Director, Government Affairs

Ardelyx•Waltham, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Ardelyx is a publicly traded commercial biopharmaceutical company founded with a mission to discover, develop and commercialize innovative first-in-class medicines that meet significant unmet medical needs. Ardelyx has two commercial products approved in the United States, IBSRELA® (tenapanor) and XPHOZAH® (tenapanor). Ardelyx has agreements for the development and commercialization of tenapanor outside of the U.S. Kyowa Kirin commercializes PHOZEVEL® (tenapanor) for hyperphosphatemia in Japan. A New Drug Application for tenapanor for hyperphosphatemia has been approved in China with Fosun Pharma. Knight Therapeutics commercializes IBSRELA in Canada. The Director of Government Affairs will report to the Senior Vice President, Government Affairs & Patient Advocacy, and will be responsible for leading and executing the Ardelyx government affairs strategy at the state and federal levels in close alignment with our gastrointestinal and renal business leaders. This role serves as a key advisor on public policy matters and drives engagement with policymakers, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders. The Director develops and advances policy strategies that support patient access and organizational objectives, while partnering cross-functionally with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment between government affairs initiatives and business goals.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, with 10+ years of experience in government affairs, patient advocacy, public health policy, communications, or related fields, including pharmaceutical industry experience, or equivalent experience
Demonstrated outstanding strategic planning, communication and presentation skills
A high level of energy and passion toward patients, science and public health
Working knowledge and appreciation of the complexities of the drug development process and regulatory requirements
Proven teamwork and collaboration skills, with a demonstrated ability to interact with and influence all levels of business
Passion, dedication and commitment to patient centricity
A desire to work in the corporate culture of a highly innovative company aimed at redefining health and transforming lives with new medicines
Ability to travel up to 35%

Nice To Haves

advanced degree preferred
Pharmaceutical sector and therapeutic area experience preferred

Responsibilities

Lead state government engagement across the Northeast region of the country with attention to the federal delegation, local government, and stakeholders in Massachusetts on key policy issues
Develop and implement appropriate strategies and tactics to achieve the desired outcomes through a combination of direct lobbying and legislative coalition-building
Manage external consultants and advocacy partners, ensuring effective, compliant execution of legislative and stakeholder engagement efforts
Develop and execute strategies to ensure patients have access to our medicines in collaboration with Market Access and Marketing
Collaborate with the Sr. Directors of Patient Advocacy to work with government stakeholders on patient awareness initiatives
Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Communications, Policy, and Medical Affairs teammates to ensure that efforts are aligned to meet company objectives and most effectively serve the needs of patients
Work closely with the commercial organization on key issues of importance for patients and patient advocates, including disease awareness, pricing and access, and patient support
Provide strategic input into the development and resource prioritization for the Company’s annual government affairs plan
Identify and pursue additional opportunities to advance our company’s business objectives