Role Overview:  Medical Alley Association (MAA) is working to activate and amplify healthcare transformation as the epicenter of health innovation and care.  If you want to have an impact on a $4 trillion dollar sector of the U.S., join the only organization representing the entire continuum of care. This role will lead the ongoing growth of MAA’s Government Affairs and Policy (GAP), which represents some of the nation’s leaders in the healthcare industry, including Mayo Clinic, Medtronic, 3M, and United Healthcare. This individual must be energized by making and maintaining business and legislative relationships, self-motivated, and love being part of a team. This leadership role will define GAP opportunities with existing members and work with the MAA membership team to support sales targets and annual organizational goals around GAP. Responsible for building executive level relationships, supporting key initiatives by making connections with State legislators and law makers and ensuring an effective, dedicated voice on behalf of our partners and investors.  This individual will report to the CEO and work with leadership to advance MAA mission. 

Position Structure: The Director of Policy and Advocacy will serve as a key member of the MAA leadership team.  The Director’s primary role will be to plan and execute effective policy.  The Director will also be a functional partner to other teams, supporting membership, content creation, and communications.   This roll will manage direct reports on the Affairs and Policy team. 

Key Roles & Responsibilities:

Strategy, Policy Development & Communication

• Elevate the overall profile and reputation of the association, attracting interest of policy makers at a State and Local level.
• Develop and execute State advocacy strategy.
• In collaboration with the Federal external team develop Federal advocacy strategy ensuring alignment with State activities or vice versa as applicable.
• Identify issues or other opportunities for MAA to take a leadership role and design and execute a strategy to effectuate that leadership.
• Work with the MAA Marketing & Communications team on needed data, design, social media campaigns, e-mails, or other materials or communications.

Relationships & Advocacy

• Meet with State legislators, policymakers, and staff to advocate for MAA initiatives or promote the work of MAA and its members.  
• Foster and grow relationships with key legislators, policymakers, and staff to build reliable contacts and base support for Medical Alley Association backed initiatives.
• Collaborate with resources at the Federal level to stay informed and up to date on issues/initiatives including Agencies such as CMS and FDA
• Ensure proper coverage of all necessary legislative hearings and meetings and other non-legislative work groups, advisory groups, or other meetings.
• Ensure regular communication of MAA policy and advocacy objectives, as well as the work of MAA members/partners and community, to legislators, policymakers, and staff.
• Coordinate, and help execute research on policy initiatives as needed.
• Register as a lobbyist.  Ensure timely and accurate lobbying activity reports.

State PAC

• Manage the Medical Alley State PAC and leverage it to support industry allies, secure exclusive meetings and ensure report completion and compliance with all applicable reporting, laws, and regulations.
• Leverage PAC dollars to attend political fundraisers and campaign events to drive awareness of the Medical Alley community and its policy priorities.
• Oversee and manage the Medical Alley PAC Board Committee.

MAA Members

• Enhance the profile of the Medical Alley Association and its members among legislators, policymakers, agencies, and staff.
• Execute Member Engagement Strategy for assigned MAA members.
• Regularly engage MAA members in policy and advocacy work, including maintaining a committee of government relations contacts – and other interested parties - at member companies.
• Establish and conduct round table discussion on key topics with partners and constituents.
• Interpret policy issues for the MAA membership.

Team Development & Leadership

• Oversee MAA policy and advocacy efforts at State Capitol.
• In collaboration with MAA Marketing/Events design, plan and execute the Annual Medical Alley Day at the State Capitol.

• Coordinate with State (MnTech, Minnesota Chamber, Minnesota Business Partnership, etc.) and National organizations and coalitions (AdvaMed, BIO, the American Connection Project).
• Provide regular updates to the President & CEO on legislative activity and developments, and request assistance as required.
• Manage the activity and workload of the Policy and Advocacy Team.
• Collaborate with external Federal team to inform and advise the President & CEO on Federal policy and regulatory issues, including rules, guidance and interactions with FDA, CMS and other agencies, ensuring alignment with State initiative as appropriate.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required with focus in Government studies
• 8+ years government relations experience at the State level
• 3+ years management experience of direct reports 
• Executive presence with outstanding verbal and written communication skills
• Strong relationship building skills across C-suite organization levels
• Strategic thinker who is creative, collaborative, high energy and concise
• Dedicated to quality service with strong regard for ethics and integrity
• Health industry experience preferred

To apply, please email a resume and cover letter to Elizabeth Shaw (eshaw@medicalalley.org).

Position Details: 

Category: Full-Time, Exempt Employee 

Must have reliable transportation. Occasional travel and flexibility to work weekends or evenings, as required.

Organizational Summary: MAA is a member organization working to promote Medical Alley and over 800 global companies that make this region, The Epicenter of Health Innovation and Care®. MAA does this by influencing policy at state and federal levels, delivering actionable intelligence that informs decision-making, connecting members to other industry professionals, providing resources, industry training, and knowledge. We are proud to have been named one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For by Minnesota Business Magazine and one of the Best Places to Work honorees by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.