Senior Director, Government Affairs, Policy & Payer Access

About the Job

Dynavax is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing novel vaccines to help protect the world against infectious diseases. We operate with the highest level of quality, integrity, and safety for the betterment of public health. Our proprietary CpG 1018 adjuvant powers our diversified infectious vaccine portfolio, which includes HEPLISAV-B®, our commercial product approved in the U.S. and the European Union, for the prevention of hepatitis B virus in adults. We also supply CpG 1018 to research collaborations and partnerships globally. Currently, CpG 1018 is being used in the development of COVID-19, plague, shingles, and Tdap vaccines.

At Dynavax, our vision and work ethic are guided by the collective ideals underpinning our core values, forming the basis of our dynamic company culture. We strive to maintain a culture where each employee is valued by the organization and where our organization is valued by each employee. We offer a highly flexible work environment for our headquarters employees, where individuals work remotely and gather for in-person meetings when necessary. Dynavax is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay area, and our manufacturing facility is in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Position Overview: Senior Director, Government Affairs, Policy, and Payer Access

The Senior Director, Government Affairs, Policy, and Payer Access will lead policy and government affairs for Dynavax in the U.S. market, supporting continued growth and driving access, uptake, and sustainability of vaccination efforts for in-line and pipeline portfolios. This role will also involve engaging in economic, political, and fiscal research and analyses to inform policy strategies and align them with business objectives. The Senior Director will:

• Drive the vaccine policy agenda at Federal and State levels.
• Engage with CMS and private payers to improve policies based on shared public health interests.
• Identify strategic policy risks and opportunities.
• Provide trusted analysis, insights, and recommended strategies to Dynavax teams.

This position will build and lead the Dynavax US Policy & Government Affairs Team while contributing to global vaccine policy and public affairs strategies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategies to secure policy outcomes and funding that support business growth, including access, uptake, and sustainability of vaccination efforts.
• Identify strategic policy risks and opportunities, providing trusted analysis, insights, and recommended strategies to Dynavax teams.
• Own the strategy for implementation and generation of payer value analysis and relevant health economics data to support access and reimbursement.
• Build relationships with and represent Dynavax with necessary payer customers and key U.S. policy stakeholders, including Congress, the White House, federal agencies, coalitions, KOLs, and advocacy groups, in coordination with appropriate internal and external partners.
• Lead policy and reimbursement research and analysis to assess barriers and drivers to increasing access, uptake, and sustainability of vaccination efforts.
• Understand federal and state healthcare policy issues, including legislative, regulatory, and program management processes.
• Drive demonstration projects and quality initiatives.
• Drive a vaccine policy agenda within major U.S. trade bodies (e.g., BIO) and advocacy groups.
• Represent the company in relevant public forums and conferences related to vaccine policy and advocacy.
• Draft talking points, policy briefs, position papers, federal rulemaking comments, and policy evaluation frameworks.
• Oversee vendors and budgets related to policy and advocacy strategies, including contract lobbyists, ensuring accurate and timely compliance with all lobbying-related reporting.
• Inform the development of policy strategies for pipeline vaccines and identify strategic policy opportunities (e.g., BARDA).
• Collaborate with the Communications team to amplify policy messaging and contribute content for internal and external platforms.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant lobbying and compliance regulations.
• Act as a proactive partner to U.S. Commercial, Medical, Development, Communications, and Leadership teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degrees in Public Policy (MPP), Public Health (MPH or MSPH), Public Administration (MPA), Economics, Political Science, Political Economy (MA, MS), or Law (JD) strongly preferred.
• Minimum 10+ years of experience in public policy and/or government.
• Minimum 5+ years of account management experience calling on national payers and PBMs preferred.
• Deep knowledge of the U.S. vaccines landscape, healthcare environment, and policy systems.
• Strategic and innovative thinker with strong business acumen.
• Proven ability to manage complex and multi-dimensional issues impacting business outcomes.
• Well-established relationships with key decision-makers and influential stakeholders in government, payers, and the vaccine ecosystem.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent Dynavax in high-level meetings and public forums.
• Strong program management skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and perform office-related tasks, including repetitive hand and wrist movements.
• Occasional travel required.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary Range: $260,000 – $289,000 annually
• Final pay determinations depend on factors including experience, education, location, and skills.
• Total compensation includes stock equity awards, discretionary annual bonus, and a full range of benefits:
  • Health and welfare insurance.
  • 401(k) company match.
  • Paid time off, including 17 paid holidays in 2024.

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Equal Opportunity Employer

Dynavax is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin/ancestry, age, disability, marital, and veteran status.

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