Sr. External Affairs Communications Lead

Job Summary:
The Sr. External Affairs Comms Manager is a senior communications professional within GuideWell's Enterprise Communications function, responsible for building and protecting GuideWell's reputation with the audiences that shape its operating environment — policymakers, regulators, government officials, community leaders, advocacy organizations, and industry stakeholders. This role serves as the bridge between the communications function and GuideWell's government affairs, regulatory, and community engagement efforts — ensuring the organization's voice is present, credible, and consistent in the conversations that matter most to its business and mission. Unlike media relations (which focuses on earned coverage) or internal communications (which focuses on employees), this role's primary audience is external influencers: those who shape policy, regulate the industry, or hold the trust of the communities GuideWell serves, with a local market focus (local business associations, local governments, etc.). The Sr. External Affairs Manager is an individual contributor with broad scope. This role reports to the Sr. Director, Strategic Communications & Reputation and works in close partnership with the Sr. Director, Enterprise Communications (responsible for Media & Issues), Government Affairs, Legal, Community Relations, and enterprise leadership.

Essential Functions:

• The essential functions listed represent the major duties of this role, additional duties may be assigned.  
• Domain Ownership & Leadership: Serve as GuideWell's senior expert and owner for External Affairs & Stakeholder Communications — setting the strategy, maintaining standards, and ensuring the function delivers measurable outcomes in this area. Develop and maintain an annual plan aligned to enterprise narrative priorities, the legislative and regulatory calendar, and organizational goals.  
• Content / Program Development & Execution: Own the development and delivery of GuideWell's external affairs communications program — including public affairs and policy communications, stakeholder engagement, advocacy and regulatory narrative, community impact communications, coalition building, and regional PR agency partnership — ensuring all work reflects GuideWell's enterprise messaging framework and maintains consistent voice, quality, and narrative integrity.
• Public Affairs & Policy Communications: Develop and execute communications strategies (a “single GuideWell voice” on issues) that support GuideWell's government affairs and public policy priorities at the federal, state, and local level — ensuring a single, coherent GuideWell voice on policy issues.
  Build and maintain compelling messaging around health care policy, regulatory affairs, and legislative priorities — translating complex policy dynamics into clear, accessible narratives that resonate with policymakers and their staff.
  Partner with the Government Affairs team to ensure communications and advocacy strategies are aligned and mutually reinforcing.
  Draft and review external communications materials in regulatory and legislative contexts — including comment letters, position papers, and policy briefs.
  Monitor the regulatory and policy landscape for emerging issues and proactively brief the Sr. Director and enterprise leadership before situations require a reactive response.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Strategy: Map and maintain GuideWell's key external stakeholder landscape — identifying priority audiences and developing engagement strategies tailored to each.
  Support the government affairs team in building and sustaining trusted relationships with community leaders, advocacy organizations, health system partners, local business associations, local governments, and industry associations — ensuring GuideWell is seen as present, invested, and worth listening to.
  Develop and oversee stakeholder communications programs that keep key audiences informed, engaged, and aligned with GuideWell's priorities and values.
• Community Impact Communications: Develop and execute communications strategies that highlight GuideWell's contributions to the communities it serves — connecting the organization's community-embedded, mission-driven track record to its current transformation story.
  Lead campaign concepts like "Blue in Your Backyard" — developing and disseminating community impact content to Government Relations for distribution to state and federal elected officials and other target audiences.
  Support the organization's profile with community foundations, nonprofits, and local civic institutions.
• Coalition Building & Third-Party Amplification: Design and lead GuideWell's coalition strategy — identifying, re