Director, US Government Affairs

Ascendis Pharma is a dynamic, fast-growing global biopharmaceutical company with locations in Denmark, Europe, and the United States. Today, we're advancing programs in Endocrinology Rare Disease and Oncology.

Here at Ascendis, we pride ourselves on exceptional science, visionary leadership, and skilled and passionate colleagues.

Guided by our core values of Patients, Science, and Passion, we use our TransCon® drug development platform to fulfill our mission of developing new and potentially best-in-class therapies to address unmet medical needs.

Our culture fosters a place where skilled, adaptable, and highly resourceful professionals can truly make their mark. We offer a dynamic workplace for employees to grow and develop their skills.

As a Director, US Government Affairs working as part of the Development Operations Department and in close conjunction with Regulatory Affairs, Public Affairs and Global Communications, this individual will be empowered to identify, advocate, and execute Ascendis corporate interests for all Ascendis Pharma U.S.A. departments and other Ascendis operations in the United States with the legislative and executive branches of the federal government and state governments to achieve business goals and objectives. The individual needs to possess a deep understanding of Ascendis Pharma therapies, technology, and the patients we serve and can communicate appropriately to a variety of audiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead lobbying effort on behalf of Ascendis through the establishment and maintenance of professional trusted advisor relationships with Members of Congress, staff, executive branch and federal and/or state agency officials. Execute and coordinate government affairs positions and strategies on legislative, policy and political regulatory issues impacting Ascendis.

• Advise Ascendis leadership on appropriate business goals and strategies that may have impact to Ascendis from federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities. Consult with appropriate business and corporate personnel in making such determinations, providing recommendations for formulation of action plans.
• Develop and execute proactive policy and strategic plans to influence legislation and federal agency actions for both corporate and business/product specific initiatives.
• Assist in advancing Ascendis relationships with trade associations and participate in relevant staff-level work groups in order to advocate for Ascendis interests.
• Establish mutually beneficial relationships with key organizations, coalitions, policymakers and agency officials.
• Increase leadership and business unit understanding of, and participation in the policy-making and political process on behalf of Ascendis. Collaborate with home office and business units for input on critical issues and involve appropriate executives to advance Ascendis, positions with policymakers.
• Manage external lobbyists and consultants to effectively implement Ascendis legislative, policy, and political strategies
• Develop strategy to enhance Ascendis branding and presence with elected leaders and key stakeholders in Washington DC and throughout the federal government.
• Participate in Matrix Team meetings serving as a subject matter expert on federal and state initiatives in working together with Commercial colleagues

Position Objectives

• Lead the strategy development and create and execute tactical plans to influence Congress, the White House and related federal and state agencies to support Ascendis identified priorities
• Build and maintain relationships on behalf of Ascendis with elected leaders, and other key stakeholders to enable appropriate potential influence on regulatory activities with a focus on Ascendis products and to help position Ascendis as world-class pharmaceutical company.
• Lead and participate in cross-functional and project teams, both internal and external, including to help the company identify risks as well as opportunities for the commercial and clinical teams.
• Support the external engagement of Ascendis executives with elected officials and other key stakeholders within and around the federal government.
• The position will work in close collaboration with Regulatory Affairs and relevant internal functions.

Accountabilities

• Lead lobbying effort on behalf of Ascendis through the establishment and maintenance of professional trusted advisor relationships with Members of Congress, staff, executive branch and federal and/or state agency officials. Execute and coordinate government affairs positions and strategies on legislative, policy and political regulatory issues impacting Ascendis.
• Advise Ascendis leadership on appropriate business goals and strategies that may have impact to Ascendis from federal legislative, executive, and regulatory activities. Consult with appropriate business and corporate personnel in making such determinations, providing recommendations for formulation of action plans.
• Develop and execute proactive policy and strategic plans to influence legislation and federal agency actions for both corporate and business/product specific initiatives.
• Assist in advancing Ascendis relationships with trade associations and participate in relevant staff-level work groups in order to advocate for Ascendis interests.
• Establish mutually beneficial relationships with key organizations, coalitions, policymakers and agency officials.
• Increase leadership and business unit understanding of, and participation in the policy-making and political process on behalf of Ascendis. Collaborate with home office and business units for input on critical issues and involve appropriate executives to advance Ascendis, positions with policymakers.
• Manage external lobbyists and consultants to effectively implement Ascendis legislative, policy, and political strategies
• Develop strategy to enhance Ascendis branding and presence with elected leaders and key stakeholders in Washington DC and throughout the federal government.
• Participate in Matrix Team meetings serving as a subject matter expert on federal and state initiatives in working together with Commercial colleagues,.
• This position will report to the US General Manager and will be remotely located in Washington, DC.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required. JD or MBA desirable
• Demonstrated ability to develop and cultivate relationships with key associations/agencies and key government leaders
• Demonstrated career progression
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in public affairs & policy, legal, marketing or sales with a minimum of 5 years in positions of increasing responsibility and experience in government affairs, public affairs or public policy in pharmaceutical/health care industry
• Demonstrated healthcare experience with Federal/State Legislative and Executive Branch regulatory and administrative processes
• Strong experience working on regulatory issues related to Food and Drug Administrations
• Proven contact network, involvement and success in influencing the development of federal legislation and strong knowledge of the federal/State legislative and regulatory processes
• Established relationships with members of Health Care, Legislative, Regulatory, and Policy community including relevant Congressional committees, staff and federal agencies
• Able to effectively interact with policymakers, executives and possess outstanding written, verbal and presentation skills to synthesize complex issues and persuasively articulate specific actions and initiatives
• Experience in managing projects, including overseeing work plans, budgets
• Team player in collaborating, supporting and implementing department and function initiatives to advance corporate agenda
• Strong skills in assessing national trends and policies to identify and recommend appropriate strategies and action steps to protect and advance business interests
• Ability to refine team strategy based on anticipated future changes. Projects future trends of the industry and global forces to make proactive adjustments
• Ability to effectively deliver information, and explain, advocate and negotiate positions and issues to a broad spectrum of individuals required. Demonstrated track record of outstanding advocacy, communications and negotiations skills required
• Ability to work under tight deadlines, with little or no supervision required

Travel / Physical Requirements

• Ability to drive to or fly to various meetings, conferences or client sites, including overnight trips.
• Requires approximately 25% - 30% travel, some international travel may be required
• Face to Face meetings required

A note to recruiters:

We do not allow external search party solicitation.  Presentation of candidates without written permission from the Ascendis Pharma Inc Human Resources team (specifically from: Talent Acquisition Partner or Human Resources Director) is not allowed.  If this occurs your ownership of these candidates will not be acknowledged.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Vision insurance
• Dental insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid maternity leave
• Paid paternity leave
• Commuter benefits
• Disability insurance

Founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2007, Ascendis Pharma is applying its innovative platform technology to build a leading, fully integrated biopharma company focused on making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. Guided by our core values of patients, science and passion, we utilize our innovative TransCon™ technology platform to create new and potentially best-in-class therapies.

Today, we’re advancing programs in Endocrinology Rare Disease, Oncology, and Ophthalmology. We currently have five product candidates in clinical development: three in Endocrinology Rare Disease and two in Oncology. In addition, Ascendis recently announced new pre-clinical programs in Ophthalmology.

We are a dynamic, growing biopharma company with headquarters in Copenhagen and additional offices and research facilities in Germany (Heidelberg, Munich, and Berlin) and the United States (Palo Alto and Redwood City, California, and Princeton, New Jersey).

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