EXECUTIVE, STATE AFFAIRS

MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT OCHIN

OCHIN is a nonprofit leader in health care innovation and a trusted partner to a growing national provider network, delivering the clinical insights and tailored technologies needed to expand patient access, strengthen care teams, and improve the health of rural and medically underserved communities.

We are hiring for a number of new positions to meet increasing demand. When you choose to join OCHIN, you have the opportunity to continuously grow your skills and do meaningful work to help fulfill our vision of good health and well-being for everyone. 

At OCHIN, we value the unique perspectives and experiences of every individual and work hard to maintain a culture rooted in our values.

Founded in Oregon in 2000, OCHIN employs a growing virtual workforce of more than 1,200 skilled professionals, working remotely across 49 states. We offer a generous compensation package and are committed to supporting our employees’ entire well-being by fostering a healthy work-life balance and opportunity for professional advancement. We are curious, collaborative learners who strive to live our values every day. OCHIN is excited to support our continued national expansion and the increasing demand for our innovative tools and services by welcoming new talent to our growing team.

Work Authorization

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis at the time of application.

This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship now or in the future. OCHIN does not provide sponsorship for employment-based visas or transfers of existing employment-based visas.

Position Overview

The Executive, State Affairs serves as OCHIN’s senior leader for state government affairs, policy engagement, and relationship management with state policymakers, Medicaid agencies, health departments, governors’ offices, legislatures, and other public-sector leaders. This role strengthens OCHIN’s influence with state governments, navigates complex political and policy environments, and advises OCHIN leadership on state-level risks, opportunities, and stakeholder dynamics. 

OCHIN seeks a highly experienced, strategic, and relationship-driven executive to lead its state affairs function. The Executive, State Affairs will develop and execute OCHIN’s state government affairs strategy across priority states and markets, with a focus on building durable relationships, shaping policy conversations, and advancing OCHIN’s mission through thoughtful engagement with state leaders. 

Essential Duties

State Government Affairs Strategy:

• Develop and execute OCHIN’s state affairs strategy across priority states and markets. 
• Build relationships with state policymakers, Medicaid leaders, governors’ offices, legislators, and agency executives. 
• Monitor state legislative, regulatory, budgetary, and policy developments. 
• Advise the Chief External Affairs Officer and executive leadership on risks, opportunities, and political dynamics 

State Agency and Policymaker Engagement:

• Serve as OCHIN’s senior relationship leader with state agencies and key decision-makers. 
• Position OCHIN as a trusted advisor on healthcare delivery modernization, Medicaid transformation, public health, behavioral health, technology, and data. 
• Lead high-stakes conversations with policymakers and agency executives. 
• Navigate politically sensitive environments with diplomacy and sound judgment. 

Policy Intelligence and Strategic Counsel:

• Provide insight and analysis on state policy developments and stakeholder priorities. 
• Translate complex state policy dynamics into actionable guidance for internal leaders. 
• Collaborate across advocacy, policy, business development, legal, technology, operations, and member-facing teams. 

Collaboration with Government Partnerships:

• Work closely with the Executive, Government Partnerships to align state affairs, partnership strategy, and opportunity development. 
• Help ensure OCHIN presents a unified and credible voice to state government partners.

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in public policy, public administration, healthcare administration, law, business, political science, or related field preferred. 
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in government affairs, public policy, healthcare, Medicaid, public-sector engagement, or related fields. 
• Demonstrated success building relationships with state agency leaders, policymakers, legislators, Medicaid officials, and executive branch leaders. 
• Strong understanding of state government operations, Medicaid, healthcare policy, and public-sector decision-making. 
• Proven ability to navigate complex political and stakeholder environments. 
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, negotiation, and relationship-management skills. 
• Ability to travel nationally as needed. 
• Experience with community health centers, rural health providers, behavioral health organizations, public health agencies, or safety-net healthcare organizations. 
• Knowledge of healthcare technology, data infrastructure, interoperability, digital health, and healthcare delivery modernization. 
• Established relationships with state healthcare, Medicaid, and policy leaders. 
• Experience working in a mission-driven, matrixed, and rapidly evolving organization. 
• Travel as required

Base Pay Overview 

OCHIN uses broadened pay ranges to support equitable and market-aligned compensation practices. The final offer will be based on a variety of factors, including relevant skills, certifications, education, experience, training, responsibilities, internal equity, and market data.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment:

• Constant interpersonal skills, teamwork, and customer service. Frequent creativity, mentoring, presentations, and teaching. Occasional decision making and independent judgment or action.  
• Reading, speaking, writing, and understanding English.  
• While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time; stand and walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms.  
• This position requires a virtual home-office environment, working remotely and will require that employees be on camera for all virtual meetings.
• The role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers and mobile devices. 
• Travel is required to support OCHIN’s business requirements for go-live installations or training which may require travel by air, vehicle, or train. 

Work Location and Travel Requirements

OCHIN is a 100% remote organization with no physical corporate office location. Employees work remotely from home and many of our positions also support our member organizations on-site for new software installations. Nationwide travel is determined based on OCHIN business needs. Please inquire during the interview process about travel requirements for this position. 

Work from home requirements are: 

• Ability to work independently and efficiently from a home office environment 
• High Speed Internet Service 
• It is a requirement that employees work in a distraction free workplace 
• Travel required up to 25% nationally for on-site Go Live support based on business requirements for OCHIN 
• (OR) Travel may be required nationally based on business requirements for OCHIN 

We offer a comprehensive range of benefits. See our website for details: https://ochin.org/career

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

To keep our colleagues, members, and communities safe, OCHIN requires all employees—including remote employees, contractors, interns, and new hires—to be vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine, as supported by state and federal public health officials, as a condition of employment. All new hires are required to provide proof of full vaccination or receive approval for a medical or religious exemption before their hire date. 

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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