Vice President, Policy

POSITION SUMMARY

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) – the national association representing America’s pharmacy benefit managers is seeking a Vice President of Policy who will be reporting to the Chief Policy & External Affairs Officer.

ORGANIZATION

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) is the national association representing America’s pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). PBMs are the key industry in America addressing the challenge of reducing costs, expanding access, and improving the quality of pharmacy benefits.

PBMs administer prescription drug plans for more than 266 million Americans who have health insurance from a variety of sponsors, including commercial health plans, self-insured employer plans, union plans, Medicare Part D plans, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), state government employee plans, managed Medicaid plans, and others.

PCMA leads the effort in advocating on behalf of the industry for public policies that enable PBMs to succeed in their mission of improving access to affordable prescription drugs for patients and driving down costs for payers.

PCMA believes that organizational and employee success require a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce, and a culture that embraces and encourages different perspectives. We recognize the inherent value in employing a workforce with a range of experiences and it is our commitment to embrace every person’s uniqueness and to provide a professional work environment where everyone is welcome and treated with dignity and respect.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Vice President, Policy will direct PCMA’s policy activities and policy development to support and foster the industry’s strategic positioning in the market and to help achieve government affairs results. S/He will work with member companies to develop policy that advances the industry’s strategic positioning and will represent the industry before external audiences. S/He must understand the substantive policy issues associated with PBMs and how PBMs fit into the overall national health care policy debate.

The Vice President, Policy duties will include:

• Assessing the prescription drug and health care policy, economic, and industry landscapes to help formulate and recommend positioning for the industry.

• Working collaboratively with member company representatives to develop consensus industry positions on issues, including staffing member company committees.

• Recommending arguments, research, and other ways to buttress industry positions and policies.

• Closely collaborating with government affairs, regulatory, legal, research and other PCMA departments to inform policy development and achieve PCMA and industry objectives.

• Establishing and maintaining a network of contacts in the broader healthcare arena, including in trade associations, advocacy organizations and others, as directed.

• Collaborating with colleagues to identify PCMA and industry opportunity and risk in the legislative, regulatory, policy and political realms.

• Working with member companies to implement PCMA’s health equities principles and to promote more equitable pharmaceutical care.

• Analyzing legislation and assessing its impact on the industry.

• Developing and drafting arguments to support or oppose legislative, regulatory or other policies; drafting or overseeing drafting of legislative language, in concert with outside counsel, as needed.

• Drafting issue briefs, blog and web postings and talking points; development of white papers for policy and advocacy; developing written testimony and statements for the record; visualizing arguments as infographics and developing the basis for infographics.

• Providing a substantive backstop for industry lobbyists on arguments and issues.

• Monitoring and providing timely and insightful reports on developments and trends specific to the industry’s public policy priorities, including through brainstorming and producing podcasts, public webinars and forums.

• Representing the industry on coalitions and through participation in panel discussions, presentations, and potentially serving on board of external organizations.

• Acting as a resource for the Vice President, Research in setting priorities and working with members and PCMA staff to identify strategic research topics.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS

The Vice President, Policy must be an excellent writer and analyst, self-directed, and able to seize opportunities and run with them. S/He must be a strategic thinker, enjoy working in a collaborative, nimble organization, and have a demonstrated ability to connect policy to strategic positioning of the industry, as well as a demonstrated ability to take initiative and to lead.

A minimum of 10 years of experience in relevant pharmacy benefits management, pharmacy, insurance, or pharmaceutical policy, regulation, or law is necessary.

The ideal candidate should have the following qualifications:

• A demonstrated understanding of the PBM industry and its issues and the ability to anticipate, quickly grasp and address the legislative, policy and regulatory

issues of importance to the industry.

• Outstanding oral, written and presentation skills.

• A keen understanding of the regulatory and legislative process, as well as legislative and policy analysis skills, including analysis of legislative and statutory language and an ability to redline or draft legislative language.

• Interpersonal skills, including the ability to understand diverging points of view within the industry and quickly build consensus, to foster collaborative decision making, and to drive results by working with all relevant groups and networks across PCMA and its member companies.

• The ability to persuasively communicate complex concepts and programs into concise and credible messages at the highest levels of government and business, with a proven track record of delivering high-volume and high-quality work.

• Ability to assemble and synthesize relevant facts and expert opinion to support policy arguments while prioritizing the importance of policy issues to the industry.

• Demonstrated success significantly influencing critical policy issues in previous roles.

• Political and organizational skills, and the proven ability to successfully execute policy, political and business objectives at the federal level.

• A thorough understanding of Congressional and Cabinet policy-making processes, including an understanding of the roles and decision points in the Executive Agencies, the White House, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House, as well as the role of think tanks and associations.

• A thorough understanding of state legislative and regulatory policy-making processes, including the roles of intergovernmental organizations and other organizations influencing state policies.

• Deep relationships in the Washington, DC and state policy communities, as well as a keen sense of political discernment, and the ability to develop and maintain relationships with key people and organizations.

• A desire to work collaboratively with colleagues and the ability to work in and be an integral part of an action-oriented, decision-making environment.

• Excellent prioritization and organizational skills; keen attention to detail; the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines while managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office application.

EDUCATION

A bachelor’s degree is required. An advanced degree is preferred.

COMPENSATION

A competitive compensation package will be offered to attract the most qualified candidates.

LOCATION

While PCMA staff is currently working remotely, this position is based in Washington, DC, and post-pandemic we will return to a hybrid work model at PCMA offices in the Penn Quarter area of Washington, D.C.

HOW TO APPLY

 Interested individuals should forward a cover letter and resume to opportunities@pcmanet.org

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable law.