At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, we are committed to paving the way for everyone to achieve their healthiest life. We are looking for dedicated and motivated individuals who share our vision of transforming healthcare. As a Blue Cross associate, you are joining a culture that is built on values of succeeding together, finding a better way, and doing the right thing. If you are ready to make a difference, join us.
The Impact You Will Have
The Director of Policy Strategy will elevate the organization’s influence in the healthcare sector, strengthen its reputation, and advance its mission by developing forward-looking policy strategies. This leader will anticipate and interpret shifts in the political landscape, consumer behavior, and healthcare delivery—ensuring the organization stays ahead of the curve. By understanding and responding to long-range trends in healthcare policy and market dynamics, the Policy Strategist will drive progress toward affordable, high-quality outcomes in Minnesota and beyond.
The Head of Policy Strategy is a future-oriented and strategic leader who shapes and advances the organization’s long-range policy vision and strategy. This role focuses on anticipating, analyzing, and leveraging evolving healthcare policy trends—locally and nationally—to position the organization as an innovator and thought leader in Minnesota and beyond. In this role, you will align the organization’s mission-driven goals with dynamic policy environments, ensuring the organization is prepared to influence, adapt, and lead in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape. Serving as a trusted advisor, this leader translates emerging trends and stakeholder insights into actionable strategies, strengthening the organization’s reputation, influence, and impact across all facets of external engagement. This leader works collaboratively across Public Affairs, Strategy, Communications, Marketing, and other executive teams to drive integrated initiatives that advance healthcare initiatives and organizational strategies.
Your Responsibilities
Develop and lead a comprehensive policy strategy that proactively positions the organization for long-term success in a changing healthcare environment.
Conduct ongoing long range environmental scanning and trend analysis to identify and interpret future policy shifts, regulatory developments, and market dynamics.
Translate insights from policy, technology, and stakeholder trends into actionable strategies that enhance the organization’s mission, competitive advantage, and public reputation.
Align external affairs and policy initiatives with organizational goals, ensuring seamless integration across public affairs, communications, strategy, and partnerships.
Build and sustain trust with healthcare leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders by advancing strategic relationships and collaborative opportunities.
Position the organization as a visionary and credible leader in healthcare policy through thought leadership, executive communications, and strategic messaging.
Advise executive leadership and the board on emerging policy developments, stakeholder expectations, and long-range strategic positioning.
Design and oversee integrated policy communications strategies that build public trust and support strategic priorities, including affordability and improved health outcomes.
Drive enterprise-wide initiatives that elevate the organization’s influence and foster innovation in healthcare policy and delivery.
Required Skills and Experience
10 or more years of experience in policy strategy, external affairs, public affairs, or strategic engagement within healthcare, insurance, or public policy sectors.
Extensive experience navigating state and federal regulatory environments, with deep knowledge of healthcare policy, market dynamics, and emerging trends.
Proven track record of strategic leadership and executive-level experience in policy development and implementation.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate across functions, especially with Public Affairs, Communications, Strategy, and executive leadership.
Strong analytical skills in trend analysis, environmental scanning, and long-range forecasting of healthcare policy and market shifts.
Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to convey complex policy concepts clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
Experience building influential relationships with elected officials, regulators, community leaders, and media, and leveraging those relationships for strategic impact.
Expertise in the state and federal healthcare policy landscape, including Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and commercial insurance markets.
Significant experience advising executive leadership and boards on external relations, policy strategy, and organizational positioning.
Visionary thinking and a passion for advancing mission-driven healthcare innovation and equity.
Accepting this position at BCBSMN requires signing an Employee Confidentiality, Intellectual Property Assignment and Restrictive Covenants Agreement as a condition of employment.
High school diploma (or equivalency) and legal authorization to work in the U.S.
Preferred Skills and Experience
Bachelor's Degree and/or equivalent experience/Master's Degree preferred.
Experience working within or alongside a health plan, managed care organization, or state health agency.
Active network of relationships with state and/or federal policymakers relevant to healthcare.
Experience leading or contributing to enterprise-wide branding, reputation management, or major public campaigns.
Anchored in Connection
Our hybrid approach is designed to balance flexibility with meaningful in-person connection and collaboration. We come together in the office two days each week – most teams designate at least one anchor day to ensure team interaction. These in-person moments foster relationships, creativity, and alignment. The rest of the week you are empowered to work remote.
Compensation and Benefits$152,900.00 - $210,300.00 - $267,700.00 AnnualPay is based on several factors which vary based on position, including skills, ability, and knowledge the selected individual is bringing to the specific job.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package which may include:
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Life insurance
401k
Paid Time Off (PTO)
Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO)
And more
To discover more about what we have to offer, please review our benefits page.
Equal Employment Opportunity StatementAt Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, we are committed to paving the way for everyone to achieve their healthiest life. Blue Cross of Minnesota is an Equal Opportunity Employer and maintains an Affirmative Action plan, as required by Minnesota law applicable to state contractors. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to, and will not be discriminated against based on any legally protected characteristic.
Individuals with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation in order to apply, please contact us at: [email protected].
Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® of Minnesota and Blue Plus® are nonprofit independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and has not been reviewed or approved by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
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Retirement Support — The program combines a 401(k) match with additional company retirement contributions and a cash balance pension. This multi-pronged design strengthens long-term financial security beyond standard offerings.
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Parental & Family Support — Benefits include fully paid parental leave, adoption/surrogacy/foster assistance, and childcare support. These resources provide meaningful support across diverse family needs.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — PTO that increases with tenure, multiple paid holidays, personal days, and paid volunteer time are paired with flexible scheduling. This breadth supports sustained work-life balance across career stages.
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What We Do
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is a taxable, nonprofit organization with a mission to make a healthy difference in people’s lives. Chartered in 1933 as Minnesota’s first health plan, we’ve promoted wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota for 80+ years. Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® of Minnesota is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® Association.
