drive win-win solutions aligned to Medica's business goals in a dynamic political and policy environment. The Senior Director oversees a team of employees and contracted government relations professionals and closely coordinates with Medica's Policy & Regulatory team to advance impactful policy solutions. The incumbent engages key stakeholders, including policymakers, regulators, trade associations, and others to wield influence as recognized thought leader. Performs other duties as assigned.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead legislative strategy with impact
  
  
  
  • Implement a comprehensive legislative strategy that is tailored to Medica's service area and proactively identifies emerging health policy trends to support enterprise business goals
  • Develop issues management approaches that allow for timely adaptations in strategy that meets the dynamic policy and political environment
  • Lead lobbying efforts by aligning internal staff and external consultants to influence legislative activity with impact
  • Collaborate on a Public Affairs Strategy to enhance Medica's reputation and influence
  • Drive Medica's political engagement in partnership with senior leadership and health plan trades while ensuring necessary reporting and compliance
  
  
  
  

• Advise leadership and enterprise partners in support of enterprise goals
  
  
  
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to leadership and internal business partners by offering expert guidance on emerging legislative and political risks
  • Collaborate cross-functionally to support business goals serving as a thought partner that informs strategy, brand, and market position
  • Engage market leaders, the communications team and other external facing functions to boost Medica's position as a thought leader in new and emerging markets
  • Advance the evolution of Public Affairs as an enterprise discipline that integrates mission, market leadership, community, and external engagement
  
  
  
  

• Drive influence and advocacy by engaging and activating allies and stakeholders
  
  
  
  • Drive legislative and policy strategy through leading partners such as health plan trade associations and other closely aligned partners
  • Enhance Medica's influence with discrete strategies in established and growth markets tailored to stakeholder interests including partners, trade associations, health advocacy groups, and key opinion leaders
  • Collaborate with leadership, sales team, and internal partners to activate key stakeholders toward health policy positions that augment Medica's business strategy
  • Actively engage and support internal product and legal teams with state agency interactions across Medica's service area
  • Represent Medica at health care and insurance policymaking bodies such as the NAIC, NCOIL and other high-impact forums
  
  
  
  

• Champion team collaboration and a high impact focus
  
  
  
  • Oversee and coordinate all aspects of legislative and lobbying team engagement, including external contract lobbyists and consultants
  • Support development of internal lobbying staff and foster effective collaborations across the lobbying and policy functions
  • Coordinate creation of market-leading lobbying and policy materials that drive impact and differentiate Medica as a mission-based non-profit regional leader
  • Leverage AI thoughtfully and strategically to manage workload and enhance communication
  
  
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in related field
• 10 years of work experience beyond degree
• 5 years of leadership experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in healthcare policy or JD
• Expertise in federal healthcare reform (ACA)

Skills and Abilities

• Experience in the health care field
• Deep understanding of legislative and regulatory processes
• Proven leadership experience managing teams and external consultants
• Exceptional communication and people skills, with the ability to influence and build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups
• Demonstrated ability to navigate dynamic political landscapes and deliver results aligned with business objectives
• Experience working with trade associations, regulatory bodies, and policymakers

This position is an Office role, which requires an employee to work onsite at our Minnetonka, MN office, on average, 3 days per week.

The full salary grade for this position is $147,100 - $252,100. While the full salary grade is provided, the typical hiring salary range for this role is expected to be between $147,100 - $220,605. Annual salary range placement will depend on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, education, work experience, applicable certifications and/or licensure, the position's scope and responsibility, internal pay equity and external market salary data. In addition to base compensation, this position may be eligible for incentive plan compensation in addition to base salary. Medica offers a generous total rewards package that includes competitive medical, dental, vision, PTO, Holidays, paid volunteer time off, 401K contributions, caregiver services and many other benefits to support our employees.

The compensation and benefits information is provided as of the date of this posting. Medica's compensation and benefits are subject to change at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.

Eligibility to work in the US: Medica does not offer work visa sponsorship for this role. All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. Employment is contingent on verification of identity and eligibility to work in the United States.

We are an Equal Opportunity employer, where all qualified candidates receive consideration for employment indiscriminate of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.