Assistant Vice Chancellor for Government Relations / Health

University of Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Houston is seeking an Assistant Vice Chancellor of Governmental Relations to support healthcare advocacy at local, state, and federal levels. This role requires strong experience in governmental relations and healthcare policy, with responsibilities including developing relationships with officials, managing communications, and coordinating legislative agendas. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree, ideally a Master's, and at least 7 years of relevant experience. Join us to strengthen higher education advocacy within the healthcare domain.

Qualifications

• Requires 7+ years of job-related experience.
• Preferred: 8+ years in governmental relations or public administration.
• Understanding of healthcare systems and legislative bodies.

Responsibilities

• Support UHS goals at Local, State, and Federal levels.
• Develop relationships with elected officials.
• Coordinate with healthcare systems on policy issues.

Skills

Governmental relations

Healthcare policy

Public administration

Legislative analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Master’s degree in public policy or related

Job description

Department and Salary

Department: VC/VP, Governmental Relations. Salary: Commensurate with Experience/Education.

Overview

The Office of Government and Community Relations operates across Houston, Austin, and Washington, D.C. This position holds offices in Houston and Austin, with periodic travel to Washington, D.C. as needed. Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor/Vice President of Government and Community Relations, the assistant vice chancellor assists in developing, implementing, and executing departmental goals, serving as the primary representative for the University System's government relations healthcare priorities.

Responsibilities

1. Support the development, alignment, and execution of UHS goals and initiatives at the Local, State and Federal levels with a focus on healthcare education and delivery.
2. Develop and maintain regular communication and working relationships with elected officials, appointed officials, and their staffs.
3. Partner with other healthcare systems—including providers, insurers, and industry stakeholders—and assist with representing UHS in policy forums, stakeholder meetings, and relevant workgroups.
4. Identify, review, analyze, and interpret healthcare legislation that will impact UHS and its institutions; monitor activities of legislative committees and provide timely updates to assist with coordination of governmental relations activities.
5. Coordinate with department, institutional leadership, and necessary faculty groups to develop, coordinate, and assist in executing the department's legislative agenda regarding healthcare education and delivery in higher education.
6. Represent UHS mission of improving healthcare delivery and education through regular communications with local, state, and federal officials and agencies.
7. Support engagement relating to priorities and goals of UHS to state agencies, including the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Legislative Budget Board, and Texas Department of Health and Human Services, Texas Department of State Health Services.
8. Act as liaison between campuses and elected officials, advocating for UHS healthcare priorities.
9. Manage communication with various university leadership, faculty groups, alumni groups, student organizations, and health industry associations.
10. Prepare policy briefings, legislative materials, and reports for system leadership.
11. Help develop, implement and evaluate legislative strategies related to system priorities in healthcare delivery and health education.
12. Monitor various policy sources to research, monitor, analyze, and respond to federal, state, and local policies affecting UHS; provide recommendations to senior leadership on significant state and federal issues.
13. Maintain active collaboration with other state universities and systems to share intelligence, coordinate strategy, and strengthen statewide higher education advocacy.
14. Research and identify outside funding for projects that are important to UHS.
15. Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Requires a thorough understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of an analytical, technical, or professional discipline, or basic knowledge of more than one professional discipline. Knowledge of the discipline is normally obtained through a formal, directly job‑related, 4‑year degree from a college or university or an equivalent in‑depth specialized training program directly related to the type of work being performed. Requires a minimum of seven (7) years of directly job‑related experience.

Preferred: Minimum of eight (8) years of experience in governmental relations, public administration, or higher education policy; demonstrated experience working with legislative bodies, executive agencies, and academic institutions; or a Master’s degree in public policy, education, law, or a related field, and ten (10) years of directly related professional experience in healthcare policy and advocacy. Demonstrated relationships with members of the Texas Congressional Delegation, Texas Legislature, and other critical public officials; knowledge of the Texas Legislative Process and state agencies; experience working with higher education institutions, healthcare organizations, and/or healthcare systems.

EEO Statement

The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.