Executive Director, Head of Government Affairs

Head Of Government Affairs

At Insmed, every moment and every patient counts — and so does every person who joins in. As a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming the lives of patients with serious and rare diseases, you'll be part of a community that prioritizes the human experience, celebrates curiosity, and values every person's contributions to meaningful progress. That commitment has earned us recognition as Science magazine's No. 1 Top Employer for five consecutive years, certification as a Great Place to Work® in the U.S., and a place on The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list in the UK.

For patients, for each other, and for the future of science, we're in. Are you?

About The Role

As Insmed continues to grow as a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative therapies for patients with serious and rare diseases, the need to monitor, engage, and strategically influence healthcare policy has become increasingly important. The Head of Government Affairs will serve as Insmed's primary liaison to federal and state legislative and regulatory bodies, building and maintaining relationships that support the company's mission and commercial objectives. In addition, this role will manage Insmed's relationship with industry organizations. This leader will develop and execute a comprehensive government affairs strategy, working cross-functionally with Legal, Compliance, Communications Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs, Market Access, and Commercial teams to ensure Insmed's interests are effectively represented before Congress, the FDA, HHS, and other relevant government agencies. This role will also manage relationships with external government affairs firms and biotech industry organizations.

What You'll Do

In this role, you will develop, lead, and implement Insmed's government affairs strategy at the federal and state levels, aligned with the company's pipeline, commercial, and corporate priorities.

You'll also have responsibility for:

• Legislative & Regulatory Monitoring: Monitor legislative and regulatory developments (including FDA policy, drug pricing, market access, and rare disease policy) that may impact Insmed's business and proactively communicate implications to senior leadership.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain productive relationships with Members of Congress, congressional staff, federal agency officials (FDA, HHS, CMS, NIH), and relevant trade associations.
• Policy Advocacy: Represent Insmed's positions on key policy issues including rare disease drug approval pathways, reimbursement and coverage policies, drug pricing legislation, and public health initiatives.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Regulatory Affairs, Market Access, Legal, Compliance, Communications, Medical Affairs, and the Executive Committee to align government affairs activities with business needs and ensure a coordinated approach to policy engagement.
• External Vendor Management: Identify, engage, and manage external government affairs firms, lobbyists, and legal counsel to support Insmed's advocacy efforts and "disaster planning" scenarios (e.g., FDA disruptions, legislative threats).
• Patient Advocacy Alignment: Collaborate with Patient Advocacy to advocate for patient advocacy groups and rare disease organizations and amplify Insmed's policy positions and support patient-centered legislative initiatives.
• Crisis & Contingency Planning: Lead government affairs preparedness efforts for high-impact, low-probability scenarios (e.g., FDA operational disruptions, regulatory pathway changes), coordinating with outside counsel and cross-functional partners.
• Trade Association Engagement: Represent Insmed in relevant industry trade associations (e.g., BIO, NORD, MBAA) and working groups to advance shared policy objectives.
• Reporting & Communication: Provide regular updates to the Executive Committee and Board of Directors on the political and regulatory landscape, emerging risks, and government affairs activities.
• Budget Management: Develop and manage the Government Affairs budget, including external firm retainers and advocacy-related expenditures.

Who You Are

You have a Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (JD, MPP, MBA, or relevant graduate degree) strongly preferred. Minimum of 12–15 years of progressive experience in government affairs, public policy, or regulatory affairs, with significant experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or life sciences industry.

Additionally you have:

• Demonstrated track record of successfully influencing federal healthcare legislation and regulatory policy.
• Deep knowledge of the U.S. legislative and regulatory process, including FDA drug approval pathways, CMS reimbursement policy, and rare disease policy frameworks.
• Established relationships on Capitol Hill and with key federal agencies (FDA, HHS, CMS, NIH).
• Experience managing external government affairs firms, lobbyists, and coalitions.
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate complex policy issues into actionable business strategies.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to represent Insmed effectively before government officials, industry groups, and patient advocacy organizations.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally and influence without direct authority in a matrixed organization.
• High degree of integrity, sound judgment, and commitment to ethical conduct.

Preferred:

• Experience in rare disease, orphan drug, or specialty pharmaceutical policy.
• Prior experience working within a government agency (FDA, HHS, Congressional office) or a leading government affairs firm representing life sciences clients.
• Experience engaging with patient advocacy organizations in the rare disease space.

Travel Requirements

This role requires occasional domestic travel approximately 10-20%

Where You'll Work

This is a hybrid role based out of Washington, D.C.

Pay Range:

$280,000.00-382,500.00 Annual