Blue Plans cover, serve, and support more than 115 million Americans in every zip code across the country. The AVP, Policy Development and Research advances BCBSA’s reputation and standing as a trusted voice with policymakers by bringing clear solutions to complex and evolving healthcare issues, translating policy opportunities into actionable strategies, and driving adoption across diverse stakeholders. This leader works across multi-disciplinary teams, Blue Plans, and external partners to drive impactful policy solutions that focus on lower costs, expanding access, and strengthening coverage.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Strategic Policy Development
Develops forward-looking healthcare policy strategies that advance impactful solutions on affordability, coverage, and access.
Act as an advocate for BCBSA priorities and strengthen our role as a trusted, credible voice with policymakers, influencing and shaping the debate in national healthcare policy discussions.
Build and sustain strong relationships with policymakers, regulators, industry partners, and thought leaders to advance BCBSA’s policy objectives and influence outcomes in Washington.
Continually scans the environment, develops early positioning , and conducts scenario planning to design policy initiatives.
Aligns diverse perspectives across Plans and internal stakeholders while maintaining a clear point of view on strategic priorities and tradeoffs.
Engage directly with Plan and BCBSA leadership on policy to drive toward measurable progress, facilitating alignment where possible and providing clear, values‑based recommendations when alignment cannot be fully achieved.
Apply deep expertise in healthcare policy to align with business, operations, and product leaders on the implications policy may have on Blues Plans and recommend pragmatic, workable solutions.
Policy Research, Data, and Evaluation
Oversees the design, execution, and strategic application of high impact research initiatives, including microsimulation modeling in multiple markets, advanced quantitative and qualitative analysis using internal and external data, and the development of credible, data-driven research products, such as white papers, policy briefs, blogs, and issue analyses to support policy priorities.
Leads the BCBSA Center for Policy Research, translating complex data and analyses into clear, actionable insights for policymakers, Plans, partners, and media on critical issues including affordability, coverage, public programs, prescription drug pricing, and market dynamics.
Manages a significant budget and team of external research consultants to drive both in-depth, long-term analyses as well as rapid-response analytics to support fast-moving legislative or regulatory issues.
Strategically leverages BCBSA’s proprietary data assets to generate credible, differentiated insights that directly inform policy development, advocacy strategies, and engagement with policymakers, regulators, and other key stakeholders.
Team and Operational Leadership
Manages a multidisciplinary team of policy analysts and researchers, fostering collaboration and developing talent across policy and research functions.
Collaborates across a matrixed reporting environment to support integrated policy, advocacy and communications strategy to drive outcomes.
Coordinates with finance, procurement, and executive leadership to oversee budgets, contracts, external consultants, and project reporting.
The posting range for this position is:
$215,000.00 - $320,000.00
Required Education, Certifications and Experience:
Education:
Strongly prefer Master's Degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Public Policy or a related field; or equivalent experience
Experience:
12 years in healthcare policy, preferably a blend of congressional, regulatory, and private-sector experience, reflecting progressively responsible leadership roles. A deep knowledge and intimate understanding of the political, legislative and regulatory environment and processes and experience with high-impact research projects. Required
Knowledge Skills and Abilities:
Broad, strategic perspectives and creative thinking on a wide range of policy issues.
Experience developing and driving impactful policymaking, in both the legislative and executive branches.
Innovative thinker with ability to leverage data assets to advance strategy and policy initiatives.
An understanding of the healthcare marketplace and industry is essential, as is an understanding of how related federal regulatory and legislative issues affect BCBS business strategies.
Excellent oral and written communications skills to explain, inform, negotiate, and persuade, both internal and external audiences.
Represent BCBS with the media, congressional and executive staff, external consultants, industry thought leaders, and other health policy resources/audiences.
Executive presence for interacting with and influencing key leadership.
Excellent interpersonal skills for building and fostering important relationships.
Balancing creative ideas, solutions, and perspectives with strong leadership, principled judgment, and decisive decision making both strategically and tactically is critical.
A collaborative team player is absolutely essential.
LI_HYBRID
The posted salary range is the lowest to highest salary we, in good faith, believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the hiring range and this hiring range may also be modified in the future. A candidate’s position within the hiring range may be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, relevant experience, skills, seniority, performance, shift, travel requirements, and business or organizational needs. This job is also eligible for annual bonus incentive pay.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, 11 holidays, medical/dental/vision insurance, generous 401(k) matching, lifestyle spending account and many other benefits to eligible employees.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, or any other form of compensation that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.
What We Do
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 34 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans. BCBSA provides health care insights through The Health of America Report series and the national BCBS Health Index.
