Senior Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy (Mussallem CHD Alliance)

Title: Senior Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy (Mussallem CHD Alliance)

Location: Washington, DC Area

Position Overview:

The Mussallem CHD Alliance is seeking its inaugural Senior Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy. A senior, Washington, D.C.-based leader who will serve as the Alliance's primary architect and executor of its federal and state policy agenda. Reporting directly to the Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, this person will be both a strategic thought partner and a hands-on operator: building relationships throughout Washington, DC, managing a sophisticated ecosystem of bipartisan government affairs and health policy consultants, engaging across a broad stakeholder landscape, and helping to establish the MCA as the definitive voice for CHD policy in the United States.

This work will directly advance care quality, accelerate innovation, and improve outcomes for people born with congenital heart disease.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with leadership to develop and execute the Alliance's federal and state government affairs, public policy, and policy education strategy in alignment with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
• Build and manage relationships with bipartisan congressional offices, federal agencies, patient and advocacy groups, other nonprofit organizations focused on congenital heart disease, clinical societies, hospital associations, and industry stakeholders.
• Help advance policy initiatives focused on Medicaid, healthcare access, care coordination, reimbursement, and broader CHD-related healthcare challenges.
• Coordinate external consultants, government affairs,and policy advisors to ensure alignment and execution against strategic priorities.
• Support the Alliance’s efforts to increase awareness and education of congenital heart disease within the healthcare policy community on Capitol Hill and with the administration, especially with the Department of Health and Human Services.
• Drive stakeholder engagement and coalition-building efforts across the CHD, healthcare, and advocacy ecosystems.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments impacting CHD patients and broader pediatric healthcare policy.
• Contribute both strategic insight and hands-on execution across short- and long-term policy initiatives.
• Help establish and strengthen the Alliance’s presence and credibility within Washington, D.C., and the broader healthcare policy environment.

The Person

• Proven experience in government affairs, healthcare policy, public affairs, or related leadership roles within healthcare, life sciences, nonprofit advocacy, government, or policy consulting organizations.
• Strong understanding of the bipartisan Washington, D.C. political and policy landscape, including experience navigating complex stakeholder environments.
• Experience working on healthcare policy issues involving Medicaid, reimbursement, FDA regulatory, healthcare access, or related healthcare delivery topics.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships across policymakers, advocacy organizations, trade associations, clinicians, consultants, and healthcare leaders.
• Strong strategic thinking and tactical execution skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and moving parts simultaneously.
• Policy-oriented mindset with the ability to understand and communicate complex healthcare policy issues effectively.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, executive presence, and emotional intelligence.
• Experience operating in mission-driven or advocacy-oriented environments is highly attractive.
• Familiarity with cardiology, pediatric healthcare, medical technology, or broader healthcare innovation ecosystems is preferred.