POSITION SUMMARY:

The Vice President, Government Affairs and Policy will lead CAQH’s government affairs and policy strategy at both the federal and state levels. This executive will oversee regulatory engagement, legislative advocacy, public policy positioning, and quality and accreditation activities to advance CAQH’s mission and strategic goals. The ideal candidate will proactively identify and respond to emerging policy developments, advise senior leadership on strategic implications, and adjust advocacy efforts to align with organizational priorities. This role requires a forward-thinking leader who can build strong coalitions, influence policy outcomes, and drive cross-functional collaboration across the organization.
The Vice President, Public Affairs is a full-time, remote, exempt position and reports to the Chief Policy and Research Officer.
Base Salary Range: $250,000 - $275,000 annually.

SKILLS:

• Proven ability to lead government relations and execute lobbying strategies at the federal and state levels. Strong understanding of the legislative and regulatory landscape, including direct experience working with Congress, the Executive Branch, and federal agencies across the political spectrum.
• Deep understanding of healthcare policy, regulatory frameworks, and accreditation standards, with direct experience in the healthcare sector—whether through a company, association, or service on Capitol Hill.
• Demonstrated success in setting policy and legislative goals, translating complex issues into actionable strategies, and achieving meaningful results aligned with business priorities.
• Established network and strong relationship-building skills with policymakers, regulators, and key external stakeholders. Ability to influence without authority and build coalitions across diverse audiences.
• Experienced people leader with a track record of managing high-performing teams, developing talent, and fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and supportive work environment.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including persuasive writing, public speaking, and briefing executive leadership on policy implications.
• Adept at working across departments to align public affairs, accreditation, and organizational strategies.
• Strategic thinker with sound judgment, strong organizational skills, and the ability to anticipate policy shifts, assess business impact, and manage priorities effectively.

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in healthcare policy, government relations, or public affairs, with a focus on advancing organizational objectives through advocacy and engagement.
• Proven experience developing and executing advocacy strategies within a healthcare company, association, or vendor—ideally in a high-growth or innovation-driven environment.
• Experience working in Congress, a federal agency, or a state legislature/government, with a strong understanding of legislative and regulatory processes.
• Demonstrated success influencing federal and state policymakers, including both legislative and regulatory stakeholders.
• Track record of managing complex public affairs initiatives that align with business strategy and drive measurable outcomes.
• Experience leading teams and coordinating cross-functional efforts, including oversight of external consultants, advisors, or lobbying firms.
• Familiarity with key healthcare policy areas such as interoperability, healthcare data, administrative simplification, or digital health is a plus.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public health, health administration, law, or a related field required.
• Advanced degree strongly preferred.

WHO WE ARE

The Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH) was formed by health plans who came together nearly 25 years ago with the desire to make healthcare work better. Today, we are trusted by stakeholders from across the healthcare ecosystem to improve business processes and offer the most comprehensive provider and member data in the United States.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and implement a cohesive public affairs strategy that advances CAQH’s policy, government relations, and accreditation objectives.
• Direct federal and state government relations efforts, including legislative advocacy and regulatory engagement.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with policymakers, regulators, and external partners.
• Represent CAQH in high-level meetings, industry coalitions, and public forums.
• Oversee the development of policy positions, comment letters, testimony, and related advocacy materials.
• Monitor and respond to legislative and regulatory developments impacting CAQH and its stakeholders.
• Guide CAQH’s quality and accreditation efforts, including ongoing NCQA compliance and documentation.
• Collaborate with internal teams to align policy and accreditation work with CAQH’s business strategy.
• Manage consultants, vendors, and strategic partnerships supporting public affairs and accreditation.
• Advise the executive team on emerging policy, regulatory, and accreditation risks and opportunities.
• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate the effectiveness of public affairs efforts, including stakeholder engagement, policy outcomes, and business impact.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The Vice President manages a team of 2–4 direct reports and external consultants spanning government relations, policy, and accreditation functions.
• The Vice President is expected to mentor staff, develop talent, and contribute to a collaborative and high-performing culture.