About Kellen

Kellen stands as a global leader in providing management and services to professional and trade organizations. We empower Board leaders by offering operational frameworks and strategic guidance to better serve their organization's mission and vision.  

As a dedicated professional services company, we offer solutions to organizations, such as association management, public affairs, marketing, meeting management, education, and strategic communication. Leveraging our expertise across diverse industries including healthcare, food and beverage, buildings and materials, and technology, as well as our global perspective with a presence in North America and Europe, we collaborate with over 100 organizations to help achieve their goals.  

Understanding the importance of a strong and effective Board of Directors, we offer customized management solutions that address the unique needs of each organization we partner with. 

Position Summary

The Director of Government Affairs position within our Public Affairs Team is a pivotal role that focuses on legislative matters. The successful candidate will be a key contributor to the team, developing and executing strategies to achieve client objectives. They will maintain effective liaison with designated lawmakers, federal agencies, health care organizations, and relevant coalitions involved in issue-related programs. This individual will play a crucial role in ensuring that client policies and positions are effectively communicated to lawmakers, government officials and relevant associations or coalitions.

In this capacity, the Director will serve as the government affairs lead for multiple associations, providing essential client services within Kellen’s healthcare vertical. They will also extend support to Executive Directors and their staff teams for various clients within the portfolio, and potentially additional clients as well. Acting as the go-to expert on healthcare policy, this individual will oversee the day-to-day execution of the government affairs agenda, offering strategic guidance when necessary. The role demands a deep understanding of healthcare policy, legislative affairs, effective communication skills, and the ability to navigate complex issues within diverse sectors.

Essential Functions

• Manage government affairs issue scope, including development of documents influencing healthcare policy adopted by lawmakers.‎ 
• Identify and analyze emerging issues in proposed healthcare policy, ‎including priority client objectives and their alignment with ‎the administration’s interests.‎ 
• Provide strategic feedback and policy guidance on legislation influencing healthcare policies, based on analysis of current and proposed legislation. Engage lawmakers to educate on client advocacy objectives. ‎ 
• Manage relationships with lawmakers, congressional staff, and key stakeholders, including appropriate administration officials and professional organizations in Washington to promote advocacy agenda. 
• Prepare briefings for leaders representing the client in official meetings.‎ Brief stakeholders, client leadership, and government affairs colleagues on priorities for advocacy. 
• Attend congressional hearings, briefings, coalition meetings, and other events to represent association ‎clients and develop or circulate legislative summaries. ‎ 
• Identify and analyze emerging issues in proposed federal policy, including priority client advocacy objectives. 
• Build relationships with external organizations including identifying potential stakeholders or organizing conference participants and speakers.
• Communicate frequently with clients and internal team to meet deadlines and recommend actions as needed.
• Manage external relationships with lobbying and law firms connected to Kellen clients.
• May include other responsibilities as assigned.

Other duties that align with the mission and vision of the company as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 8-10 years experience working in Congress, Federal agencies, consulting firms, trade associations or specialty societies on healthcare issues, including Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Reimbursement,
• Strong expertise regarding federal healthcare policy is preferred. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills are crucial for success, including relationship building skills. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including strong presentation skills. 
• Ability to multi-task between various clients and diverse issues essential.
• General understanding of current domestic affairs and their political implications. 

Physical Demands

This position operates within an office environment. The physical demands outlined below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully fulfill the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

·       Extended Work Hours: The nature of this role may require more than 40 hours per week to fulfill job responsibilities. Additionally, flexibility working nights and weekends may be necessary. Longer hours, travel, and weekend commitments are typically associated with conferences or special events.

·       Office Equipment Usage: The role routinely involves the use of standard office equipment, including but not limited to computers, telephones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not exhaustive lists of all duties, responsibilities, or physical demands required. Employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned, and reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Travel Requirements

Occasional travel may be necessary for this position, up to 15% of the time. Modes of transportation may include air travel, car, or rail.

Kellen EEO Statement

Kellen does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline. In addition, it is the policy of Kellen to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees who have protected disabilities to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances where a particular employee works.