AHCCCS

Address: 150 North 18th Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85007

All AHCCCS Employees must reside within the state of Arizona.

Salary: $100,000 - $110,000 

Grade: 26

FLSA Status: Exempt

Closing Date: April 3, 2026

This position is responsible for supporting the agency's efforts to inform, consult and collaborate with community stakeholders. The Community Affairs Officer will work across AHCCCS' divisions to proactively identify external opportunities for AHCCCS involvement and to help identify, prepare for and respond to community input on a variety of issues including but not limited to program development, reimbursement rates, policy changes, HR1, the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) and strategic planning.

They will serve as a key liaison between the agency and external stakeholders and will work closely with the Communications Team to ensure the agency is transparent and responsive to community needs. This position has the potential to directly supervise at least one team member in support of this work. The Community Affairs Officer reports directly to the Deputy Director of Community Engagement & Regulatory Affairs and maintains a close working relationship with the agency's leadership team.

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Community Relations - Develop and carry out opportunities for the agency to present, be featured, and/or participate in external forums for the purposes of developing partnerships, fostering transparency and building trust. Indirect management of other team members focused on stakeholder engagement efforts, with the potential to provide direct supervision. Host and facilitate collaborative discussions, work-groups and/or workshops with stakeholders as needed. Provide supervision, support and guidance to team members overseeing the State Medicaid Advisory Committee and the Beneficiary Advisory Committee. Initial work will focus, in part, on supporting stakeholder engagement opportunities related to HR1 implementation and the RHTP.
• Direct Participation in External Forums and Coalitions - Serve as an agency representative when presenting to external stakeholders and/or regularly attending externally-hosted coalitions that benefit AHCCCS members.
• Community Affairs Strategy - Develop, implement and refine stakeholder engagement protocols and processes across the agency. Work with their supervisor and other members of the leadership team to identify opportunities to embed and codify stakeholder input and consultation processes. Work with Division of Public Policy & Strategic Planning to weave stakeholder involvement throughout the agency's strategic plan.
• Develop & Coordinate Agency Responses to Stakeholder Inquiries - Work with internal teams and subject matter experts to develop written responses to stakeholder inquiries and surveys. Collect relevant information from internal colleagues and develop a written response to the inquiry.
• Develop and monitor methods to track meaningful progress in the agency's community affairs work.

Knowledge of:
• State government and health care issues facing the Medicaid program and its members
• Key health and health care stakeholders in Arizona
• Opportunities and forums for AHCCCS to share and collect information
• Strategic planning processes and the importance of community input
• Change management models and theories that support collaboration and group progress
• Case management development, implementation, and ongoing review

Skilled in:
• Managing group dynamics
• Messaging, writing and oral presentation skills
• Leading with diplomacy and empathy when working with a variety of stakeholders who may have competing interests
• Group facilitation techniques
• Team leadership and strategy
• Managing constructive criticisms
• Recognizing opportunities and strategies to improve public affairs
• Strong customer service and communication skills to advise senior leadership on stakeholder engagement strategies
• Microsoft Office Suite

Ability to:
• Collaborate as a member of an effective team
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency management, representatives of other State agencies and Tribal governments, business and community leaders, health care providers, advocates, the public and other stakeholders encountered in the course of work
• Create and deliver high quality written communications and presentation materials
• Adapt to various audiences
• Make independent decisions concerning community outreach strategies and their effectiveness
• Delegate and manage multiple assignments in an effective manner while under strict deadlines
• Represent the agency effectively in public settings on a variety of issues

Arizona Driver's License.

Minimum:
• Five years of work experience serving in a leadership role that includes aspects of external affairs/public relations/community engagement.

Preferred:
• Bachelor's or Master's in a related field (e.g., public relations, public affairs, public administration, non-profit management, communications, public policy or political science).

• Successfully pass fingerprint background check, prior employment verifications and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.

• Travel may be required for State business. Employees who drive on state business must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.)

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Among the many benefits of a career with the State of Arizona, there are:
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Vacation and Sick time off (13 and 12 days per year respectively) - start earning it your 1st day (prorated for part-time employees)
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child. Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here.
• Other Leaves - Bereavement, civic duty, and military.
• A top-ranked retirement program with lifetime pension benefits
• A robust and affordable insurance plan, including medical, dental, life, and disability insurance
• Participation eligibility in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (must meet qualifications)
• RideShare and Public Transit Subsidy
• A variety of learning and career development opportunities

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Lifetime Pension Benefit Program
• Administered through the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
• Defined benefit plan that provides for life-long income upon retirement.
• Required participation for Long-Term Disability (LTD) and ASRS Retirement plan.
• Pre-taxed payroll contributions begin after a 27-week waiting period (prior contributions may waive the waiting period).

Deferred Retirement Compensation Program
• Voluntary participation.
• Program administered through Nationwide.
• Tax-deferred retirement investments through payroll deductions.

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by emailing careers@azahcccs.gov.

Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.