Director – State Policy (West)

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) is seeking a Director of State Policy for the State Advocacy team. The Director will play a pivotal role in shaping policies that protect and promote the discovery, development, and delivery of medicines to help patients live longer and healthier lives.

Reporting to the Deputy Vice President, you will develop and lead the policy-related strategy for key Western states, including Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. You’ll have the resources and support you need to be effective on key high-impact issues such as Medicaid, insurance, cost/value, 340B, and prescription drug pricing.

In this highly visible and fast-paced position, you will collaborate with colleagues across PhRMA, engage with stakeholders at over 30 member companies, and represent PhRMA at state legislative and regulatory hearings and other stakeholder meetings. You’ll apply your expertise in relationship building and communication to inspire confidence and influence a broad range of constituents through effective presentation, testimony, and group facilitation.

This role requires you to handle multiple complex issues simultaneously, prioritize effectively, think and communicate strategically about assigned policy areas, seek input from others as needed, and adjust to changing political environments. Your ability to mobilize quickly, work effectively both as part of a team and independently, employ exceptional diplomacy, and build consensus will be central to your success. To reside in one of the assigned Western states (AZ, NM, NV, UT, WY) or in the Denver or Sacramento metropolitan areas.

How You’ll Make an Impact

Working with a bright, hardworking, collaborative team passionate about addressing healthcare challenges in the US, you’ll be at the cutting edge of policy to support biopharmaceutical innovation. Your work will influence policies that support the development of groundbreaking medicines, ensure access for all, and dramatically improve patients’ lives.

The Director is responsible for:

• Legislative and Regulatory Analysis. Analyzing state-level legislation and regulations. Draft and deliver testimony, represent PhRMA at key meetings, and create essential documents, including statements and talking points, to support state lobbying efforts.
• Strategy Development and Guidance. Providing strategic advice to the regional field team to advance and protect PhRMA policies related to state legislation and regulations. Collaborate with regional leadership to develop and execute effective strategies.
• Policy Development Support. Supporting the development and implementation of state policies on critical issues such as Medicaid, insurance, cost/value, 340B, and prescription drug pricing.
• Legislative Planning Support. Working with internal and external teams to support action plans for legislation in assigned states, particularly focusing on the western US.
• Stakeholder Engagement. Acting as PhRMA’s representative at various high-level meetings, including state legislative hearings and regulatory agency meetings. Plan and collaborate with the state team to ensure comprehensive industry coverage at national and quarterly meetings.
• Internal Collaboration and Project Management. Presenting key regional issues to senior PhRMA management and collaborating across departments to ensure alignment and advocacy effectiveness. Coordinate special projects, including defining scopes of work and timelines.
• Workgroup Membership. Participating in coordinating efforts with member companies and within PhRMA to achieve policy goals.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Key Success Factors
PhRMA seeks a collaborative, proactive, self-starter who is passionate about patient access to medicine and addressing the healthcare challenges we face today. Key success factors for this role include the ability to mobilize quickly, to work well both with a team, yet able to work independently, to employ exceptional diplomacy, ability to build consensus, a strong commitment to the organization’s mission, and drive. Excellent relationship-building and communication skills are a must and include the ability to inspire confidence and influence audiences through effective presentation, testimony, and group facilitation. The candidate must have the ability to handle multiple complex issues simultaneously, prioritize effectively, think strategically regarding assigned policy areas, seek input from manager and colleagues as needed, and quickly adjust to the changing political environment.

Professional Experience / Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, health policy, political science, science, or a related area. Advanced degree preferred.
• 6+ years of progressive experience in state policy or within state government, legislature, regulatory, or executive branch (trade association and/or pharmaceutical industry experience preferred).
• Prior experience analyzing health policy and developing policy-related action plans.
• Experience providing testimony or issue briefings on complex topics.
• Must be willing to travel (up to 50% of the time during certain times of the year) and be responsive and available after-hours and weekends as needed; must have a valid driver’s license.
• Experience working with state healthcare issues affecting the biopharmaceutical industry.
• Excellent interpersonal skills that foster the ability to design and manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet short, non-negotiable timelines.
• Strong written and oral communication skills are essential.

Potential Salary

$132,600 - $182,300 per annum. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

Who we are
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country’s leading innovative biopharmaceutical research companies, which are laser focused on developing innovative medicines that transform lives and create a healthier world. Together, we are fighting for solutions to ensure patients can access and afford medicines that prevent, treat and cure disease. Over the last decade, PhRMA member companies have invested more than $850 billion in the search for new treatments and cures, and they support nearly five million jobs in the United States.