Director of Government Affairs
- Location
- Washington, DC, US
- Workplace
- On-site
- Compensation
- $110k – $125k
About this role
Job Summary
The Director of Government Affairs at Whitman-Walker Health (WWH) serves as the strategic operator to support the President & CEO, the Executive Leadership Team and the Board of Directors by leading WWH’s local and federal policy, regulatory, and advocacy initiatives. Reporting to the President and CEO, and collaborating closely with Executive Leadership and the Board of Directors, the Director champions the unique policy needs of a D.C.-based Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).
Through direct legislative advocacy, strategic government relations, the development of robust
policy positions, and deep coalition-building, the Director ensures WWH’s resources and voice are leveraged for maximum impact. Leads and influences multi-organizational coalitions, strategic partnerships, and advocacy efforts to advance health equity, strengthen the healthcare safety net, protect critical funding and regulatory frameworks, and improve health outcomes for LGBTQ+, historically marginalized, and medically underserved communities.
Core Whitman-Walker Primary Essential Duties:
- Performs and behaves in accordance with Whitman-Walker’s organizational mission, cultural norms, and core values of dignity, respect, affirmation, and humility
- Maintains a respectful, non-judgmental, and compassionate manner with patients, clients, and staff
- Demonstrate excellent customer service by identifying and exceeding customer requirements.
- Adheres to Whitman-Walker policies and procedures, with special attention given to HIPAA requirements
- Maintain data integrity through conscientious use of relevant tools and employing a system of checks and balances.
- Demonstrates organizational skills necessary to multi-task, meet deadlines, and re-prioritize as needed
- Participates in quality and performance improvement activities
Role-Specific Primary Essential Duties:
Strategic Policy Implementation: Under the direction of the President & CEO and other members of the Executive Team, develops the architecture, implementation, and management of a comprehensive, proactive local (D.C. Council and executive branch) and federal policy and legislative strategy that advances WWH’s mission.
Coalition Building & Stakeholder Mobilization: Organizes, chairs, and strategically manages high-level policy working groups, roundtables, task forces, and advocacy coalitions with internal and external stakeholders to amplify WWH’s impact on community-health priorities.
Thought Leadership & Policy Translation: Serves as a subject matter expert, or works directly with internal subject matter experts, on critical healthcare policy issues; authoritatively drafts, reviews, and disseminates written work product that translates policy work such as legislative testimony and public comments, under the direction of the President & CEO.
Strategic Safety-Net Advocacy: Drives targeted advocacy and policy analysis to safeguard crucial FQHC operational mechanisms, with explicit focus on the 340B program protections, Medicaid reimbursement models, and safety-net funding streams.
Government Relations & Legislative Tracking: Serves as a primary point of contact for local and federal legislative offices, regulatory agencies, and administrative leaders (e.g., D.C. Department of Health Care Finance, DC Health, HRSA) to track, analyze, and support legislation and rule-making with inputs from internal leaders and subject matter experts.
Executive & Board Briefing: Translates complex legislative and regulatory shifts into actionable strategic insights for the President & CEO, Executive Leadership, and the WWH Board of Directors.
Advocacy Planning & Performance Management: Establishes annual government affairs priorities, advocacy plans, and performance measures with the President &CEO; monitors outcomes and regularly reports on progress toward policy and legislative objectives.
Other Duties as Assigned: Executes additional strategic initiatives as required to advance the organization's policy and governance goals.
- Participates in management meetings to act upon a variety of matters including personnel matters and provides updates and reports as requested
- Supports management in fact finding efforts concerning managerial actions or union grievance processing
Budget Responsibilities
- Collaborates with the President & CEO as well as relevant finance staff to develop and manage the Policy Department budget
Management Responsibilities
- No direct reports at this time; as the function matures, this role may expand to include supervisory responsibility over Government Relations staff.
Knowledge, Skills and Talents Required:
- Knowledge of and commitment to a wide variety of health-related policy issues that face members of the LGBTQ communities and people with barriers to accessing health care.
- Specific expertise in policy related to Federally Qualified Health Centers and nonprofit organizations operating within the District of Columbia.
- Knowledge of and experience with legislative and administrative policymaking processes, at the District of Columbia and federal government levels
- Strong ability to analyze laws, regulations, and policies and formulate pragmatic and original recommendations to address policy problems
- Ability to create policy dissemination products and materials to share findings and recommendations with diverse audiences and stakeholders, including federal, state, and local government policymakers; the media; and advocacy partners in a clear and compelling manner
- Ability to manage budgetary resources in a fast-paced and fiscally conscious environment
- Excellent communication skills, in person, in writing and via telephone to diverse audiences such as patients, clients, other employees and Board members.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, complex work environment with competing priorities.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to maintain important executive records an accurate, timely and confidential manner.
- Clear, concise written communication skills with good attention to grammar and punctuation.
- Knowledge of general office terminology, standards, practices and demands.
- Strong word processing, proofreading, and database management skills.
- Sensitivity to all areas of diversity, including HIV status, race, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Education and Experience Required
- Graduate degree in law, public policy, public health, or related field, or at least 6 years of comparable experience working in a policy-related environment required.
- At least 7 years of experience in law, health policy, or policy advocacy related to Federally Qualified Health Centers, people living with HIV, Medicaid and Medicare and the 340B program. Of that experience, a minimum of 5 years to include the development and execution of public policy strategies.
- Experience with and ability to work harmoniously with diverse internal and external colleagues and other stakeholders.
Working Conditions:
Working conditions for this position are normal for an office environment. Individual may be required to work evenings and / or weekends and organization events.
Physical Demands:
- Lifting: No more than 20 lbs. and infrequently
- Movement: Standing and sitting for long periods
- Visual: Long periods on computer
- Concentration: Extended periods of engagement with computer systems where concentration is key to accuracy in data entry; intermittent periods of engagement with a telephone system to respond to inquiries where concentration is key to task performance
- Communication: Direct and indirect communication; written and verbal competency in English
Tired of cold applications?
Sign up with Clera and we'll reach out the moment a role actually fits you — no more spraying applications into the void.
Know someone who'd be great for this?