Head of Government Affairs and Industry Relations

The Aspen Group (TAG) is one of the largest and most trusted retail healthcare business support organizations in the U.S. and has supported over 20,000 healthcare professionals and team members at more than 1,300 health and wellness offices across 48 states in four distinct categories: dental care, urgent care, medical aesthetics, and animal health. Working in partnership with independent practice owners and clinicians, the team is united by a single purpose: to prove that healthcare can be better and smarter for everyone. TAG provides a comprehensive suite of centralized business support services that power the impact of five consumer-facing businesses: Aspen Dental, ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers, WellNow Urgent Care, Chapter Aesthetic Studio, and Lovet Pet Health Care. Each brand has access to a deep community of experts, tools and resources to grow their practices, and an unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality consumer healthcare experiences at scale.

As a reflection of our current needs and planned growth we are very pleased to offer an opportunity to join our dedicated team as Head of Government Affairs and Industry Relations. The Head of Government Affairs & Industry Relations is the company's senior executive responsible for legislative, regulatory, and trade association activities across all affiliated brands. This leader shapes and executes a proactive public policy strategy that protects and advances company interests at the federal, state, and local levels.

A defining feature of this role is internal leadership: this individual is accountable for translating legislative and regulatory developments into concrete changes to business practices, clinical protocols, and operational planning - working directly with legal, compliance, clinical leadership, operations, and brand leadership to ensure alignment. This role also serves as the company's primary liaison to the Association of Dental Support Organizations ("ADSO"), the American Dental Association ("ADA"), state dental associations, and other key trade groups.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Industry Association & Trade Group Management

• Serve as the company's primary representative to the ADSO, coordinating positions and engagement strategies across all affiliated dental brands.
• Lead the company's participation in the ADSO Government Affairs Council (GAC), including tracking state and federal legislative developments and ensuring company positions are represented.
• Build and maintain active relationships with the ADA, state dental associations, and other dental and healthcare trade groups, including the American Investment Council (AIC) on private equity matters.
• Represent the company in ADSO committees, working groups, and advocacy campaigns; align internal stakeholders on industry positions before external engagement.
• Monitor membership deliverables, dues obligations, and event participation across all relevant associations.
• Evaluate and pursue new trade associations, coalitions, or partnerships that advance the company's advocacy goals.

Legislative Strategy & Government Relations

• Develop and execute a comprehensive federal and state government affairs strategy aligned with company priorities, working cross-functionally with legal, operations, and brand leadership.
• Own the company's state bill tracker - monitoring and reporting on legislation across all 50 states, with focus on CPOM/CPOD, private equity and healthcare transaction restrictions, the DDH Interstate Licensure Compact, Medicaid reimbursement rates, and patient financing regulations.
• Monitor state dental board calendars and board vacancies; develop strategies to ensure favorable regulatory environments and, where appropriate, support qualified candidates for board appointments.
• Track and respond to federal regulatory developments from the FTC, DOJ, CMS, CFPB, and HHS that could affect company operations, provider agreements, or patient financing.
• Engage with elected officials, legislative staff, and regulatory agencies at the federal and state levels to advocate for company and industry interests.
• Lead the development of regulatory comment letters, DOJ/FTC submissions, policy position papers, and legislative testimony.
• Anticipate and mitigate regulatory risk, identifying and resolving legislative threats before they escalate.
• Manage external lobbyists, consultants, and government affairs vendors as needed; oversee scope, performance, and budget.

Internal Leadership & Cross-Brand Coordination

• Serve as the internal subject-matter expert on government affairs for all brands; advise brand presidents and senior leaders on legislative risk and opportunity.
• Lead and be accountable for ensuring regulatory and legislative developments - including dental board actions, FTC/DOJ enforcement trends, state licensing changes, and state legislative changes - are incorporated into business planning, clinical protocols, and operational practices; partner with legal, compliance, and operations teams in this effort.
• Establish and facilitate a cross-brand government affairs working group to align positions, share intelligence, and coordinate advocacy across the portfolio.
• Produce quarterly government affairs reports for senior leadership and brand presidents summarizing legislative activity, regulatory risks, key wins, and the advocacy agenda.
• Prepare executive briefings and board-level updates on government affairs and industry relations matters as needed.

Grassroots & Political Engagement

• Design, launch, and manage a grassroots advocacy program that activates providers, clinical staff, and patients across affiliated brands.
• Develop grassroots communications, action alerts, and engagement toolkits; coordinate with marketing on messaging.
• Build and maintain a network of provider champions who can credibly speak to policymakers on access-to-care and healthcare workforce issues.

Emerging Brands Government Affairs Support

• Serve as the government affairs lead for emerging brand verticals - urgent care, medical aesthetics, and veterinary - building foundational advocacy infrastructure for each as the company's footprint grows.
• Conduct regulatory landscape assessments for each emerging vertical, mapping applicable licensing, scope-of-practice, corporate practice, and ownership/investment restriction frameworks.
• Monitor and respond to legislation and regulatory activity specific to each vertical.
• Identify and engage relevant trade associations (UCA, AmSpa, AVMA) to establish industry relationships and represent company interests.
• Coordinate with brand leadership to understand specific regulatory priorities and ensure government affairs support is proactively aligned with operational needs.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• 10+ years of progressive experience in government affairs, public policy, or legislative affairs within the healthcare or health services sector; senior advocacy role required.
• Demonstrated experience managing trade association relationships in a healthcare context.
• Proven track record leading grassroots or political mobilization campaigns.
• Deep understanding of federal and state legislative and regulatory processes as they apply to healthcare delivery, scope of practice legislation, corporate practice, licensure, and reimbursement.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills with legislators, regulators, and association executives.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate complex policy issues for executive, clinical, and lay audiences.
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to manage multiple projects at once, and follow through.
• Bachelor's degree in political science, public policy, law, public administration, or a related field.

Preferred

• Experience in the dental industry and/or across multiple healthcare verticals (dental, urgent care, medical aesthetics, veterinary); comfort building advocacy infrastructure in new regulated spaces.
• Existing relationships with congressional offices, relevant federal agencies, or state professional licensing boards.
• Experience in a multi-brand, multi-site, or DSO/MSO enterprise environment.
• J.D. or Master's degree in public policy, public affairs, health law, or a related discipline.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strategic Thinking & Political Acumen
• Coalition Building & Stakeholder Engagement
• Executive Presence & Communication
• Grassroots Mobilization
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Regulatory Analysis & Risk Management
• Vendor & Consultant Management
• Integrity & Discretion
• Preferred location is Chicago, IL onsite, but Remote candidates will be considered if you are comfortable with frequent travel.*

Pay Range: Annual Salary $250-310k with bonus opportunity

A generous benefits package that includes paid time off, health, dental, vision, and 401(k) savings plan with match

If you are an applicant residing in California, please view our privacy policy here: https://careers.aspendental.com/us/en/tag-privacy-policy-for-california-employees