Head of Government Relations, Maryland

Technical Summary:

The Head of Government Relations for Maryland is responsible for protecting, promoting, and enhancing Kaiser Permanente-s interests in the state by developing and directing a comprehensive advocacy strategy on key legislative and regulatory issues. This role represents the organization - and the members and communities it serves - with integrity, a deep understanding of Maryland-s political landscape, and a realistic sense of what is achievable within the legislative and regulatory environment. In addition to the responsibilities listed below, this position is accountable for:

• Tracking, analyzing, and interpreting political, legislative, and regulatory developments in Maryland to assess their impact on Kaiser Permanente and determine appropriate engagement strategies.
• Building and sustaining effective relationships with legislative and executive branch staff, legislators, trade associations, and other stakeholders, demonstrating the communication skills and credibility needed to influence and align diverse interests.
• Educating policymakers and staff about Kaiser Permanente-s integrated care and coverage model, ensuring they understand the implications of proposed legislation or regulations.
• Partnering with policymakers to shape legislation, applying the ability to translate complex policy issues into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Communicating and negotiating with legislators, executive officials, and stakeholder groups, modeling ethical behavior and maintaining trust in all interactions.
• Working independently with a wide range of elected and appointed officials, demonstrating sound judgment, political awareness, and the ability to navigate sensitive or high-stakes situations.
• Integrating and reconciling differing viewpoints across internal stakeholders, including senior executives, to ensure Kaiser Permanente-s positions are aligned, data-driven, and strategically grounded.
• Managing shifting priorities and deadlines, maintaining composure under pressure and adapting quickly to evolving political dynamics.
• Conducting needs assessments and audience analysis to develop integrated communications and advocacy strategies that reflect stakeholder perspectives and support Kaiser Permanente-s reputation.
• Reinforcing a culture of ethical conduct, ensuring that all advocacy efforts reflect the organization-s values and commitment to transparency.

In addition to the responsibilities listed below, this position is also responsible for utilizing in-depth knowledge of KPs operations, principles, philosophies, policies, and organizational structures necessary to advocate independent of supervision; establishing and fostering effective relationships with legislative and executive branch staff, legislators, trade associations, and other groups of importance independently; influencing policymakers and their staff about KP and the impact of proposed legislation or regulations on KP and partnering with policymakers to craft legislation; partnering with key internal stakeholders to advise on pending legislation, regulations, changes in key government policy or personnel, and other government relations matters; communicating and negotiating with relevant legislators and staff, executive branch officials, trade associations, and the policy community on public policy issues independently; leading the advisement of key internal stakeholders on the development of legislative policy positions; and overseeing the review of relevant legislation as introduced and amended and assessing its impact on KP.

• Promotes learning in others by communicating information and providing advice to drive projects forward; builds collaborative, cross-functional relationships. Solicits and acts on performance feedback; provides actionable feedback to others, including upward feedback to leadership; influences, mentors, and coaches team members. Practices self-leadership; creates, evaluates, and responds to the strengths and weaknesses of self and unit or team members. Leads the adaptation to competing demands and new responsibilities; adapts to and learns from change, challenges, and feedback. Fosters open dialogue amongst team members.
• Drives the execution of multiple work streams by identifying member and operational needs; translates business strategy into actionable business requirements; develops and updates new procedures and policies. Gains cross-functional support for objectives and priorities; determines and carries out processes and methodologies; solves highly complex issues; escalates and resolves issues as appropriate; sets standards and measures progress. Develops work plans to meet business priorities and deadlines; coordinates, obtains and distributes resources. Removes obstacles that impact performance; guides performance and develops contingency plans accordingly; influences the completion of project tasks by others.
• Promotes KPs interests by: fostering effective relationships with elected and appointed officials, policymakers, trade associations, and other groups; providing guidance on communicating with key external stakeholders on KP; mentoring others on influencing strategic partners to take positions consistent with KP; and facilitating others to be effective liaisons and representatives of KP.
• Partners with internal stakeholders on government relations by: coordinating with key internal stakeholders and senior leadership on developments in legislation, regulations, legal proposals, public policy, key personnel changes, national/state/local issues; integrating approaches and solutions to key issues; guiding planning efforts and response to proposed legislation, regulations, legal proposals, public policy, national/state/local issues; and managing recommendations and ensuring communication of positioning to internal audiences.