Director, State Government Affairs (MIDWEST)

About AbbVie
AbbVie’s mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people’s lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women’s health and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Purpose:

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, including, but not limited to, use of third party organizations in order to shape state legislative and regulatory activity and  strengthen advocacy efforts. This position will represent AbbVie in matters of state and local legislation, regulations, or rules that have an impact on the company, and drive favorable resolutions to those matters. Director must anticipate state and local legislation and public policy trends and emerging issues in order to get ahead of potentially negative government action or to proactively shape the environment to make it more favorable to AbbVie’s interests is critical. The position will develop relationships with policymakers, regulators, patient advocates, physician advocates, business groups, public policy groups, associations, and other stakeholders and drive their engagement on key public policy issues. Rigorous compliance with all state lobbying rules is a critical component of this role.        

 

Responsibilities:

• Develop and executive comprehensive advocacy strategies to shape state legislative activity and deliver on business priorities.  This includes direct lobbying, trade association management,  and engagement of third party groups and coalitions. Assess state and local political and public policy environment, determine where legislative and regulatory action is advisable and where it is not, and make recommendations on AbbVie action. Align cross-functionally and manage expectations of the business regarding the legislative and regulatory environment and the potential impact on AbbVie.
• 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. Proactively evaluate legislation, regulations, and rules, as well as the political environment. Assess both opportunities and threats to AbbVie interests and create comprehensive Government Affairs strategies to address them that include lobbying, 3rd party advocacy, policy development, and media engagement on leg/policy goals.
• Develop close working relationships with key internal business stakeholders – including Regional and District managers – within position’s assigned region to leverage state advocacy strategies. Engage with these key business stakeholders and develop keen understanding of commercial strategies in the region to ensure government affairs strategies support AbbVie’s commercial objectives. In addition, maintain strategic partnership with site leadership across AbbVie facilities in region and provide counsel on matters impacting business operations.
• Partner with GA Therapeutic Area Strategies team to understand commercial objectives across therapeutic areas of focus in order to develop creative legislative, regulatory, policy, and political solutions tailored to the region to drive business objectives.
• Lead and manage engagement with key trade association task forces and coalitions, and drive trade association action on key issues of importance to AbbVie. Develop engagement plans for key national groups affecting state policy (CSG, RGA, DGA, NCSL, etc.). Work closely with Federal Government Affairs to manage the intersection of state and national politics, policy, lawmakers, and associations.
• 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.
• Manage outside consultants and legal counsel within region, including setting objectives, defining missions and ensuring execution in support of state legislative strategies.
• Ensure rigorous compliance to all legally required registrations for the corporation, staff and outside counsel within the position’s region.

Qualifications

Basic 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 experience in lobbying, public administration, political party activity, legislative staff work, or related experience.  Experience in health care industry issues preferred.  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; demonstrate a thorough knowledge of major state health programs, including Medicaid, ADAP, state finance and appropriations processes, etc.; 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.
• Ability to act independently and demonstrate sound business judgment within the scope of broad guidelines.  Demonstrated ability to create and implement comprehensive GA strategies that include lobbying, association engagement, third party advocacy, digital/social/earned media, and other GA tools that result in successful engagement of  external groups and influencers.
• Possess strong analytical, critical thinking and interpersonal skills, the ability to speak and write persuasively 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 (50 percent) required.

 

Key Stakeholders:

Internally with US Area senior management, other members of the GA team across AbbVie and other relevant cross-functional teams (i.e. Market Access, Legal).  Externally with state officials including governors, legislators, staff, county and district officials and third-party groups.

Significant Work Activities
N/A
Travel
Yes, 50 % of the Time
Job Type
Experienced
Schedule
Full-time
Job Level Code
D
Equal Employment Opportunity
At AbbVie, we value bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds to develop new and innovative solutions for patients. As an equal opportunity employer we do not discriminate on the basis 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, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.