Executive Director/Vice President, Public Policy, Patient Advocacy & Government Affairs
About The Position
Reporting to the SVP, Sales, Commercial Operations & Market Access, the Executive Director or Vice President, Public Policy, Patient Advocacy & Government Affairs leads Achieve Life Sciences’ patient advocacy and public policy strategy in support of cytisinicline, the Company’s lead product candidate for the treatment of nicotine dependence. The role builds and sustains relationships with patient advocacy organizations, public health coalitions, and policymakers, ensuring the patient voice and policy environment are integrated into the Company’s launch and commercial strategy. As a senior member of the Commercial leadership team, this individual will lead the Company’s engagement across advocacy and lobbying organizations — including tobacco-control, public health, and nicotine-dependence treatment groups — and shapes the public policy agenda that supports patient access to cytisinicline. The role requires a leader with deep public policy expertise, established relationships across advocacy and lobbying organizations, and the ability to represent Achieve Life Sciences before policymakers, coalitions, and the patient community.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public health, political science, or a related discipline; an advanced degree (JD, MPH, or MBA) is preferred.
- 10+ years of public policy, government affairs, or advocacy experience, including significant experience in the healthcare or biopharmaceutical industry.
- Demonstrated success building and leading coalitions across lobbyist groups, trade associations, and patient advocacy organizations, with established relationships in the tobacco-control and public health policy space.
- Experience navigating federal and state legislative and regulatory processes relevant to healthcare and tobacco/nicotine policy.
- Deep knowledge of the federal and state policy landscape governing tobacco control, nicotine-dependence treatment, and healthcare access, with the ability to translate policy dynamics into actionable strategy.
- Proven ability to build and lead coalitions across lobbyist groups, trade associations, and advocacy organizations to advance shared policy priorities.
- Established relationships with patient advocacy and public health organizations, with credibility as a trusted partner to the advocacy community.
- Skilled at representing the Company before policymakers, coalitions, and the patient community, translating complex policy issues into clear, compelling narratives.
- Experience partnering with Market Access, Medical Affairs, Legal, and Communications to align advocacy and policy strategy with commercial objectives.
- Proven ability to attract, develop, and retain top talent, building a high-performing advocacy and policy function.
- Comfortable operating in an agile, fast-paced, small-company environment, with the flexibility to adapt quickly to evolving policy and market dynamics.
- This position may require registration as a federal and/or state lobbyist and ongoing compliance with applicable lobbying disclosure laws, including the federal Lobbying Disclosure Act, as well as Achieve’s policies governing political activity and advocacy engagement.
Nice To Haves
- An advanced degree (JD, MPH, or MBA) is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Developing and leading Achieve Life Sciences’ patient advocacy strategy for cytisinicline, building trusted relationships with patient advocacy organizations, public health coalitions, and community leaders in the nicotine-dependence and tobacco-control space.
- Ensuring patient insights and advocacy perspectives are integrated into decision-making across clinical development, market access, and commercialization.
- Representing the Company at external advocacy conferences, coalition meetings, and patient-facing events, serving as the primary liaison between Achieve Life Sciences and the patient advocacy community.
- Leading the development and execution of Achieve Life Sciences’ public policy strategy, analyzing the federal and state policy environment for tobacco control, nicotine-dependence treatment, and smoking-cessation coverage.
- Identifying legislative and regulatory opportunities and risks relevant to cytisinicline, and developing positioning and messaging to advance the Company’s policy priorities.
- Ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies governing lobbying, political activity, and advocacy engagement.
- Building and leading the Company’s engagement across lobbyist groups, trade associations, and public health coalitions — including organizations such as the American Lung Association, Truth Initiative, and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids — to advance shared policy priorities that support patient access.
- Managing relationships with external lobbying firms and consultants, directing lobbying strategy and priorities in alignment with the Company’s commercial and policy objectives.
- Cultivating relationships with federal and state policymakers and staff, positioning Achieve Life Sciences as a trusted voice in the nicotine-dependence treatment policy landscape.
- Building and leading the patient advocacy and public policy function, recruiting and developing talent to support the Company’s growth.
- Partnering with Market Access, Medical Affairs, Legal, and Communications to align advocacy and policy strategy with the Company’s broader commercial and access objectives.
Benefits
- medical, dental, and vision insurance
- a 401(k) retirement plan
- participation in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- company-paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage
- paid time off
- paid company holidays
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
