About the Position
The Director position requires deep expertise in the federal policy landscape (including key government health agencies and Congress) that affects the delivery of treatments and cures to patients. Working in close partnership with senior leadership and program directors, this role will help translate strategic priorities into actionable policy work.
Responsibilities
- Partner with FasterCures’ senior leadership and program directors to track, prioritize and respond to policy developments and activities that relate to FasterCures’ programmatic areas.
- Monitor and advise on federal policies as well as notable state or international policies that affect the delivery of treatments and cures to patients from research to regulatory to access.
- Serve as FasterCures’ internal and external subject matter expert on policy developments and trends related to NIH, ARPA‑H, FDA, CMS, and key Congressional committees.
- Engage with policymakers and staff in Congress and the agencies to advance FasterCures’ key policy priorities, build and maintain relationships, and represent FasterCures’ positions through meetings, briefings, and written testimony, in coordination with the Milken Institute’s Government Affairs team.
- Coordinate internal teams to align perspectives and messaging on cross‑cutting policy issues.
- Serve as a key point of contact for external stakeholders, including FasterCures’ Advisory Board and Business Council, to communicate priorities, gather insight, and strengthen partnerships.
- Maintain an active network of peers across the field to surface emerging trends and identify opportunities for alignment.
- Contribute to the development of programmatic outputs, including convenings, reports, and summaries.
- Represent FasterCures at conferences, meetings, and workshops.
- Manage and contribute to the professional development of direct and indirect reports, with responsibility for staff supervision and development.
- Engage cross‑functionally including with Business Development, Government Affairs, and Communications.
- Duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree in a health‑related field preferred.
- 8‑12 years of relevant work experience.
- Deep experience with drugs and/or medical devices policy.
- Prior experience in a policy and/or government affairs role with direct engagement with Congress or federal agencies preferred.
- Deep understanding of the stakeholders in the biomedical research ecosystem, their challenges and drivers.
- Demonstrated ability to build trust and collaborate effectively across a wide range of levels and working styles.
- Demonstrated experience representing organizations with senior external stakeholders and serving as a trusted partner to executive leadership.
- Demonstrated experience driving work forward in matrixed environments without direct authority over all contributors.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to prioritize multiple work streams and manage project teams.
- Ability to be flexible and quickly take on new program areas and adapt to the external environment.
- Comfortable with public speaking, either in small meeting settings or for large audiences.
- Availability for overnight travel approximately 3‑5 times per year.
We are interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in the United States. No visa sponsorship at this time.
Working Conditions & Travel Requirements
This position will work in a professional office environment on a hybrid schedule consisting of three (3) days per week, reporting in‑person to the Washington, DC office location (Tuesday – Thursday), with the remaining two (2) days working remotely. This schedule is subject to change at the Institute’s sole discretion. The role requires occasional travel to other offices and venues to assist with events, including international travel. Travel may at times require working outside of traditional hours and virtual interaction with Milken Institute staff worldwide.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The Milken Institute is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or veteran status.
Benefits
- Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
- Retirement Plan – 403(b) (5% match)
- Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
- Paid Time Off (Personal, Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
- Family Leave (Maternity & Paternity)
- Fertility Support
- Short‑Term & Long‑Term Disability
- Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)
- Pet Insurance Discount
- Training & Development: LinkedIn Learning – over 15,000 self‑guided classes offered; Annual Mentor Program
- Wellness Resources: Employee Assistance Program; CALM app membership