Director, State Affairs

This position leads the operational responsibilities of the State Affairs Department of Public Policy in its efforts to influence state health reform policy and programs and develop and maintain working relationships with state government entities. The individual will manage the team in its day-to-day work to promote NCQA products and services as solutions for state healthcare policymaking, purchasing and monitoring. They will manage the team's participation in cross-functional activities including product development, research and operational projects tied to supporting states as customers. They will be responsible for leading relationships with several high priority states and managing the team's work to ensure continuous exploration and monitoring of opportunities. The Director will support the AVP of State Affairs in delivering on department goals for achieving state mandates and promoting NCQA as a thought leader in states. Travel to target states and conferences expected; 8-12 trips per year depending upon business need and candidate's location.

State Outreach and Relationship Management.

Lead State Affairs in meeting NCQA annual product recognition/mandate targets. Work includes:

• Serving as a lead for several high value states
• Managing team in their roles as leads with Tier 1, 2 and 3 states including responsibilities to:
  • Engage public sector decision makers (e.g. offices of the governor, state legislators, Medicaid and state employee benefit programs) to promote our programs through in person and virtual meetings and understand public sector opportunities/needs
  • Lead internal discussions on state policy issues for target states requiring inter-departmental engagement and problem resolution (e.g. ARO, Product Development (HEDIS and Accred Policy, Audit).
  • Network with state-based influencers to gather intelligence and inform our state-specific strategies (influence mapping)
• Assist AVP in ongoing review and identification of high value (politically and/or revenue generating) states and state policy themes

Thought Leadership and Communication

• Flagging and sharing state policy priorities with key business units (e.g. PPER, Business Dev., ARO, Research, QSG) including details of forthcoming mandates, how new policy priorities influence current customers (e.g. changes in how care is delivered) and opportunities to gain grants or contracts.
• Supporting AVP of State Affairs and Federal Affairs team in translation of state and federal policies for internal discussions focused on product development, problem solving and finding solutions for states
• Qualifications

Education

Degrees,

Certificate

Minimum Required:

College degree in a related field or equivalent experience.

Preferred Level:

Masters degree in a related field (e.g. Health Services, Public Policy).

Experience

Yrs and type

of experience

Minimum Required:

10+ years' experience with state healthcare advocacy on public policy and regulatory matters; specifically related to directly engaging states on issues of quality, health insurance, managed care and health reform. Understanding of NCQA's accreditation, measurement and other products (e.g. Information Products) and services.

Preferred Level:

15+ years' experience in health care policy (Medicaid, insurance, managed care, health reform) and state government relations. Understanding of the state policy & regulatory environment for health quality measurement and delivery system reforms and managed care.

Skills

Type and

Proficiency

Minimum Required: Demonstrated evidence of evaluating and communicating complex themes, verbally and in writing, in crisp, clear and direct communication for internal and external audiences. Skills: Policy Analysis and , solutions-focused. Experience leading teams, managing staff within and across multiple complex projects. Excellent interpersonal skills, including tact. Knowledge of Salesforce and Microsoft Offices products.

Preferred Level:

10+ years' experience doing public speaking, people mgmt., project management, leading cross-functional meetings, and experience conducting state outreach.

NCQA is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.

NCQA is a drug free workplace. NCQA recruits, hires, trains and promotes individuals, and administers any and all personnel actions, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, citizenship, familial status, disability status, veteran status, genetic information, or other protected statuses under applicable state and federal laws.

NCQA will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c).