Senior Director – Health

Waxman Strategies, a mission-driven policy and communications consulting firm led by former Congressman Henry Waxman, is hiring a Senior Director for our Health Practice. We’re looking for candidates with experience lobbying decision-makers, driving policy and advocacy work, and a commitment to health issues for this critical new role on our team. 

 

At Waxman Strategies, our Health Team uses its strategic policy knowledge and experience to provide strategic counsel, issue analysis and policy development, and engagement support with federal and state officials and a wide array of stakeholders to our diverse portfolio of clients. 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 include: Arnold Ventures, West Health, United States of Care, the California Health Care Foundation, the California Association of Public Hospitals, and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.

 

The position:

As one of the Senior Directors in our Health Practice, you will work closely with our team of experts (practice leadership, directors, and associates), our health team’s Managing Director, former Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Bill Corr, former Congressman Waxman, and our clients to shape and influence policy around health issues, one of the most pressing and high profile issues in our country. You will spearhead the practice’s strategic lobbying work and play a lead role in the policy work on behalf of our clients on a variety of the issues we address. The ideal candidate will combine previous legislative or regulatory experience with an aptitude for staff development, as well as strong communications and writing skills. The Senior Director will not immediately oversee staff but may in the future, and will have a significant role in developing staff in their lobbying skills and managing them on projects.

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; Strengthening the firm’s relationships with Congressional and staff leadership, members of key congressional committees, and legislative champions. 
  • Playing a lead role in coordinating all government relations work on behalf of Waxman’s health clients and the practice, including training, developing, supporting one or more Waxman staff in their lobbying responsibilities.
  • Play a lead role in strategy planning to advance client policy goals in Congress and the Administration through government relations tactics, including developing campaign plans and target lists for legislative and regulatory policy objectives. 
  • Serve as the senior contact for one or more clients or funders; leading client meetings, including discussions of policy issues and client deliverables; and overseeing accounts. 
  • Supporting strategy planning to advance client policy goals at all applicable levels of government, including policy development, communications, and stakeholder relations strategies;
  • Drafting position papers, talking points, letters, and other policy communications, on behalf of Waxman Strategies and our clients;
  • Providing communications support to relevant health care projects;
  • Actively identifying potential new clients and conducting background research for business development

 

Who you are:

Required qualifications:

• You have at least eight years of work experience, with a background working in a government setting or with nonprofit advocacy organizations or lobbying firms. You have experience lobbying decision-makers.
• You have experience in legislative or regulatory work. You have experience building strategies that successfully move decision-makers.
• You have experience in health policy, such as in health equity; health care coverage, costs, or delivery; sexual and reproductive health; or public health.
• You have excellent 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 relationships with health policy stakeholders and policymakers. Relationships with key Congressional committees is a huge plus. 
• You have a strong understanding of relevant Congressional and Administrative processes and procedures and skills to research 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 LGBTQ community, various religious backgrounds, and more.
• You have experience mentoring and training staff .
• You are passionate about health equity and working on behalf of underserved communities.
• You 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; a master’s degree in a related discipline preferred.

 

Preferred qualifications:

• Fluency in Spanish is a plus.

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 LGBTQ community, parents, empty-nesters, and more.

Details: This is a full-time position and based in the Washington, D.C. area. However, during the coronavirus pandemic, our D.C. area-based staff are working from home but have access to the office. The safety of our team is a top priority and we will resume working from our office, travel, and in-person meetings when it is safe to do so. 

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

 

Compensation and benefits: The salary range for this position is $96K to $125K, 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.

Interview process: Our interview process involves a phone interview, two video interviews, a candidate exercise, and reference calls for candidates advancing in our process. 

 

To apply: Please submit a resume and a thoughtful cover letter which demonstrates your writing abilities and let us know how you learned of the job. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and the job will remain posted on our website until it is filled. 

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact Aliya at aliya@waxmanstrategies.com.

 

More about Waxman Strategies: Recognized as “one of the most accomplished legislators of his or any era” by President Obama, former Congressman Henry Waxman leads the firm’s work in the areas of health, the environment, and technology. Waxman Strategies uses advocacy, communications, and campaigns to shape policies, advance causes and build movements around the world.

 

Our DEIJ Commitment: Waxman Strategies conducts our work with the understanding that diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) values are central to our mission, our culture, our success and our impact. With the knowledge of this country’s historically unjust economic and social systems in mind, our organization tries to maintain a workplace environment that embraces the diverse backgrounds and identities of our team, partners and clients.

 

We strive to make decisions transparently and inclusively, working to eliminate barriers so that all present and future Waxman Strategies staff – particularly those with traditionally excluded identities – have equitable, comprehensive access to resources, opportunities for leadership, and oversight of day-to-day activities.

 

Waxman Strategies is an equal opportunity employer; we strictly prohibit discrimination against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression and any other characteristic protected by law. 

Women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ community and other historically marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

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