Vice President, Government & Community Affairs

About the Role

Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) is one of the nation's top-ranked pediatric institutions, and its mission depends on sound public policy. The Vice President of Government and Community Affairs leads CHLA's voice in the policy arena, building and directing the enterprise strategy for legislative advocacy, regulatory engagement, and community partnerships at the local, state, and federal levels. A central focus of the role is leading a unified strategy to protect and grow reimbursement and public funding, including Medi-Cal, California Children's Services, and state budget and supplemental programs, as a direct driver of CHLA's financial health. This leader manages CHLA's external advocacy partners, serves as the primary government affairs advisor to executive leadership, and ensures that the interests of the children and families CHLA serves are represented wherever decisions are made that affect their care. The Vice President will shape the structure, team, and strategy of CHLA's government and community affairs function rather than inherit a fixed one.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute legislative and regulatory strategy at the state and/or federal level.
• Lead a unified strategy to protect and grow reimbursement and public funding for CHLA.
• Manage external lobbying or consulting firms and hold them accountable for results.
• Serve as the primary government affairs advisor to executive leadership and as a credible liaison to the board.
• Shape the structure, team, and strategy of CHLA's government and community affairs function.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressively senior experience in government affairs, public policy, or advocacy.
• Direct experience developing and executing legislative and regulatory strategy in a complex, highly regulated, reimbursement- or appropriations-driven field.
• Demonstrated experience managing external lobbying or consulting firms.
• Track record advising senior executives and serving as a liaison to a board.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, team-building, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Advanced verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, Communications, Law-related studies, or Business.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep fluency in pediatric and hospital financing, including Medi-Cal or Medicaid reimbursement, graduate medical education (GME) funding, and research and clinical funding.
• Healthcare, hospital, or mission-driven nonprofit experience; pediatric setting a plus.
• Advanced degree (JD, MPP, MPH, MBA, or related).