Public Affairs Director

JOB DETAILS
Department: Public Policy
FTE: 1.0 (80hours per pay period)
Location: In-Person

Purpose of this position: Lead the execution of Hennepin Healthcare’s public affairs and advocacy engagement strategy in alignment with organizational government relations and public policy priorities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Public Affairs and Advocacy

• Lead Hennepin Healthcare’s public affairs and advocacy engagement strategy in alignment with organizational government relations and public policy priorities
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with advocacy organizations, community leaders, coalition partners, and other internal and external stakeholders
• Lead enterprise-wide advocacy education, engagement, and mobilization efforts, including training, action alerts, legislative updates, and other opportunities to engage employees, physicians, residents, and leaders
• Represent Hennepin Healthcare in external stakeholder meetings and forums and serve as a senior organizational representative on public affairs and advocacy matters
• Prepare executives, physicians, clinical leaders, and subject matter experts for legislative meetings, hearings, testimony, advocacy events, and other external engagements
• Identify emerging political, policy, and community issues and advise the Chief, Government Relations and executive leadership on opportunities, risks, and appropriate strategies.

Public Policy and Government Relations

• Monitor legislative, regulatory, and political developments and provide analysis and briefing materials to inform government relations strategy and executive decision-making
• Support development and implementation of Hennepin Healthcare’s Public Policy Priorities with the Hennepin County Intergovernmental Relations team and coordinate cross-functional input on legislative and regulatory issues
• Coordinate development of testimony, comments, policy materials, and other organizational responses to legislative and regulatory proposals
• Maintain legislative tracking, advocacy reporting, and required lobbying registration and compliance
• Provide leadership and mentorship to staff, interns, and others supporting public affairs and advocacy initiatives

Communications

• Develop and execute proactive and reactive public affairs strategies and messaging related to government, public policy, community issues, and organizational priorities
• Partner with Communications and Marketing to strengthen Hennepin Healthcare’s internal and external reputation and relationships with policymakers, community stakeholders, employees, and the public
• Provide public affairs counsel on emerging healthcare and policy issues and develop talking points, briefing materials, legislative updates, reports, and other communications
• Partner with media relations leadership on communications strategies and responses to significant legislative, regulatory, and public policy issues

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Social Work, Law or related field
• Minimum of 5 years of related experience

-OR- 

• An approved equivalent combination of education and experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience navigating the Minnesota Capitol system, with knowledge of the players and dynamics
• Understanding of health care system and health policy landscape
• Experience developing testimony, policy briefs, and executive-level advocacy materials
• Comfort and skill in public speaking
• Strong writing proficiency, ability to seamlessly blend evidence, policy analysis catered to different audiences
• Ability to organize and synthesize large amounts of complex information into accessible, engaging language, and visuals
• Experience in analyzing and responding to federal and state regulatory and legislative proposals

Knowledge/ Skills/ Abilities:

• Commitment to the nonpartisan status and mission of Hennepin Healthcare
• Excellent judgment, poise, and strong written and verbal communication skills
• Foundational knowledge of the state and federal legislative and regulatory processes
• Positive attitude, enthusiastic, flexible and a self-starter
• Experience with Microsoft Office Products and other reporting tools
• Ability to efficiently work autonomously and as part of a small team as well as with a range of internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to manage deadlines and expectations across multiple projects, in a fast-paced environment