Head, Federal Government Affairs

GlaxoSmithKline; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Head of Federal Government Affairs to lead and influence federal legislative strategies. This pivotal role involves engaging with lawmakers and stakeholders to align advocacy efforts with business priorities. The successful candidate will have a strong executive presence, the ability to synthesize complex issues, and a proven track record in federal affairs and healthcare policy. This is an exciting opportunity to drive impactful change and foster a high-performing team within a forward-thinking organization committed to improving patient care and advancing healthcare legislation.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in federal affairs, healthcare policy, or government relations.
• Experience in biopharmaceutical industry and team management.

Responsibilities

• Shape and drive GSK’s federal legislative agenda with executive leaders.
• Monitor legislative developments to provide actionable insights.
• Develop advocacy strategies and represent GSK in external forums.

Skills

Federal Affairs

Healthcare Policy

Government Relations

Team Management

Strategic Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Advanced Degree in Public Policy or related field

Job description

Site Name: USA - District of Columbia - Washington Dc
Posted Date: Mar 5 2025

Head of Federal Government Affairs

Location: Washington DC

Reporting to the Vice President and Head of Government Affairs, Public Policy & Patient Advocacy (GAPPA), the Head of Federal Government Affairs (FGA) will be responsible for federal legislative engagement strategies, ensuring alignment with GSK’s business priorities and broader policy objectives. This individual will play a critical role in shaping, influencing, and advancing federal legislation that impacts the company’s operations, patient care, and commercial interests.

The Head of FGA will develop and execute strategies to engage with federal lawmakers, agencies, and other stakeholders to advance GSK’s interests. The position will monitor and analyze legislative and regulatory developments, assess their business impacts, and provide actionable recommendations to executive leadership. Regular communication and reporting to executive leadership and collaboration with internal teams, such as Public Policy, State Government Affairs, Patient Advocacy, and Market Access, will be essential to align federal strategies with GSK’s overall U.S. organizational goals.

The Head of FGA will also represent GSK in key industry forums, coalitions, and advocacy organizations, fostering relationships with policymakers and external stakeholders. This role will require a strategic and commercially focused mindset, ensuring that federal advocacy efforts align with GSK’s business objectives. Finally, the Head of FGA will be tasked with transforming the culture of the team. The candidate will be responsible for bringing clarity around accountability and responsibilities while fostering new, innovative approaches to engagement. This individual will be dynamic leader with strong executive presence, the ability to synthesize complex external dynamics into clear insights for GSK’s leadership, and able to effectively communicate the team’s goals and objectives. They must embrace challenges, push for impactful change, and align the team’s performance with GSK’s strategic priorities.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborates with the Vice President and Head GAPPA and other executive leaders to shape and drive GSK’s federal legislative agenda, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
• Monitors and analyzes federal legislative and regulatory developments to assess potential impacts and deliver actionable insights to senior leadership.
• Develops and executes comprehensive federal advocacy strategies, partnering with Legal, Public Policy, and other teams to align legislative objectives with business needs.
• Represents GSK in key external forums, fostering relationships with federal agencies, trade organizations, and national policy bodies to influence healthcare legislation in support of GSK’s mission.
• Synthesize complex legislative and regulatory dynamics into actionable business strategies, providing clear and strategic advice to internal stakeholders.
• Leads the creation of cohesive federal legislative and regulatory positions, aligning them with state, advocacy, and business objectives to maintain consistency across GSK’s U.S. operations and global strategies.
• Acts as a strategic connector between federal, state, and public policy teams, ensuring an integrated approach that supports business priorities and advocacy goals.
• Manages the budget for federal legislative initiatives, including consulting services, sponsorships, and data acquisition, ensuring optimal resource allocation.
• Serves as a key member of the GAPPA leadership team, contributing to the broader strategic direction of GSK’s public policy efforts.
• Drives cultural transformation within the federal team, ensuring clarity around roles, responsibilities, and accountability.
• Develops a high-performing team, setting clear objectives, providing coaching and mentorship, and fostering results driven and collaborative culture.
• Serves as a dynamic, transformative leader, comfortable making key decisions regarding personnel, consultants, and/or strategy to drive performance and accountability.
• Demonstrates strong executive presence, effectively communicating GSK’s federal strategy to internal leadership and external stakeholders.
• Encourages thoughtful, forward-looking strategies that consider not just federal but also state, business, and advocacy implications to ensure cohesive policy strategies.
• Ensures strong connections with Capitol Hill, leveraging relationships to advance GSK’s interests and anticipate potential legislative and regulatory shifts and risks.

Why You?

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in federal affairs, healthcare policy, or government relations, with at least 5 years experience working in the biopharmaceutical industry.
• A minimum of 4 years managing high-performing teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Public Policy, Public Health, or a related field
• Demonstrated expertise in the US political environment, Medicare, Medicaid, healthcare reform, pricing, reimbursement, and other federal healthcare programs.
• Proven track record of driving organizational transformation, addressing cultural challenges, and fostering high-performing teams.
• Deep knowledge of U.S. healthcare laws and regulations, coupled with strong connections to Capitol Hill and relevant government agencies.
• Exceptional communication skills and executive presence, with the ability to translate complex legislative issues into actionable business strategies.
• Experience leading through change and making impactful decisions to drive team and organizational success.