Executive Director, Government Advocacy

About the role

The Executive Director, Government Advocacy leads government affairs for Boston Medical Center Health System (BMCHS), a $9B mission-driven, safety-net health system. The Executive Director helps inform and execute BMCHS's advocacy agenda and serves as a senior organizational representative with elected officials, regulators, and trade associations across city, state, and federal government.

Based in Massachusetts, this role is accountable for implementing advocacy work across Massachusetts and New Hampshire, engaging local, state, and federal policymakers. The Executive Director works closely with Strategy, Finance, operational, clinical, academic, and health plan leadership to align government affairs priorities across BMCHS's hospitals and health plan.

Candidates should bring senior relationships and a track record of influence in Massachusetts state government, federal government, or both.

Government Affairs & Advocacy Leadership

• Lead the development and execution of BMCHS's government affairs and advocacy agenda at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Build and maintain senior relationships across Massachusetts and New Hampshire, including state legislative and executive branch contacts, congressional delegations, and city and municipal officials.
• Represent BMCHS with policymakers, regulators, trade associations, and coalitions; mange relationships with nongovernmental bodies (e.g., America’s Essential Hospitals).
• Oversee day-to-day legislative advocacy, external lobbyists, trade association engagement, and coalition participation at the state and federal level. Lead legislative and regulatory advocacy on healthcare financing and policy matters, issues germane to academic medicine, and
• Coordinate advocacy priorities across BMCHS's hospitals, faculty practice, and health plan to ensure a consistent enterprise position.

Public Funding & Regulatory Advocacy

• Advocate for Medicaid, ACA, and supplemental funding programs, including DSH, state-directed payments, and quality incentives.
• Participate in advocacy on Medicaid policy and 1115 demonstration waiver amendments.
• Partner with Strategy and Finance to align advocacy priorities with the organization's fiscal position.
• Identify emerging policy risks and opportunities and develop advocacy strategies in response.

Executive Engagement

• Serve as an advisor to executive leadership on government affairs, political developments, and regulatory risk. Accompany executives to meetings with key stakeholders and events.
• Brief executives on legislative, regulatory, and budgetary developments, and prepare them for engagement with government officials and policymakers.
• Develop advocacy materials, including testimony, comment letters, briefings, and thought leadership, and lead the government-facing response to emerging issues.

External Affairs & Stakeholder Engagement

• Position BMCHS with audiences as a leading academic safety-net health system and trusted partner on Medicaid, care delivery, academic medicine, and health equity.
• Partner with Communications and Community Engagement on policy-related communications and external positioning.

Team Leadership & Operations

• Lead and develop a high-performing Government Advocacy team.
• Establish priorities, operating rhythms, and accountability for the function.
• Oversee external government affairs resources, including lobbyists and consultants.
• Assess the team's existing relationship coverage and build out complementary expertise — state or federal — that complements the Executive Director's own background.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in government affairs or public policy, including significant leadership experience, with a demonstrated track record of achieving advocacy outcomes.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Advanced degree preferred (MPP, MPA, MPH, JD, MBA, or related field).
• Senior-level relationships and a demonstrated record of influence in at least one of the following: Massachusetts state government (legislative or executive branch); federal government (Congress or federal health agencies); or a comparable environment. Strength across more than one branch or level of government is especially welcome.
• Experience with healthcare systems, academic medical centers, safety-net organizations, health plans, or similarly complex organizations.
• Demonstrated success personally influencing legislative, regulatory, or funding outcomes—specific results achieved, initiatives supported.
• Experience leading teams and managing external government affairs resources.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES (KSAs)

• Exceptional relationship-building, negotiation, and influencing skills—a demonstrated ability to move outcomes, not just track them.
• Government relations and advocacy expertise developed in a state legislative, state executive-branch, or federal government setting.
• Executive presence and credibility with senior leaders, Board members, policymakers, and regulators.
• Strong team leadership and talent development capabilities.

Compensation Range

$198,500.00- $288,000.00

This range offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications. However, our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and a broad range of factors is considered when making an offer. This includes education, experience, skills, and certifications/licensures as they directly relate to position requirements; as well as business/organizational needs, internal equity, and market-competitiveness.

In addition, BMCHS offers generous total compensation that includes, but is not limited to, benefits (medical, dental, vision, pharmacy), discretionary annual bonuses and merit increases, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) savings matches, paid time off, career advancement opportunities, and resources to support employee and family well-being.

Note

This range is based on Boston-area data, and is subject to modification based on geographic location.