Vice President, California Government Relations

Kaiser Permanente; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaiser Permanente is seeking a Vice President of California Government Relations to lead an integrated strategy across government relations, public affairs, and policy. You will partner with market, enterprise, legal, regulatory, and community leaders to anticipate policy issues and align advocacy priorities with KP's strategic goals.

In this role, you will cultivate relationships with legislators, agencies, industry partners, and stakeholder coalitions, guiding senior executives and shaping

Qualifications

• Minimum fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in government relations, legislative affairs, public affairs, advocacy, public policy, political affairs, or related fields, including significant leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of California State government relations strategies that advance Kaiser Permanente's mission and policy objectives.
• Serve as a senior advisor to enterprise and California market leaders on legislative, regulatory, political, and stakeholder issues affecting KP.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with elected officials, public agencies, industry partners, advocacy organizations, community leaders, and other external stakeholders.
• Coordinate cross-functional policy and advocacy priorities with Public Affairs, Legal, Compliance, Regulatory, Community Health, Labor Relations, Communications, and operational leaders.
• Identify emerging policy risks and opportunities, develop clear recommendations, and support executive decision-making on priority issues.
• Represent Kaiser Permanente in external forums and ensure messages, positions, and engagement strategies are consistent, credible, and aligned across the organization.

Skills

Leadership

Policy advocacy

Stakeholder management

Public affairs

Strategic thinking

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Summary:

The Vice President, California Government Relations is responsible for leading an integrated government relations strategy for Kaiser Permanente in California. The incumbent partners closely with Public Affairs, market, enterprise, legal, regulatory, community health, labor, and operational leaders to anticipate and shape policy issues, strengthen relationships with key external stakeholders, and align advocacy priorities with KPs strategic and operational goals.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of California State government relations strategies that advance Kaiser Permanentes mission, business priorities, and public policy objectives.
• Serve as a senior advisor to enterprise and California market leaders on legislative, regulatory, political, and stakeholder issues affecting KP.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with elected officials, public agencies, industry partners, advocacy organizations, community leaders, and other external stakeholders.
• Coordinate cross-functional policy and advocacy priorities with Public Affairs, Legal, Compliance, Regulatory, Community Health, Labor Relations, Communications, and operational leaders.
• Identify emerging policy risks and opportunities, develop clear recommendations, and support executive decision-making on priority issues.
• Represent Kaiser Permanente in external forums and ensure messages, positions, and engagement strategies are consistent, credible, and aligned across the organization.

Basic Qualifications – Experience

• Minimum fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in government relations, legislative affairs, public affairs, advocacy, public policy, political affairs, or related fields, including significant leadership experience.

Basic Qualifications – Education

• Bachelors degree required.

Basic Qualifications – License, Certification, Registration

• N/A

Additional Requirements:

• Significant experience working directly with the California Legislature, Governors Office, state agencies, statewide elected officials, and other California political and policy stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing sophisticated legislative, political, coalition, and stakeholder engagement strategies in California.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams and managing senior government relations professionals.
• Deep understanding of Californias legislative and political environment, including the legislative process, state budget process, executive branch, regulatory environment, and major institutions and stakeholders that shape public policy.
• Strong relationships and demonstrated credibility with California policymakers, legislative leaders, administration officials, political stakeholders, trade associations, coalitions, and other influential organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively across political perspectives and build durable relationships with policymakers and stakeholders.
• Proven experience advising senior executives on complex legislative, political, reputational, and business issues and translating external developments into clear strategic recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead integrated public affairs strategies by working across government relations, communications, advocacy, community engagement, policy, and other disciplines without requiring direct reporting authority over those functions.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate emerging issues, assess political and legislative risk, and develop proactive strategies in a fast-moving and highly complex environment.
• Experience working within a large, highly matrixed organization and successfully leading through influence across multiple functions, businesses, markets, and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience managing lobbying firms, consultants, trade association strategies, coalition partnerships, and external resources. Exceptional political judgment, discretion, executive presence, communication skills, and ability to represent Kaiser Permanente credibly with senior external stakeholders.
• Ability to balance California-specific priorities and relationships with broader enterprise strategies, governance, and objectives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree preferred.
• Significant experience in California health care policy, government relations, or a similarly complex and highly regulated sector strongly preferred.
• Experience representing a large health care delivery system, health plan, integrated health system, employer, or other complex health care organization preferred.
• Experience operating within an integrated Public Affairs model in which government relations, communications, advocacy, community engagement, and other capabilities work together against shared organizational priorities preferred.