Senior Director, State Engagement

The Joint Commission; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 169,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

The Joint Commission seeks a Senior Director, State Engagement, to lead state government relations and health policy initiatives from the DC area. The role focuses on strategic relationship building with state governments, Medicaid offices, and health associations to advance accreditation and policy priorities.

You will manage a team of state policy experts, develop proactive strategies, and represent the organization at national conferences, ensuring alignment with enterprise-wide goals and

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required or equivalent in a related field.
• 15+ years in state relations, healthcare policy focus in last 5 years.
• Hands-on leadership of a policy team and advisory staff.
• Strong communication and executive-level relationship management.

Responsibilities

• Lead state government relations and health policy engagement across offices and associations.
• Develop strategies to identify opportunities and barriers at the state level for accreditation and policy priorities.
• Draft policy positions, analyses, briefings, and stakeholder communications.
• Manage and develop the state engagement team and represent the organization at national events.

Skills

Leadership

Relationship building

Policy analysis

Strategic thinking

Education

Master’s degree in public policy, public health, government affairs or law

Job description

Overview

Expert thought leader on state engagement related to health policy, legislation, departments of health, Medicaid offices, and state hospital associations. Senior Director, State Engagement, serves as lead strategist and relationship manager for state-level government affairs, stakeholder engagement, and public policy initiatives.

Provides leadership on health policy matters, state laws and regulations, relationship building with state governments and strategic thinking on new areas to develop state partnerships. Leads a team of state government relations and health policy staff who serve as key liaisons between the organization and state policymakers and state-level associations to advance the organization’s mission through policy alignment and collaborative initiatives. Works with Government Relations leadership and other leaders across the enterprise to expand and identify engagements at the state-level. Reports to Executive Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy.

Responsibilities

State Government and Policy Engagement

• Leads thoughtful and strategic relationship building and sustains relationships with key state governments offices, Departments of Health, legislatures, Medicaid Offices, and state associations.
• Maintains expertise on state health policy matters, state health policy trends, and emerging areas relevant to enterprise priorities and a broad range of healthcare policy matters relevant to all healthcare delivery settings.
• Ensures enterprise is actively and proactively participating in state health policy matters as they relate to enterprise priorities and work.

Strategic Development

• Develop and execute strategies that strengthen relationships with state policymakers, regulators, state-level healthcare associations, healthcare organizations, and other key stakeholders.
• Leads team to identify legislative, regulatory, and policy opportunities and barriers at the state level relevant to accreditation and certification, broad policy areas relevant to healthcare quality and patient safety, and overall enterprise strategies.
• Coordinates and drafts policy positions, legislative analyses, issue brief, and stakeholder communications to support organizational priorities.

Leadership

• Manages state government relations and state association engagement staff.
• Enhances existing and future capabilities of state engagement team.
• Represents and manages representation of Joint Commission at meetings and national conferences on state health policy matters.
• Develops state engagement goals and ensures alignment with Government Relations department and enterprise strategies.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in public policy, public health, government affairs or law degree.
• Minimum of 15 years’ experience in state relations, with at least 5 years, recently focused on healthcare policy matters.
• Hands‑on approach to managing a team of state relations and health policy experts.
• Interpersonal skills to lead effective interactions with a wide variety of government office leadership and c‑suite-level executives.
• Strategic thinker with strong project management and organizational skills.
• Detailed-oriented with excellent oral, written, and analytical skills.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, a deep understanding of healthcare policy, and the ability to represent the organization’s interests effectively in diverse forums.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by an employee assigned to this position. The description is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, knowledge, skills, and abilities, and working conditions associated with this position. All requirements are subject to possible modification and reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

Equal Opportunity Field

We offer a comprehensive benefit package. For a complete overview of our benefits package, please visit our Joint Commission Career Page

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Min

USD $169,000.00/year

Max

USD $225,000.00/year