Executive Director, 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. 

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#LI-SK - Hybrid

Pay Range:

$280,000.00-382,500.00 Annual

Life at Insmed
 

At Insmed, you’ll find a culture as human as our mission—intentionally designed for the people behind it. You deserve a workplace that reflects the same care you bring to your work each day, with support for how you work, how you grow, and how you show up for patients, your team, and yourself.

Highlights of our U.S. offerings include:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage and mental health support, annual wellbeing reimbursement, and access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Generous paid time off policies, fertility and family-forming benefits, caregiver support, and flexible work schedules with purposeful in-person collaboration

• 401(k) plan with a competitive company match, annual equity awards, and participation in our Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), and company-paid life and disability insurance

• Company Learning Institute providing access to LinkedIn Learning, skill building workshops, leadership programs, mentorship connections, and networking opportunities

• Employee resource groups, service and recognition programs, and meaningful opportunities to connect, volunteer, and give back

Eligibility for specific programs may vary and is subject to the terms and conditions of each plan. 

Current Insmed Employees: Please apply via the Jobs Hub in Workday.

Insmed Incorporated is an Equal Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Unsolicited resumes from agencies should not be forwarded to Insmed. Insmed will not be responsible for any fees arising from the use of resumes through this source. Insmed will only pay a fee to agencies if a formal agreement between Insmed and the agency has been established. The Human Resources department is responsible for all recruitment activities; please contact us directly to be considered for a formal agreement.

Insmed is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application   or interview process, please contact us by email at TotalRewards@insmed.com  and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

Applications are accepted for 5 calendar days from the date posted or until the position is filled.

For New York City Residents:

To assist in identifying candidates with qualifications matching those required and/or preferred for this role, Insmed uses an Automated Employment Decision Tool (“AEDT”) that employs artificial intelligence to analyze and score information provided in resumes and application materials including, but not limited to, skills, work experience, education, and job-related qualifications. The AEDT does not make final hiring decisions and all final hiring decisions are subject to human oversight and/or review.

If you are an applicant for this role and a New York City resident, you have the right to request:

 

• A reasonable accommodation, if one is available under applicable law, by emailing TotalRewards@insmed.com; and/or

• An alternative selection process by emailing Privacy@insmed.com.

• Information about the type of data collected, the source of that data, and data retention practices related to the AEDT by emailing us at Privacy@insmed.com.