Waxman Strategies: Director of Health Team

Waxman Strategies, a mission-driven policy and communications consulting firm founded by former Congressman Henry Waxman, is accepting applications for a director on our Health Team. For this critical role on our team, we're looking for candidates with experience in leading government relations, policy, and advocacy work, and experience with and a commitment to health issues and health equity. As a director in our Health Practice, you will be a key part of our work to develop, influence, and advocate for health policies that: address the rising costs of health care and prescription drugs, particularly as they affect Medicare and the commercial insurance market, support efforts to protect and expand access to health care, and advance work on other public health, healthy equity, and reproductive health care issues.

Waxman Strategies is a mission-driven consulting firm focused on advancing policies that drive systematic change and equitable outcomes. We use policy solutions, advocacy, and communications to support values-aligned clients in their work to achieve a healthy world in which people, nature, and the common good can flourish.

Our Health Team leverages policy knowledge and experience to provide our diverse portfolio of clients with strategic counsel, issue analysis and policy development, and engagement support with federal officials, state decision-makers, and a wide array of stakeholders. Building on a powerful legacy, we are driven by an uncompromising commitment to create and sustain change in the public interest. A sample of our current health clients includes: Arnold Ventures, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, the Georgia Health Initiative, West Health, and United States of Care.

As a director in our Health Practice, you will work closely with our team of experts (practice leadership, directors, and associates) and our clients to help shape and influence policy around health one of the most pressing and high-profile issues in our country. You will be a key leader on our practice's government relations portfolio and contribute to policy work on behalf of our clients on a variety of the issues we address. You will be a part of a practice and firm that works to ensure diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) are a central part of our work in a meaningful way. Our team recognizes the systemic racism and inherent inequities in our health care system and works every day to advance health equity through dedicated project work.

The director will not immediately oversee staff but may in the future.

Responsibilities include:

• playing a lead role in developing and communicating our clients' policy positions and lobbying members of Congress, congressional staff, other federal policymakers and stakeholders;
• maintaining and strengthening the firm's relationships with congressional and staff leadership, members of key congressional committees, and legislative champions, as well as relevant Administration offices;
• maintaining and implementing systems and processes to coordinate and track policymaker interactions across our practice;
• serving as key contact for day-to-day interactions with clients and funders; leading client meetings, including discussions of policy issues and client deliverables;
• supporting government relations strategy planning to advance client policy goals at all applicable levels of government, incorporating policy development, communications, and stakeholder relations strategies;
• drafting talking points and policy memos targeted to policymakers and clients;
• tracking federal and state regulatory and legislative activity on relevant health policy issues;
• project managing and mentoring other health practice staff; and
• conducting background research and identifying opportunities for business development.

What we're ideally looking for:

Required qualifications:

• You have at least five years of work experience, with a background working in a government setting and/or with advocacy organizations or lobbying firms. You have experience lobbying decision-makers.
• You have a proven track record in legislative or regulatory work, including experience figuring out how to move decision-makers and supporting advancement of legislation and/or regulatory policy.
• You have experience working on one or more health policy issues, such as health care costs, prescription drugs, health equity, public health, or coverage.
• You have strong written and verbal communication skills. You can communicate effectively with people with varying levels of expertise on health issues from members of Congress to nonprofit leaders to colleagues.
• You have experience building relationships with health policy stakeholders and policymakers.
• You understand relevant congressional and administrative processes and procedures, and approaches to influencing congressional and administration issues and processes.
• You have a commitment to and experience working with people from a variety of backgrounds, including marginalized communities such as communities of color, low-income communities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, various religious backgrounds, and more.
• You are passionate about health equity and working on behalf of underserved communities.
• You value collaboration in all parts of the work process and approach your work with flexibility, initiative, and a willingness to pivot as issues arise.
• You have a bachelor's degree, ideally in public policy, public health, government, political science, or another related field.

Preferred qualifications:

• experience with Medicare and/or commercial insurance market payment policy issues;
• experience in client and/or funder relations;
• experience with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice initiatives;
• a master's degree in a related discipline;
• experience mentoring and training staff and managing project teams; and
• fluency in Spanish is a plus.

Please note: If you have more than eight years of relevant experience, we still encourage you to apply; for the right candidate, we would adjust the title and salary as appropriate.

More about our team:

The firm is made up of people from various backgrounds including federal agencies, nonprofit advocacy groups, health agencies, and legislative offices at a range of experience levels. We pride ourselves on being a welcoming place for people of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, parents, empty-nesters, and more. Our working model is a very collaborative, project team-based approach.

Details:

This is a full-time position based in the Washington, D.C. area. We primarily work remotely, but staff have access to the Washington, D.C. office and the role will involve video and in-person meetings on Capitol Hill and with allies.

You will report to the Managing Director or Senior Vice President of our Health Practice and work with the rest of the health team.

Compensation and benefits:

The salary range for this position is $106,000-$139,000, depending on experience. We have a generous benefits package, including group health insurance, dental benefits, unlimited vacation time, paid holidays, and a 401(k) plan.