Description

Technical Summary:

The Head of Government Relations for Maryland is responsible for protecting, promoting, and enhancing Kaiser Permanente-s interests in the state by developing and directing a comprehensive advocacy strategy on key legislative and regulatory issues. This role represents the organization - and the members and communities it serves - with integrity, a deep understanding of Maryland-s political landscape, and a realistic sense of what is achievable within the legislative and regulatory environment. In addition to the responsibilities listed below, this position is accountable for:

• Tracking, analyzing, and interpreting political, legislative, and regulatory developments in Maryland to assess their impact on Kaiser Permanente and determine appropriate engagement strategies.
• Building and sustaining effective relationships with legislative and executive branch staff, legislators, trade associations, and other stakeholders, demonstrating the communication skills and credibility needed to influence and align diverse interests.
• Educating policymakers and staff about Kaiser Permanente-s integrated care and coverage model, ensuring they understand the implications of proposed legislation or regulations.
• Partnering with policymakers to shape legislation, applying the ability to translate complex policy issues into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Communicating and negotiating with legislators, executive officials, and stakeholder groups, modeling ethical behavior and maintaining trust in all interactions.
• Working independently with a wide range of elected and appointed officials, demonstrating sound judgment, political awareness, and the ability to navigate sensitive or high - stakes situations.
• Integrating and reconciling differing viewpoints across internal stakeholders, including senior executives, to ensure Kaiser Permanente-s positions are aligned, data - driven, and strategically grounded.
• Managing shifting priorities and deadlines, maintaining composure under pressure and adapting quickly to evolving political dynamics.
• Conducting needs assessments and audience analysis to develop integrated communications and advocacy strategies that reflect stakeholder perspectives and support Kaiser Permanente-s reputation.
• Reinforcing a culture of ethical conduct, ensuring that all advocacy efforts reflect the organization-s values and commitment to transparency.

Job Summary:

In addition to the responsibilities listed below, this position is also responsible for utilizing in-depth knowledge of KPs operations, principles, philosophies, policies, and organizational structures necessary to advocate independent of supervision; establishing and fostering effective relationships with legislative and executive branch staff, legislators, trade associations, and other groups of importance independently; influencing policymakers and their staff about KP and the impact of proposed legislation or regulations on KP and partnering with policymakers to craft legislation; partnering with key internal stakeholders to advise on pending legislation, regulations, changes in key government policy or personnel, and other government relations matters; communicating and negotiating with relevant legislators and staff, executive branch officials, trade associations, and the policy community on public policy issues independently; leading the advisement of key internal stakeholders on the development of legislative policy positions; and overseeing the review of relevant legislation as introduced and amended and assessing its impact on KP.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Promotes learning in others by communicating information and providing advice to drive projects forward; builds collaborative, cross-functional relationships. Solicits and acts on performance feedback; provides actionable feedback to others, including upward feedback to leadership; influences, mentors, and coaches team members. Practices self-leadership; creates, evaluates, and responds to the strengths and weaknesses of self and unit or team members. Leads the adaptation to competing demands and new responsibilities; adapts to and learns from change, challenges, and feedback. Fosters open dialogue amongst team members.
• Drives the execution of multiple work streams by identifying member and operational needs; translates business strategy into actionable business requirements; develops and updates new procedures and policies. Gains cross-functional support for objectives and priorities; determines and carries out processes and methodologies; solves highly complex issues; escalates and resolves issues as appropriate; sets standards and measures progress. Develops work plans to meet business priorities and deadlines; coordinates, obtains and distributes resources. Removes obstacles that impact performance; guides performance and develops contingency plans accordingly; influences the completion of project tasks by others.
• Promotes KPs interests by: fostering effective relationships with elected and appointed officials, policymakers, trade associations, and other groups; providing guidance on communicating with key external stakeholders on KP; mentoring others on influencing strategic partners to take positions consistent with KP; and facilitating others to be effective liaisons and representatives of KP.
• Partners with internal stakeholders on government relations by: coordinating with key internal stakeholders and senior leadership on developments in legislation, regulations, legal proposals, public policy, key personnel changes, national/state/local issues; integrating approaches and solutions to key issues; guiding planning efforts and response to proposed legislation, regulations, legal proposals, public policy, national/state/local issues; and managing recommendations and ensuring communication of positioning to internal audiences.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: (Core)

• Ambiguity/Uncertainty Management
• Attention to Detail
• Business Knowledge
• Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Cross-Group Collaboration
• Decision Making
• Dependability
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Support
• Drives Results
• Facilitation Skills
• Health Care Industry
• Influencing Others
• Integrity
• Learning Agility
• Organizational Savvy
• Problem Solving
• Short- and Long-term Learning & Recall
• Teamwork
• Topic-Specific Communication

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: (Functional)

• Business Relationship Management
• Company Representation
• Negotiation
• Political Advocacy, Lobbying and Engagement
• Relationship Building
• Business Documentation
• Business Value Communication
• Government Operations
• Information Gathering
• Market Risk Knowledge
• Persuasion
• Reputational Management
• Risk Management
• Written Communication

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum eight (8) years of experience lobbying or in the legislative or executive branch or a directly related field.
• Minimum six (6) years of experience in legislative, regulatory, or government relations at the local, state, or federal level, health policy, communications, public affairs, or a directly related field.
• Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university AND Minimum nine (9) years of professional experience (includes internship and unpaid work experience) OR Minimum twelve (12) years of experience in legislative, regulatory, or government relations at the local, state, or federal level, health policy, communications, public affairs, or a directly related field.

• Lobbying Registration (Maryland) required at hire
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's from an accredited college or university.

Primary Location: Maryland,Annapolis,Annapolis Government Relations

Additional Locations:

• Rockville, MD
• Baltimore, MD

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40
Shift: Day
Workdays: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
Working Hours Start: 08:00 AM
Working Hours End: 05:00 PM
Job Schedule: Full-time
Job Type: Standard Worker Location: Flexible
Employee Status: Regular
Employee Group/Union Affiliation: NUE-PO-01|NUE|Non Union Employee
Job Level: Individual Contributor
Department: Regional Office - 9 Piedmont - Rgnl PA-Gov Relations - 0308
Pay Range: $221600 - $286770 / year Kaiser Permanente strives to offer a market competitive total rewards package and is committed to pay equity and transparency. The posted pay range is based on possible base salaries for the role and does not reflect the full value of our total rewards package. Actual base pay determined at offer will be based on labor market data, internal alignment, and a candidate's years of relevant work experience, education, certifications, skills, and geographic location. Travel: Yes, 25 % of the Time Flexible: Work location is on-site at a KP location, with the flexibility to work from home. Worker location must align with Kaiser Permanente's Authorized States policy. Kaiser Permanente is an equal opportunity employer committed to fair, respectful, and inclusive workplaces. Applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic or status.
Requisition #: 1423095

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