About Colorado BioScience Association

Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) creates co-opportunity for the Colorado life sciences community. CBSA champions a collaborative life sciences ecosystem and advocates for a supportive business climate. From concept to commercialization, member companies and organizations drive global health innovations, products and services that improve and save lives. The association leads Capital and Growth, Education and Networking, Policy and Advocacy, and Workforce Cultivation to make its members stronger, together.

Capital + Growth: Support access to capital at all stages of commercialization.

Education + Networking: Foster a statewide culture of collaboration with our programs and events.

Policy + Advocacy: Cultivate a supportive, innovation-friendly business climate for life sciences.

Workforce Cultivation: Grow an educated, experienced workforce and connect jobseekers to companies.

Champion: Lead the ecosystem in Colorado and share our success stories.

Colorado's thriving life sciences community is comprised of world-class research institutions; biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic, digital health, agricultural biotechnology and animal health companies; and those businesses that provide critical services and products to life sciences companies.

About the Position

In this position, the Director of Policy + Advocacy reports to the President & CEO and is responsible for leading and expanding CBSA's Policy + Advocacy initiatives to build a pro-innovation environment for life sciences. The Director of Policy + Advocacy represents Colorado’s life sciences ecosystem, in the broader local, regional, and national communities, making presentations on behalf of the Association and building strategic relationships to advance CBSA's Policy + Advocacy program.

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

• Proactively represent and promote the interests of CBSA and our life sciences ecosystem to elected and appointed officials, academic and research institutions, ecosystem partners, business groups, and the general public.
• Develop strong partnerships and collaborations with association constituencies.  
• Cultivate and implement an effective public Policy + Advocacy program at the state and federal levels, initiating legislation consistent with strategic plans.
• Serve as the Policy + Advocacy liaison with national industry organizations such as BIO, AdvaMed, PhRMA, and MDMA.
• Lead CBSA’s Policy + Advocacy Committee and effectively communicate committee decisions about CBSA’s advocacy and engagement to the Board of Directors, members, sponsors, and other CBSA stakeholders.
• Serve as the voice for Colorado's life sciences ecosystem and develop and implement effective advocacy strategies to advance life sciences priorities.
• Manage CBSA’s contract lobbyists.  
• Work closely with members and partners to build support or opposition for legislative and regulatory proposals that impact life sciences and the patients we serve.
• Research, track, and analyze priority legislation at the state and federal levels and communicate potential impacts for life sciences to CBSA membership.
• Maintain and grow relationships with the Governor’s office, state legislators, Congressional Delegation, and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT).
• Develop relationships and alliances with key partners including patient and health advocacy groups, healthcare industry associations, business organizations, and economic development groups.
• Plan and execute CBSA’s Day at the Capitol, federal roundtables, state legislative tours and other activities to build support for CBSA priorities and cultivate champions for life sciences.
• Testify on behalf of CBSA and Colorado’s life sciences ecosystem during state legislative hearings on key issues.
• Prepare written and oral reports on CBSA positions and Policy + Advocacy activities. 
• Develop CBSA’s state and federal policy priorities in collaboration with the CBSA Policy + Advocacy Committee.
• Manage Colorado BioScience Political Action Committee, including day-to-day operations, disbursement budget, fundraising efforts, and compliance.
• Write weekly policy blog and communicate CBSA’s Policy + Advocacy leadership to members, stakeholders, and the broader life sciences ecosystem.
• Support CBSA’s work to recruit, renew and support annual members and sponsors, especially those interested and engaged in CBSA's Policy + Advocacy program.
• Support communications team on the production and execution of the CBSA annual magazine. 
• Assist with CBSA events and programs. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS

This position requires a high level of leadership in community building, execution, resource development, government relations, and public policy. Prior experience in government affairs, life sciences or healthcare, and leading coalitions in a membership-based association is strongly preferred. When safe, minimal travel is required, as needed, for national meetings and conferences.

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Demonstrated experience in high quality policy research, analysis and development. 
• Extensive understanding of the state and federal legislative processes.  
• Experience working in a 501(c) 6 membership organization and life sciences or healthcare preferred.
• Manage competing demands and/or unexpected events; ability to multi-task.
• Ability to work comfortably with CBSA leadership, board leadership, staff members, and stakeholders at all levels including C-level executives, senior policymakers, and community partners to build consensus on key issues and develop positions that address the needs of CBSA members and align to broader industry positions and goals.
• Experience in/familiarity with the variety of constituencies in life sciences, including industry, research institutions, economic development, government, technology transfer, and other interested associations is a significant plus.
• Effective public speaking/presentation and communication skills, with demonstrated experience effectively speaking on behalf of an organization, making presentations to groups, and giving legislative testimony.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to develop and maintain strong relationships and maintain confidentiality. 
• Expertise in marketing and communications with a focus on Policy + Advocacy communications.
• Write clearly and informatively; edit work for spelling and grammar.
• Detail-oriented with demonstrated thoroughness and accuracy. 
• Maintain communication with President & CEO on all projects and duties.
• Proficient in Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.  

COMPENSATION

The salary range for this position is $70,000 to $95,000 and is commensurate with associations of similar size, and will correspond to the experience level, credentials, and personal characteristics of the candidate. CBSA’s full package of employee benefits will be offered to the successful candidate including 401(k) plan with a matching provision, health, vision, dental, life, and disability insurance.

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with related experience and/or training. 

NON-DISCRIMINATION

CBSA firmly supports the principle and philosophy of equal opportunity for all individuals, regardless of age, race, gender, creed, national origin, physical or mental handicap, persons with disabilities and all veterans and any other protected category pursuant to applicable federal, state or local law. CBSA strives to promote a culture of inclusiveness, respect, communication, and understanding.

APPLICATION

Please submit a cover letter and resume to CBSA Administrative Services Director Steve Ambriz at sambriz@cobioscience.com no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, July 1, 2022. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis before application period closes.