Rady Children's Hospital and Health Center located in San Diego, California is seeking a collaborative, mission-driven and highly-visible leader to serve as its next Vice President, Government Affairs. This is a unique opportunity for a seasoned government affairs executive to join one of the country's premier independent children's health systems.  Rady Children's is a $1.4 billion academic pediatric healthcare system serving as the primary provider of pediatric hospital services and the sole pediatric trauma center in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Rady Children’s also serves as a tertiary and quaternary referral center for treatment of critically ill and seriously injured children throughout the Southwestern United States. The system is comprised of a Magnet-designated, 505 -bed-non-profit hospital, 10 satellite locations and six urgent care centers. Consistently ranked among the nation’s top children’s hospitals in the 10 pediatric specialties surveyed by U.S. News & World Report , Rady Children’s is affiliated with the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and is the region’s teaching hospital for the next generation of pediatric physicians, researchers and caregivers. Rady Children’s boasts a stellar reputation; outstanding quality and service outcomes; a highly-engaged Board of Trustees; hard-working, high-performing and collaborative executives, physicians and staff; and meaningful partnerships with all adult health systems and health plans in the area to provide exceptional pediatric care.   The Vice President, Government Affairs position will serve as a leading advocate for all mission-related programs and services and will work with government officials and agencies to develop and maintain strong legislative and public relationships at the city, county, state and federal levels. This includes interacting with numerous stakeholders who at times represent conflicting or competing agendas and with whom the organization must maintain positive relationships to achieve its goals and compete effectively for resources, media coverage and political support. The successful candidate will demonstrate evidence of successful senior leadership in government affairs, including budget management and staff oversight, in positions of meaningful size and scope. Experience with large, complex healthcare institutions is desired, along experience with California politics.  Applications, inquiries, and recommendations are welcome. You may perform any of these activities by contacting Michelle Johnson and Molly Gauss, WittKieffer search consultants working on this search, at mgauss@wittkieffer.com or through the WittKieffer Candidate Portal by clicking here.

THE ROLE Your role stands at the intersection of government affairs and the fight to change our education and youth justice systems for those children and families from under-resourced communities. As a key member of Stand’s Indiana team at a moment of tremendous need and opportunity, you will be responsible for advocacy and direct lobbying in the statehouse and working with stakeholders to advocate for our supported policies. You will play a leading role in policy development and implementation of priority laws, making sure they reach the classroom, as well as leading our youth justice reform work. And you may help to set election strategy in state-level campaigns. Through your dedication and passionate approach to the role, you get the opportunity to work with colleagues who not only care deeply about justice and equity, but who are bold and strategic and take responsibility for achieving substantial progress toward our mission every year.   THE ORGANIZATION Stand is a non-profit education advocacy organization focused on ensuring all students receive a high quality, relevant education, especially those whose boundless potential is overlooked and under-tapped because of their skin color, zip code, first language, or disability.  RESPONSIBILITIES: Advocacy and Direct Lobbying Research, write, and present legislation that supports Stand for Children’s focus area of High School Success in Indiana; Analyze relevant legislation and policy proposals to determine alignment with Stand for Children’s policy platform   What We Stand For , with a priority focus on legislation within Stand Indiana’s focus areas: elevating the teaching profession, equitable funding for students in poverty, and high school success; Lobby relevant stakeholders to advocate for our supported policies and initiatives, including in the areas of youth justice and K-12 education; Build, lead, and join coalitions of partner organizations to develop and implement policy initiatives and achieve campaign successes that create results for all children; Plan and work closely with Stand for Children staff to drive statewide education and engagement campaigns to develop understanding of and support for Stand Indiana’s priority policy goals; Partner with the Family Engagement & Organizing team to provide training around statewide policy initiatives to Stand for Children Organizers as well as members and stakeholders, as needed; Partner with the Indiana Coalition for Youth Justice in implementing an advocacy strategy to influence lawmakers; Build and cultivate effective partnerships with legislators on both sides of the aisle, education leaders, and organizations; Collaborate with Policy and Government Affairs Directors from across the organization to share best practices; Serve as direct supervisor of contract lobbyists (if applicable); Implementation Monitor and advocate for the effective implementation of priority laws and budget line items to ensure they reach the classroom as intended, in alignment with Stand for Children’s Implementation Framework; Act as the state education policy expert, contribute to a marketing and communications strategy that allows parents, educators, and community members to understand and act upon policy proposals; Electoral Strategy Set strategy and lead Stand for Children’s involvement in state legislative and statewide electoral campaigns, work with the Executive Director to develop candidate and ballot measure endorsements and electoral strategies; Manage the candidate endorsement process, the political contribution process, and effective involvement in campaigns; Educate endorsed candidates for political office on education-related issues; Fundraise, in collaboration with the Executive Director, as it relates to electoral campaigns; Recruit and groom legislative champions in advance of statewide elections. QUALIFICATIONS: Passionate and unwavering belief in Stand for Children’s mission and strategy to ensure that all children, regardless of their background, graduate from high school prepared for and with access to a college education; A minimum of 5 years’ experience in policy development and advocacy, local electoral processes, and campaigns, and/or education reform required; Knowledge of local and state-level education policy necessary; existing relationships in state government and state legislature is a must have; Experience in youth justice policy is preferred; Proven ability at building strong relationships and effective partnerships, as well as demonstrated skill with persuasion and influence critical; Ability to deliver, receive, and incorporate direct feedback; effectively and respectfully Professional maturity and integrity, high level of self-direction and sense of urgency; Excellent project management skills and ability to juggle multiple and competing priorities; Excellent communication skills, especially with regard to making complicated ideas compelling and accessible to the general public; Comprehensive analytical, strategic thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to plan and implement in a demanding, fast-paced environment crucial; Ability to be stationary for extended periods of time and to travel to meetings outside of the office; Ability to lift more than 10 pounds, on occasion; May require the ability to climb stairs.  Stand for Children consists of two separate entities. Stand for Children, Inc., a grassroots membership organization is exempt under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, and Stand for Children Leadership Center, a leadership development organization is exempt under section 501(c)(3)   Stand for Children and Stand for Children Leadership Center provide equal employment opportunity (EEO)   to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression or marital status. We are committed to a diverse and culturally inclusive workplace in which our   differences broaden our awareness, enrich our daily experiences and contribute to our collective strength .   We predominantly partner with low-income communities of color. Therefore, though race and other legally protected characteristics are never used to make final hiring decisions, we place a particular focus on recruiting staff members who share the backgrounds of the communities we serve.