Senior Director, Federal Government Affairs

Compass Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) is a biotechnology company dedicated to unlocking urgently needed new treatment options in mental health care. Headquartered in London, UK, with a U.S. office in New Jersey, we focus on developing COMP360 psilocybin, a proprietary, investigational, synthetic psilocybin treatment for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). COMP360 has Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA and Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP) designation in the UK for TRD. We lead the world’s largest classic psychedelic clinical program in TRD and are advancing late-stage trials for PTSD.

About the role

The Senior Director, Federal Government Affairs will lead the company's federal Government Affairs strategy to advance policies improving access to innovative therapies for individuals with serious mental illness. This role will shape federal policy on innovative mental health treatments, reimbursement, regulatory policy, and patient access as the company prepares to commercialize a first-in-class psychedelic medicine. 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.

Location: Washington DC area (work from home flexibility).

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 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 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
    • Medicare Part B and Part D reimbursement
    • Mental and behavioral health policy
    • Drug pricing and healthcare payment policy
    • Controlled substances regulation and DEA scheduling
  • Develop policy positions and advocacy strategies supporting patient access and commercial success.
• Commercial Launch Readiness
  • Partner 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 facilitating adoption and access for future therapies.
• Coalition Building and Stakeholder Engagement
  • 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.
  • Ensure all lobbying activities, political engagement, and interactions with government officials comply with applicable laws, regulations, company policies, and industry ethical standards.

Requirements

• 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 Qualifications

• 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.

Skills

• Strategic foresight and ability to anticipate emerging policy trends.
• Excellent political judgment and bipartisan relationship-building skills.
• 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.
• Ability to influence and drive alignment without formal authority.
• Commitment to advancing patient access to innovative mental health treatments.

Pay

Base salary range: $250,000 - $300,000 USD per annum. Individual total compensation will vary based on qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location. The compensation package includes base salary, discretionary bonus, and equity.

Benefits

Our benefits package includes:

• Flexibility and generous time off.
• Parental and reproductive support.
• Health and medical coverage.
• Mental health and wellbeing programs.
• Financial health support.