How would you like to work in a place where your contributions and ideas are valued? A place where you can serve with compassion, pursue excellence and honor every voice? At Wellstar, our mission is simple, yet powerful: to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve. We are proud to have become a shining example of what's possible when the brightest professionals dedicate themselves to making a difference in the healthcare industry, and in people's lives.

Work Shift

Job Summary:

The Chief Government Affairs Officerwill lead its advocacy, policy, and lobbying
efforts, including the enhancement of Wellstar's political brand with key stakeholders (e.g., policymakers and regulators).
The leader will leverage and build upon their relationships with relevant federal, state and local policymakers
and their knowledge of the key issues to effectively tell Wellstar's story and advocate for policy solutions. In a dynamic
healthcare policy environment, the Chief Government Affairs Officer will lead and build the government affairs program to strategically
align stakeholders' support of Wellstar's mission, vision and policy goals, and to actively advocate for policy positions that
support Wellstar's objectives.
Reporting to the EVP, Chief External Affairs Officer, this leader will serve as the primary interface to
governmental and advocacy organizations. As such, this executive is a strategic, trusted advisor to Wellstar's CEO and
senior leadership team in considering the policy implications of business decisions and communicating the implications of
policy changes on Wellstar and its patients.
Additional responsibilities include (but are not limited to):
Manage and lead Wellstar government relations activity and actively participate in local, state and federal
legislative processes. Manage a team of political consultants and contract lobbyists/advocates.
Build and lead a policy team within Wellstar to evaluate the impacts of proposed legislation and regulation, and
formulate policy positions and advocacy strategies.
Monitor new federal and state legislation and regulation that affects Wellstar's business; work with senior leaders
and Compliance to ensure their implementation.
Develop and communicate policy recommendations to elected officials; lobby state and federal elected and
executive branch officials
Partner with Communications, Community Engagement and others as necessary to develop advocacy strategies
to support business initiatives such as facility construction and expansion, acquisitions, etc.; enhance the Wellstar
political brand by participating in community relations efforts in the Wellstar service area.
Partner with senior executives, the Wellstar Foundation, the Wellstar Center for Health Equity, Catalyst by
Wellstar and others to develop thought leadership positions.
Partner with the Wellstar Board, senior executives, and local Boards to develop grassroots support for
organizational priorities.

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

1. Manages and leads WellStar government relations activity and actively participate in local, state
and federal legislative processes.
a. Provides strategic oversight to government relations department and is responsible for government
affairs strategies that advance the systems mission and goals with local, regional, state and federal
elected officials.
b. Establishes and implements short- and long-range organizational goals, objectives, strategic plans,
policies, and operating procedures; monitors and evaluates programmatic and operational
effectiveness, and effects changes required for improvement.
c. Establishes and maintains constructive relationships with elected and appointed officials on a
federal, state, and local level and invests considerable time and energy in prioritized networking
activity.
d. Apprises senior leadership of pertinent legislative issues, external factors, and policy proposals and
actions that could impact the System.
e. Understands, communicates and advocates System priorities to governmental officials, local and
national organizations and other government entities on key legislative issues related to health
policy.
Serves as a key representative for the System at legislative sessions, before State bodies, and
Federal agencies in support of institutional goals and objectives.
g. Shapes and influences legislative programs and other critical business issues in alignment with
System goals and objectives.
h. Works in collaboration with Senior Leadership, to develop an effective health focused state and
federal legislative agenda and attendant strategy.
i. Works with lobbyists and legislators in establishing and implementing a lobbying strategy, both
proactive and responsive.
j. Prepares communications to and for key stakeholders, regarding pertinent issues on legislative
changes; directs and oversees the development of materials in support of the government relations
agenda, such as talking points, legislative summaries, factsheets, testimony, reports and letters.
k. Participates with senior leadership on institutional planning, policy development, and problem
resolution.
l. Designs, establishes, and maintains an organizational structure and staffing with the necessary
expertise (health sciences and other key university areas) to effectively accomplish the
organizations goals and objectives; oversees recruitment, training, supervision, and evaluation of
unit staff.
m. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned
2. Manage a team of political consultants and contract lobbyists/advocates
a. Lead an ongoing discussion to determine the best possible contract representation for the health
system.
b. Define and maintain strong and open channels of communication with contract team.
c. Provide appropriate information to educate contract team on system operations and issues of
interest.
d. Leverage team members relationships with elected officials to the benefit of the system.
e. Coordinate team meetings, agendas, tours, special events, etc.
f. Develop strategy to maximize value of investment in contract team, and delegate responsibilities
and make assignments among team members during critical junctures in the legislative process.
g. Utilize team resources to conduct research and analysis as needed and assign team members to
attend and report on meetings as needed
3. Enhance WellStar Political Brand by participating in Community Relations efforts in the WellStar
service area.
a. Establish a clear consistent political brand among political audiences.
b. Attend select community events and meetings as a representative for WellStar.
c. Serve on business and community task force groups and other areas to engage with community
leaders about healthcare in the community when politically relevant.
d. Serve as a speaker to select community groups on topics such as Medicare, Policy Changes, etc
4. Office Management
a. Direct Coordinator of Operations on ways to assist in Government Relations responsibilities.
b. Provide management oversight of departmental budget, expenses, costs, etc
Performs other duties as assigned
Complies with all Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.

Required Minimum Education:

An undergraduate degree is required. An advanced degree such as a JD or MBA is highly desirable.

Required Minimum Experience:

Minimum 10-12 years working with elected officials, board members, community leaders, programming, policy writing, budget oversight and event planning. The successful candidate will be an executive-ready government affairs leader with substantial health policy experience, including engaging with relevant state policymakers and regulators in Georgia. The ideal candidate will have senior-most leadership experience in roles of increasing responsibility for an organizations advocacy agenda and the achievement of policy objectives, in alignment with the organizations strategy and business objectives.
A collaborative leader, the Senior Vice President will be a demonstrated team developer with experience building, motivating, and optimizing a team, including by leveraging cross-functional resources to rebuild Wellstar's brand in the capital.

Required Minimum Skills:
The successful candidate will be an articulate spokesperson with a track-record of experience effectively telling the story of an impactful organization. A natural relationship builder who has a well-established network of relationships with relevant policymakers and regulators, the successful candidate will bring excellent communication, stakeholder management, and conflict resolution skills.

Join us and discover the support to do more meaningful work—and enjoy a more rewarding life. Connect with the most integrated health system in Georgia, and start a future that gives you more.