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Job Category:
Limited
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
Govt Affairs Liaison II (Inst)
Job Summary:
The Associate Director of State Relations for Health Sciences is one of two senior government affairs professionals who together represent a coordinated partnership spanning the medical school and clinical enterprises. Based in the Office of State Relations & Statewide Outreach, the role is primarily focused on priorities to the School of Medicine and Public Health, with responsibility for the academic, research, and education policy portfolio. The Associate Director partners closely with the Director of Government Affairs at UW Health to ensure unified institutional positions, eliminate duplicative lobbying, and coordinate joint advocacy on issues that cross both domains. The two directors meet regularly, co-develop an annual joint legislative agenda, and present aligned recommendations to senior leadership across both organizations.
The UW–Madison Office of State Relations & Statewide Outreach builds relationships while developing and implementing strategies to advance UW–Madison's priorities with the state legislature, the governor, statewide associations, and state government agencies.
Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for University Relations/Senior Director of State Relations & Statewide Outreach with a dual reporting line to the Chief of Staff to the Dean of the School of Medicine and Public Health, the Associate Director of State Relations for Health Sciences will work with University Relations and campus health sciences programs, including the School of Medicine & Public Health, along with the Schools of Nursing and Pharmacy, to plan and assist in the implementation of state government relations and statewide outreach efforts. Core competencies include strategic planning, collaboration, rapid-response advocacy, executive communication, and supporting mission-driven leadership.
Key Job Responsibilities:
- Maintain all required state lobbying registrations and disclosures for the School of Medicine and Public Health. Ensure all advocacy activities comply with state statutes and university ethics and policies
- Serve as the primary point of contact for the institution to the state Department of Health Services (DHS)
- Represent the School of Medicine and Public Health in advocacy coalitions and statewide associations
- Oversee bill tracking efforts, draft memos, and provide recommendations to campus leadership when needed on certain proposals and responses. When needed, contact campus stakeholders on legislative proposals to solicit feedback
- Analyze legislative proposals and major policy items, including the biennial state budget and provide recommendations on response or approach to the Dean of the School of Medicine and Public Health and other campus leaders
- Draft responses to requests by elected officials and state government officials
- Plan briefings in the Capitol and other activities on campus involving legislators and state government officials
- Coordinate legislative activities, requests, and outreach on behalf of the School of Medicine and Public Health. These would also include activities and representation for the State Lab of Hygiene
- In collaboration with SMPH and university Strategic Communication offices and University Relations, set key messaging themes and implement strategies to advance campus priorities and strengthen relationships with the state
- Brief the Dean, Vice Deans, department chairs, and faculty senate on legislative developments, coordinate and develop advocacy training and guidelines for faculty and trainees
- Respond to campus partners who have healthcare and academic medicine policy questions and needs related to state legislation or state government operations
- Advance reputation of the School of Medicine and Public Health among key state stakeholders, working in collaboration with the school’s Office of Strategic Communications
- Craft and implement a legislative and state government outreach strategy with a primary emphasis on state healthcare related issues and needs (research, facilities/infrastructure, training)
- Support statewide outreach efforts and other external relations projects
- Serve as the School of Medicine and Public Health’s active liaison with UW Health government relations. Attend joint meetings with the UW Health Director of Government Relations and others. Co-develop the joint legislative agenda and report on progress and shared goals.
- Engage the governor’s office, state legislature, and state higher education and health agencies on funding academic programs, workforce pipeline investments, and research initiatives hosted at the school
Department:
Office of State Relations and Statewide Outreach
Work Location:
Given the nature of the role, the majority of work will likely be done in person - on campus, at the State Capitol, or other sites throughout the state. Some work may be done remotely.
Compensation:
Negotiable
This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax- advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. For a summary of benefits, please see: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/quickguidefasl.pdf
Required Qualifications:
6+ years of experience with the Wisconsin legislative process and a demonstrated knowledge of state government, state agencies, major public policy issues impacting academic medicine and healthcare, higher education, and the state biennial budget process
Knowledge of and work experience within state government, a research university, academic medical center, medical specialty society/medical professional association, federal government/federal agency with ties to Wisconsin, or healthcare/health policy organization
Strong relationships with Wisconsin State Legislature and Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Effective and professional communications skills, both verbal and written. Able to brief deans, chairs, center and institute directors, faculty, and boards to provide guidance and policy recommendations
Ability to build and maintain successful relationships with wide range of individuals stakeholders, particularly in state government and healthcare organizations
Ability to work quickly and accurately on complex projects, manage multiple priorities, and work in a team environment
Ability to research, analyze, and articulate complex educational, health and medical research, policy, and legislative issues
Preferred Qualifications:
Knowledge of and work experience in the Wisconsin State Legislature, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, a health system or hospital, or a statewide healthcare advocacy organization
Experience working in a matrixed reporting structure
Familiarity with UW-Madison or other public research universities
Education:
Required: Bachelor's degree in political science, education, public relations, government, communications, or related field or equivalent work experience.
Preferred: Advanced degree (J.D., M.P.H, M.P.P)
How to Apply:
To apply for this position, select either “I am a current employee” or “I am not a current employee” under Apply Now. You will then be prompted to upload your application materials.
Important: The application has only one attachment field. Upload the following documents in that field, either as a single combined file or as multiple files in the same upload area.
We recognize that qualified applicants come from a variety of backgrounds, life experiences, and levels of educational access. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t match all the qualifications listed above.
Contact Information:
Kory Breuer, HR Manager, kory.breuer@wisc.edu
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.