Director, State Government Affairs (Midwest)

The Director, State Government Affairs, MIDWEST (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin) will develop and execute comprehensive advocacy strategies to shape state legislative and regulatory activities that support AbbVie’s patients, employees, and business. Director must anticipate state and local legislation, public policy trends and emerging issues with potential impact on AbbVie and effectively drive corresponding plans that lead to positive impacts for the company. Director will represent AbbVie’s point of view and steer active engagement with key stakeholders including: policymakers, local elected officials and leaders, patient advocates, business groups and trade associations. Director will contribute to meaningful thought leadership both externally and internally and protect and enhance the company’s reputation through their work.

Rigorous compliance with all state lobbying rules is a critical component of this role.

Responsibilities:

STRATEGIC PLANNING and CRITICAL THINKING

• Develop and executive comprehensive advocacy strategies that shape state legislative activity and advance business priorities, through direct lobbying, trade association management and engagement with third-party groups / coalitions.
• Proactively assess state and local political and public policy environment, determine where legislative and regulatory action is advisable and where it is not, and effectively socialize recommendations in order to build appropriate buy-in, including with Senior Leadership.
• Represent AbbVie in matters of state and local legislation, regulations, or rules that have an impact on the enterprise and state/local business operations, and drive favorable resolutions to those matters.
• Serve as thought-leader across broader Government Affairs organization to ensure effective strategy integration that acknowledges the intersection of state and national politics and the healthcare policy environment.

STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT:

Internal:

• Develop close working relationships with key internal business stakeholders – including Commercial and Market Access leaders in region in order to develop keen understanding of commercial strategies and ensure Government Affairs strategies best support AbbVie’s objectives.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with site leadership across AbbVie facilities and provide counsel on matters impacting business operations.
• Align cross-functionally and manage expectations of the business regarding the legislative and regulatory environment and the potential impact on AbbVie.

External:

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with state legislators and staff, state executive branch officials, regulators, and local government officials in order to anticipate action and execute GA strategies. Develop relationships with key third-party advocates across the patient, business and health sectors and engage them in support of issues, policies, and legislative and regulatory action.
• Lead and manage engagement with key task forces and coalitions, and drive action on key issues of importance to AbbVie.
• Manage outside consultants and legal counsel within region, setting objectives for action plans and ensuring execution of state legislative strategies.
• Ensure rigorous compliance to all legally required registrations for the corporation, staff and outside counsel.

Key Stakeholders:

Internally with AbbVie US senior leadership, the Government Affairs, Public Affairs and Operations teams and other relevant cross-functional teams (i.e. Commercial, site leadership, Market Access, Legal). Externally with state government officials including governors, legislators, staff, county and local officials, trade and business associations, patient advocacy and other third-party groups.

Minimum Requirements:

• Strong executive presence necessary. Ability to deal effectively with high-profile stakeholders such as elected officials, executives and a variety of external constituencies; including ability to influence and navigate political landscape.
• Eight to ten years of experience in lobbying, public administration, political party activity, legislative staff work, or related experience. Requires advanced knowledge of legislative rules and procedures, legislative processes, politics, and the complex corporate and policy issues affecting AbbVie. Ability to master complex policy and legislative issues, think creatively, and develop innovative strategies and solutions.
• Experience in health care industry issues preferred. Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of major state health programs, including Medicaid, state finance and appropriations processes; deep knowledge of private health care marketplace mechanisms – insurance, drug benefit plans, key player strategies (i.e. PBMs, pharmacies, employers, consumers, etc.); and, understanding of complex public policy environments.
• Demonstrated ability to create and implement comprehensive and creative GA strategies that challenge the status quo, through: lobbying, association engagement, third party advocacy, digital/social/earned media, and other GA tools that result in successful engagement of external groups and influencers.
• Ability to act independently and demonstrate sound business judgment.
• Possess strong analytical, critical thinking and interpersonal skills, the ability to speak and write persuasively, authentically and with clarity, strong organizational skills, flexibility and adaptability to changing requirements, resourcefulness and creativity, strong attention to detail, a proven track record of being able to work under deadlines and an ability to work collaboratively in a fluid organizational environment.
• Works well in a team environment and enjoys a collegial, yet highly demanding culture while effectively collaborating with business leaders and other internal stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree in related field such as health care administration, political science, public administration or policy required. Advance degree preferred.
• Candidates must also have comprehensive knowledge of all Microsoft Office applications.
• Domestic travel (25 percent) required.

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer including disability/vets. It is AbbVie’s policy to employ qualified persons of the greatest ability without discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, status as a disabled veteran, recently separated veteran, Armed Forces service medal veteran or active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran or a person’s relationship or association with a protected veteran, including spouses and other family members, or any other protected group status. We will take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified minorities, women, individuals with a disability, disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, Armed Forces service medal veterans or active-duty wartime or campaign badge veterans. The Affirmative Action Plan is available for viewing in the Human Resources office during regular business hours.