Associate Commissioner of Office of Governmenta...

Bachelor's degree and nine years* of legislative experience, including four years at a managerial level. A thorough understanding of the NYS legislative e-process is required, along with excellent written and oral communication skills.
A Master's degree or J.D. may be substituted for a year of experience.

Preferred Qualifications:
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to establish, maintain and encourage collaborative and effective relationships; and experience managing multiple priorities and coordinating agency-wide projects.

Duties Description

This position will serve as the principal advisor to the Commissioner of Health on matters involving government and external affairs; having overarching responsibility for all governmental and external affairs between the Department of Health, the Executive Chamber, interested parties, regulated entities, grant/contract awardees, and the public. The position is also responsible for non-governmental constituent liaise. The incumbent will oversee the Office of Governmental and External Affairs and will be responsible for drafting language for A Government Entity legislation, drafting statements of support or comment on proposed legislation, serving as liaison to legislators and legislative staff, and negotiating legislation on behalf of the Department of Health. The incumbent will oversee internal communications between the Commissioner's Office, Executive Staff and Department of Health programs to ensure that critical information is brought to the attention of the Commissioner and the Executive Chamber for appropriate management of issues of concern.

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Collaborates with the Commissioner and Executive Leadership Team to set DOH's strategic policy and positioning on health matters and regulatory requirements.
• Serves as liaison between A Government Entity and the Executive Chamber regarding communicating the Department of Health's position on health matters, regulatory requirements, and emergency response events.
• Develops consensus positions among DOH Executive Leadership Team on state legislation and regulations, from long-term, proactive solutions to real-time, reactive perspectives. Coordinate with Division Managers across DOH to ensure holistic policy alignment and comprehensive solutions, including communications, research, marketing, legal, that meet DOH Executive priorities.
• Oversees and maintains liaison with members of the Executive Chamber, Legislature and legislative committees on matters affecting the agency policy, programs, and services. Works with agency and Governor's Counsel's Offices and key legislators and program staff, advocating for bills of importance to the agency, generating support for the legislation, and reviewing pending and proposed bills. Represents the agency's interests and monitors the debate at committee meetings, presents and responds to issues as appropriate, and coordinates the development and review of policy and position papers.
• Fosters cooperative relations with members of the legislature and local and federal elected officials (and their staffs) by assuring that they are informed about agency programs and services and actively involved in the development of policies affecting health issues and programs in their districts. Works with agency staff to develop congenial relationships with federal, state, and local elected and appointed officials and legislators, arranges meetings and tours to familiarize public officials, legislators, and their staffs with DOH's facilities, programs and problems, encourages them to participate in public hearings and other public meetings and facilitates their attendance at ceremonial functions such as press announcements, special events, and grant announcements.
• Serves as point of contact to the Department of Health for legislative members, local government officials, public and private interest groups and individuals wishing to present items of concern or mutual interest. Frames the concern, defines areas of responsibility, identifies, and investigates options, recommends a course of action, and generates support for that course of action.
• Represents the Commissioner and the agency at meetings with various constituency organizations, at inter-agency work groups and task forces, at meetings with federal, state, and local officials and their staffs.
• Participates in the NYSDOH Health Equity and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee and incorporate DEI concepts into the work of the Office of Government Affairs.
• Oversees and directs the agency policy development process, in coordination with the Executive Chamber, constituency and advocacy groups, legislators and staff, other public officials (and staff) and agency staff and leadership. Reviews and coordinates review of policy and position papers and develops policy alternatives for consideration, working with agency staff, including other Executive Staff, Regional Directors, Bureau Directors and program staff experts, Public Affairs and Finance/Budget staff.
• Supervises the Division of Council Operations and Division of External Affairs teams, including oversight of the development and management of impactful materials and resources that demonstrate DOH's commitment to public programs and advance policy objectives, including research, modeling, cost estimates, case studies, bill summaries, legal opinions, testimony and letters to Executive Chamber, and state officials.