Associate Director, Science and Health Policy

Job Category:            Full-Time /Exempt

Department:               Science Policy and Government Relations

Location:                    1401 H Street NW, Washington, DC

Reports To:                Director, Science and Health Policy

Organizational Profile:

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), with more than 47,000 members residing in 126 countries, is the first and largest organization in the world dedicated to advances in all areas of high-quality, innovative cancer research.  Its mission is to prevent and cure all cancers.  The programs and activities of the AACR foster the exchange of new knowledge among scientists and physicians in cancer research as well as in related sciences.  The AACR publishes nine peer-reviewed scientific journals and an award-winning magazine for cancer patients and their loved ones; convenes topical scientific conferences and an annual meeting that draws more than 22,500 participants; offers educational workshops that train young investigators in a variety of scientific and clinical areas; funds research fellowships, career development awards, and research grants for both senior and junior investigators; raises public awareness of the progress in the biology, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer; engages actively in advocacy for increased federal research funding and other national policies that accelerate progress against cancer; and interacts with regulatory agencies to support regulatory science and policy.

Job Summary:

Under the leadership of the AACR Director, Science Policy and Legislative Affairs, the Associate Director, Science and Health Policy, will provide specialized expertise and support to AACR leaders, including the Science Policy and Government Affairs Committee, its relevant subcommittees, and the broader advocacy community on science and health policy issues to further the goals of the AACR’s Strategic Plan and policy priorities.

The Associate Director, Science and Health Policy, plays a significant role in the success of AACR’s work in this important area and guides AACR science and health policy activities to a productive conclusion. Such activities are designed to create and strengthen the dialogue between policymakers, scientists, and advocates, as well as support policies to advance cancer research and improve patient care and public health. This person provides specialized expertise and support on science and health policy issues that are important to AACR leadership, with a primary focus on tobacco control policy and a secondary science or health policy focus to be determined, depending on the candidate’s experience.  He/she takes initiative, has excellent written and oral communication skills, and has experience in project management, committee management, and consensus building. Responsibilities include monitoring, researching, and analyzing science and health policy initiatives in AACR priority areas; developing policy statements; compiling background information; attending and summarizing policy meetings and events; supporting science and health policy-related committees, primarily the Tobacco Products and Cancer Subcommittee; partnering and collaborating with outside entities; and providing support to the Director, Science Policy and Legislative Affairs, on a wide array of tasks and assignments.

The Associate Director, Science and Health Policy, is expected to identify opportunities and disseminate information on science and health policy to a broad audience, collaborate with external partners in the cancer research advocacy community, and work collaboratively with others in the AACR D.C office, including members of the Regulatory Science, Government Affairs, and Patient Advocacy teams. The list of issues and activities includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Advocating for and providing analysis and oversight on a variety of issues related to tobacco products and cancer, including tobacco control measures, lung cancer screening, the assessment of tobacco use by participants of clinical trials, and other cancer prevention and public health-related issues;
• Formulating forward-thinking policy recommendations/policy statements/white papers for policy makers on Capitol Hill and within federal agencies, specifically to the NIH, FDA, and CDC on particularly important issues, such as the sale and marketing of tobacco products and a new AACR policy statement on e-cigarettes, the domestic and global burden of pathogen-related cancers, the science of survivorship, cancer health disparities, and patient participation in clinical trials, among other possible topics;
• Monitoring, analyzing, and assessing federal regulations, legislation, and other government activities related to the aforementioned priority policy issues, as well as responding to “requests for comments” from federal agencies, particularly the NIH and FDA on tobacco policy and other science and health policy issues that are important to the AACR membership;
• Advancing science and health policy measures that will accelerate the translation of research advances into clinical care and public health, including through vaccination for pathogen-related cancers, using evidence-based measures to reduce cancer health disparities, and advancing precision medicine initiatives;
• Providing research and analysis to enhance the integration of patient perspectives into research, including through improving the number and diversity of patients participating in clinical trials, and advancing research into the long-term outcomes experienced by cancer survivors;
• Working in collaboration with others in the AACR D.C. office to ensure the rapid implementation of research discoveries to improved patient care through a learning health care system and integrated health information technology systems;
• Working on broader policy issues such as nurturing a strong cancer workforce for the future, and decreasing the global burden of cancer;
• Playing a leading role in innovative initiatives that advocate for federal funding for cancer research and biomedical science, such as the annual AACR Cancer Progress Report, as well as one-pagers and letters to Capitol Hill;
• Ensuring that the innovative AACR advocacy materials that are developed are shared and disseminated widely and effectively through various venues and means, such as at Congressional briefings and hearings, special meetings on Capitol Hill, and at AACR conferences;
• Supporting an innovative science and health policy track at the AACR Annual Meeting, as well as special science and health policy sessions at other selected AACR conferences; and
• Working collaboratively with the broader cancer research and medical science community on many of the science and health policy-related issues that are of a high priority for the AACR.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Be proactive in identifying tobacco control and other policy areas of importance and conduct policy analysis and development in relation to these issues.
• Staff the Tobacco Products and Cancer Subcommittee and support the Health Policy Subcommittee and Science Policy and Government Affairs Committee as needed, including soliciting input on policy issues, coordinating meetings and teleconferences, providing background materials and draft reports, and executing action plans.
• Draft issue briefs, policy statements, white papers, Congressional testimonies, organizational letters, responses to requests for comments from federal agencies, and other communications on behalf of AACR leaders.
• Monitor, analyze, and assess legislation as it pertains to priority tobacco and other science and health policy issues.
• Contribute policy articles for AACR’s monthly policy newsletter and the annual AACR Cancer Progress Report to help inform AACR members, cancer organizations, targeted individuals, and other groups.
• Help shape special sessions and briefings to educate Members of Congress and their staffs about important pending legislation and issues affecting tobacco and cancer research.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with the policy staffs of other relevant organizations and coalitions.
• Attend and report on relevant scientific and science and health policy meetings and conferences.
• Provide support to the Director, Science Policy and Legislative Affairs on a wide array of policy initiatives and assignments.
• Perform the essential functions of the position and other related duties as assigned.

Position Requirements:
 

• Ph.D’s degree in science, health or policy or Masters in Public Health required; M.D., or other doctoral degree in a science or health-related field strongly preferred.
• Three to five years of relevant experience in a science and/or health policy-related environment; tobacco control policy experience strongly preferred.
• An expertise and a working knowledge and keen understanding of cancer research and biomedical related science, as well as an expert understanding of various areas of science and health policy.
• Proven accomplishments in implementing complex policy projects.
• Superb written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• High degree of judgment and insight.
• A self-starter with creativity and initiative.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Knowledge of government policies and procedures and the political process.
• Strong strategic thinker and someone who has shown an ability to carry through to completion an initiative and/or project.
• A demonstrated ability to analyze complex political and policy issues, build evidence based arguments for policy proposals to AACR approval bodies, and bring conflicting points of view to consensus.
• Ability to multi-task and work under rapidly developing deadlines and priorities.
• Ability to effectively communicate the progress and future needs of cancer research to various constituencies.
• PC, word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, and database programs.

How To Apply:

Please submit your cover letter and resume (including salary history) 

Equal Opportunity Employer