Senior Director, State Government Affairs - Quest Diagnostic : Job Details

Recognized by FORTUNE magazine as one of the World's Most Admired Companies, Quest Diagnostics (www.QuestDiagnostics.com) is the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services that doctors and patients need to make better healthcare decisions. We are pioneers in developing innovative diagnostic tests and advanced healthcare information technology solutions that help improve patient care.

With corporate headquarters in Secaucus, NJ, Quest Diagnostics is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DGX) and included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. With 2024 revenues of $9.87 billion and over 2,250 patient locations across the United States, Quest Diagnostics serves half of the physicians and hospitals in the U.S. with their large variety of products and services.

Senior Director, State Government Affairs

The Role

The Senior Director of State Government Affairs will represent Quest Diagnostics before state government officials and is responsible for developing and directing the state government affairs team's activities and resources for the company. This role combines policy knowledge and advocacy skills to support Quest Diagnostics priorities for patient care and the ideal candidate should be familiar with Medicaid and have relevant experience in state government or working in state government affairs.

Cross-functional teamwork within the company is an important aspect of this role and requires the Director to work with the company's regional and franchise business leadership to align priorities, develop strategies based on business needs and potential revenue generation or protection in private and public reimbursement settings.

The primary responsibilities of the Senior Director for State Government Affairs will be to manage two state government affairs managers and oversee the company's retained lobbyists. This includes managing a multi-issue policy portfolio with the ability to independently analyze relevant legislative and regulatory activity across various jurisdictions while simultaneously keeping the company informed on state policy developments.

The Senior Director reports directly to General Counsel Mike Prevoznik and can be based in either the Company's Secaucus, NJ headquarters, Washington DC or other location.

Responsibilities

Proposed Laws and Regulations:

• Directs state lobbying activities include identifying, monitoring, analyzing legislation and regulation affecting the company.
• Manages up to two state government affairs managers located in remote localities. Will work collaboratively with the managers to develop and implement an annual state government affairs strategic plan to meet the team's policy and engagement activities.
• In coordination with the managers, directs up to 28 contract lobbyists and their activities to obtain information and insight into state legislation and regulation and leverages their relationships in advance of the states' legislative sessions. The Senior Director will hold contract lobbyists accountable for business goals and manage their legislative and political activities.
• Advocates the company's policy positions with legislators and regulators. The Senior Director will identify opportunities for regional business leadership where competitors are engaging in anti-competitive business practices or political activity where it impedes our ability to conduct business on a level playing field and within the bounds of campaign laws and regulations.
• Communicates developments and updates on a regular basis through periodic reporting mechanisms and appropriate internal and external communications channels. More importantly, it identifies trends in health care legislation and regulation and alerts business leaders to such. Using an early identification system, the Director will respond quickly with mitigation strategy where needed or with creative strategy to encourage passage of favorable legislation. The Senior Director will develop model legislation that can be used to promote favorable legislation and develop best practices on key issues.

Representing Company with Policy Makers and Peers:

• Maintains a thorough knowledge of and legislative and regulatory policy processes in key states; knows how to work with Governors, Legislators and their staff and maintains relationships in key states.
• Strategically budgets for PAC distributions to key legislators and other relevant elected officials.
• Represents the company at legislative, regulatory or industry meetings as appropriate involving legislative, regulatory and/or public policy matters affecting the company and will be expected to travel as needed on an annual basis based on business priorities.

Administrative:

• Complies with all lobbying registration laws and internal compliance programs and manages state lobbying disclosure requirements where applicable.
• Strategic Deployment of External Lobbyists
• Manages and directs all outside lobbyists and manages their performance reviews annually.
• The Senior Director will work with regional business leadership to identify appropriate representation as needed.

Qualifications

The successful candidate for Senior Director, State Government Affairs will have the following attributes and/or experience:

• Minimum of 10-15 years prior demonstrated successful management of a State Government Relations function within a corporation or legislative consultancy and relevant state government staff experience in legislative or agency work
• Experience managing a team of government affairs professionals and providing effective leadership to motivate and aspire
• Strong self-starter, commitment to driving strategies across the organization with an executive presence and professional demeanor; senior business leaders will see value in partnering with an experienced seasoned professional government affairs expert
• Great teamwork skills – wants to integrate state and federal strategies and share best practices; understands we are a small team and can juggle competing priorities gracefully and professionally
• Strong educational background including an undergraduate degree; an MBA or other advanced degree preferred