Legislative & Affairs Director

The Indiana Department of Health’s mission is to promote, protect, and improve the health and safety of all Hoosiers so that they can reach their optimal health regardless of where they live, learn, work, or play.

About the role

As the Legislative & External Affairs Director at the Indiana Department of Health, you will oversee, coordinate, and direct agency legislative activities and agenda related to promoting, protecting, and improving the health of Hoosiers. This position involves managing relationships with the legislature, the governor’s office, and key stakeholders, as well as working with complex issues, negotiations, and coordinating legislative activities.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate, develop, and oversee agency legislative matters.
• Negotiate language with stakeholders and bill authors.
• Prioritize and manage legislative issues.
• Maintain relationships with House and Senate staff.
• Serve as the main point of contact for legislators, including working with legislators and their staff on constituent inquiries.
• Advise lead team members on legislative strategy.
• Run the agency’s legislative agenda.
• Monitor all legislation and legislative committees impacting the agency.
• Manage bill review process for staff.
• Assist with ensuring strategic workforce vision aligns with administration.
• Ensure stakeholders follow assigned responsibilities.
• Represent the agency in a variety of situations with other state agencies, the legislature, institutions, the general public, and special interest groups.
• Maintain confidentiality in discussing sensitive organizational matters and issues.
• Recruit, select, onboard, and train employees to ensure role responsibilities and expectations are clearly understood while providing opportunities for professional development.
• Set expectations, measure progress, provide ongoing feedback, and evaluate the performance of employees.
• Ensure work adheres to quality standards, deadlines, and proper procedures.

This position is exempt from overtime compensation for additional work hours which may be required to complete essential functions or other assigned work. Exempt employees may work more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional compensation and must report a minimum of 75 hours per pay period of work hours and/or paid leave taken to receive their base biweekly salary.

Requirements

• Extensive knowledge of the theories, principles, practices, and methodology of statutes, regulations, and policies involving workforce development.
• Working knowledge of department charge and programs.
• Thorough knowledge of state government agency structures and legislature.
• Ability to be creative in developing alternatives to meet agency needs.
• Ability to communicate complex theories and principles to a broad spectrum, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain cooperative work relationships.
• Willingness and ability to adjust to change as agency needs arise.
• Close attention to detail coupled with the ability to exercise good judgment.
• Strong organizational, oral, and written communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proactive nature; able to anticipate conflicts before they arise.
• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively.
• Ability to handle calls and emails with professionalism, courtesy, and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively and maintain positive relationships with staff throughout the agencies.
• Ability to effectively allocate and prioritize time to several tasks to ensure completion of all.
• Ability to delegate work, set clear direction, and manage workflow.
• Ability to effectively give feedback, provide guidance or corrective action, coach, and develop employee skillsets.
• Able to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This role may provide direct supervision for one or more staff members.

Pay

The salary for this position traditionally starts at $75,010.00.

Benefits

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans
• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
• Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match
• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
• Robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:
  • 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers
  • Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave
  • Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off
  • 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Group life insurance
• Referral Bonus program
• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Free Parking for most positions
• Free LinkedIn Learning access