Senior Director, Federal Government Affairs

Job overview

The Senior Director, Federal Government Affairs will lead the company's federal Government Affairs strategy to advance policies that improve access to innovative therapies for individuals living with serious mental illness. As the company prepares to commercialize a first-in-class psychedelic medicine, this role will help shape the evolving federal policy landscape surrounding innovative mental health treatments, reimbursement, regulatory policy, and patient access. Reporting to the Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy, the Senior Director will serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and represent the company before Congress, the Administration, federal agencies, and external stakeholders.

Roles and responsibilities

• Federal Policy Strategy
• Develop and execute a comprehensive federal government affairs strategy aligned with corporate, policy, and commercial objectives
• Monitor and assess legislative, regulatory, and political developments affecting the company's business, pipeline, and growth strategy
• Identify emerging policy opportunities and risks and provide strategic recommendations to senior leadership
• Federal Advocacy and External Engagement
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with Members of Congress, congressional staff, federal agency leadership, and key policymakers
• Represent Compass Pathways before federal government stakeholders and effectively communicate company priorities and perspectives
• Serve as a strategic advisor to internal leadership on federal healthcare policy developments
• Mental Health and Healthcare Policy Leadership
• Lead the company's federal policy efforts on issues affecting access to innovative treatments for serious mental illness, including:
• Medicare and Medicaid coverage and reimbursement
• CMS coding, payment, and coverage policy
• Mental and behavioral health policy
• Drug pricing and healthcare payment policy
• Controlled substances regulation and DEA scheduling
• Develop policy positions and advocacy strategies that support patient access and commercial success
• Commercial Launch Readiness
• Partner closely with Market Access, Commercial, Medical Affairs, Regulatory, Clinical Development, Legal, and Health Economics & Outcomes Research (HEOR) teams to ensure federal policy and reimbursement strategies support product development, approval, launch, and commercialization
• Help shape policy environments that facilitate adoption and access for future therapies
• Conglomerate Building and Stakeholder Engagement
• In collaboration with Advocacy and External Affairs colleagues, cultivate strategic relationships with patient advocacy organizations, provider societies, veterans' groups, health policy coalitions, and trade associations
• Identify opportunities to build external support for policy priorities and advance shared objectives across the healthcare ecosystem
• External Resource Management and Compliance
• Manage external lobbying firms, policy consultants, and trade association engagements as appropriate
• Ensure all lobbying activities, political engagement, and interactions with government officials comply with applicable laws, regulations, company policies, and industry ethical standards

Candidate Profile

• Required
• 12+ years of progressively responsible experience in federal government affairs, healthcare policy, congressional affairs, or related fields
• Significant experience within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare, or life sciences sectors
• Deep understanding of:
• Congressional legislative processes
• Federal budget and appropriations processes
• Medicare and Medicaid policy
• CMS reimbursement, coding, and coverage frameworks
• Mental and behavioral health policy
• Drug pricing and healthcare payment policy
• Demonstrated success influencing complex healthcare legislation, federal policy, or regulatory initiatives
• Strong relationships across Congress, HHS, CMS, and other key healthcare policy stakeholders
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Preferred
• Experience with controlled substances policy and DEA scheduling
• Experience developing reimbursement and market access strategies for novel or specialty therapies
• Experience managing external lobbying firms, consultants, and trade association relationships
• Experience in mental health, neuroscience, behavioral health, or other innovative therapeutic areas

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic foresight and the ability to anticipate emerging policy trends
• Excellent political judgment and bipartisan relationship-building skills
• The ability to translate complex policy developments into actionable business strategy
• Strong collaboration and leadership within highly matrixed organizations
• Executive presence and credibility with senior government officials and internal stakeholders
• The ability to influence and drive alignment without formal authority
• A commitment to advancing patient access to innovative mental health treatments

Compensation Description (annually)

Please note that the base salary range is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location.

Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work and any role at Compass, regardless of the location, is eligible for additional discretionary bonuses and equity.

Base salary per annum: $250,000 - $300,000 USD

Benefits & Compensation

For an overview of our benefits package and compensation information, please visit "Working at Compass".

Equal opportunities

We are committed to building a workplace where everyone’s wellbeing matters. If you need reasonable accommodation during the interview process to be at your best, please let our recruiting team know.

We are proud of our commitment to diversity and equality (pursuant to the Equality Act 2010). We do not discriminate based upon race, religion or belief, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender, pregnancy or maternity, marital or civil partner status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, age or disability.

Sponsorship

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