Vice President of Governmental Relations

Vice President of Governmental Relations

Position Summary:

The Vice President of Governmental Relations serves as an executive leader for governmental relations on behalf of UTHealth Houston, providing strategic leadership and oversight for state governmental affairs and select federal and local initiatives impacting the institution. Leads legislative strategy, appropriations, healthcare and higher education policy efforts, and institutional advocacy while serving as a senior advisor to executive leadership on governmental, regulatory, and political matters affecting organizational priorities and operations. Develops and maintains strategic relationships with legislative offices, executive agencies, and key governmental stakeholders to advance UTHealth Houston's mission, funding priorities, clinical operations, research initiatives, and public health impact. The position is based in Austin, Texas, with periodic travel to Houston and Washington, D.C.

Position Key Accountabilities:

• Provides executive leadership for institutional advancement with state agencies and policymakers. Proactively identifies legislative, regulatory, and policy trends and translates implications into strategic guidance for senior leadership.
• Directs institutional participation in legislative sessions, interim charges, hearings, and policy development impacting UTHealth Houston's funding, programs, and priorities.
• Strengthens high-level relationships to advance the interests of the institution, including its schools, and its clinical, research, and academic enterprises.
• Builds and sustains relationships with elected officials, legislative leadership, staff, and state agencies, elevating awareness of UTHealth Houston's mission and impact.
• Ensures coordinated strategy across all governmental levels, with targeted focus on Medicaid and other funding and policy areas critical to the institution.
• Aligns executive branch, legislative, and agency engagement efforts to support institutional priorities, major initiatives, and leadership objectives.
• Directs institutional strategy and relationships with Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT), Texas Education Agency, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Department of Insurance, Department of State Health Services, Texas Workforce Commission, and Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
• Serves as primary liaison for governmental relations on initiatives such as the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute and other enterprise-level priorities.
• Establishes and oversees systems that promote operational efficiency, financial integrity, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and UTHealth Houston policies.
• Serves as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, providing insight on the political landscape, policy risks, and strategic opportunities that influence institutional decision-making.
• Manages Human Resources activities for direct reports in regards to: recruiting and selection; hiring and termination, training, development, mentoring, counseling, performance evaluations, and salary planning.
• Responsible for the design, execution and effectiveness of a system of internal controls which provides reasonable assurance that operations are effective and efficient, assets are safeguarded; financial information is reliable and compliant with applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree in a related field required Advanced degree preferred

Minimum Experience:

10 years of experience in legislative offices, state agency, and/or governmental relations required Experience with Article II (Health and Human Services) or Article III (Education) budgets or subject matter preferred

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

This position is a security-sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code §51.215 and Texas Government Code §411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code §117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R. §791.4.

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.