Executive Director/Vice President, Public Policy, Patient Advocacy & Government Affairs

Position Title: Executive Director/Vice President, Public Policy, Patient Advocacy & Government Affairs

Status: Exempt

Department: Commercial

Reports to: Senior Vice President, Sales, Commercial Operations & Market Access

Purpose

Reporting to the SVP, Sales, Commercial Operations & Market Access, the Executive Director or Vice President, Public Policy, Patient Advocacy & Government Affairs leads Achieve Life Sciences’ patient advocacy and public policy strategy in support of cytisinicline, the Company’s lead product candidate for the treatment of nicotine dependence. The role builds and sustains relationships with patient advocacy organizations, public health coalitions, and policymakers, ensuring the patient voice and policy environment are integrated into the Company’s launch and commercial strategy.

As a senior member of the Commercial leadership team, this individual will lead the Company’s engagement across advocacy and lobbying organizations — including tobacco-control, public health, and nicotine-dependence treatment groups — and shapes the public policy agenda that supports patient access to cytisinicline. The role requires a leader with deep public policy expertise, established relationships across advocacy and lobbying organizations, and the ability to represent Achieve Life Sciences before policymakers, coalitions, and the patient community.

Essential Responsibilities

Patient Advocacy Strategy and Relationships

• Developing and leading Achieve Life Sciences’ patient advocacy strategy for cytisinicline, building trusted relationships with patient advocacy organizations, public health coalitions, and community leaders in the nicotine-dependence and tobacco-control space.
• Ensuring patient insights and advocacy perspectives are integrated into decision-making across clinical development, market access, and commercialization.
• Representing the Company at external advocacy conferences, coalition meetings, and patient-facing events, serving as the primary liaison between Achieve Life Sciences and the patient advocacy community.

Public Policy Leadership

• Leading the development and execution of Achieve Life Sciences’ public policy strategy, analyzing the federal and state policy environment for tobacco control, nicotine-dependence treatment, and smoking-cessation coverage.
• Identifying legislative and regulatory opportunities and risks relevant to cytisinicline, and developing positioning and messaging to advance the Company’s policy priorities.
• Ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies governing lobbying, political activity, and advocacy engagement.

Lobbying and Coalition Leadership

• Building and leading the Company’s engagement across lobbyist groups, trade associations, and public health coalitions — including organizations such as the American Lung Association, Truth Initiative, and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids — to advance shared policy priorities that support patient access.
• Managing relationships with external lobbying firms and consultants, directing lobbying strategy and priorities in alignment with the Company’s commercial and policy objectives.
• Cultivating relationships with federal and state policymakers and staff, positioning Achieve Life Sciences as a trusted voice in the nicotine-dependence treatment policy landscape.

Team Leadership and Cross-Functional Partnership

• Building and leading the patient advocacy and public policy function, recruiting and developing talent to support the Company’s growth.
• Partnering with Market Access, Medical Affairs, Legal, and Communications to align advocacy and policy strategy with the Company’s broader commercial and access objectives.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public health, political science, or a related discipline; an advanced degree (JD, MPH, or MBA) is preferred.
• 10+ years of public policy, government affairs, or advocacy experience, including significant experience in the healthcare or biopharmaceutical industry.
• Demonstrated success building and leading coalitions across lobbyist groups, trade associations, and patient advocacy organizations, with established relationships in the tobacco-control and public health policy space.
• Experience navigating federal and state legislative and regulatory processes relevant to healthcare and tobacco/nicotine policy.

Key Competencies

• Public Policy Expertise: Deep knowledge of the federal and state policy landscape governing tobacco control, nicotine-dependence treatment, and healthcare access, with the ability to translate policy dynamics into actionable strategy.
• Coalition and Lobbying Leadership: Proven ability to build and lead coalitions across lobbyist groups, trade associations, and advocacy organizations to advance shared policy priorities.
• Patient Advocacy Relationships: Established relationships with patient advocacy and public health organizations, with credibility as a trusted partner to the advocacy community.
• Strategic Communication: Skilled at representing the Company before policymakers, coalitions, and the patient community, translating complex policy issues into clear, compelling narratives.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Experience partnering with Market Access, Medical Affairs, Legal, and Communications to align advocacy and policy strategy with commercial objectives.
• People Leadership: Proven ability to attract, develop, and retain top talent, building a high-performing advocacy and policy function.
• Adaptability and Agility: Comfortable operating in an agile, fast-paced, small-company environment, with the flexibility to adapt quickly to evolving policy and market dynamics.

Compensation

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $260,000 – $320,000 annually. This range represents a good-faith estimate of what Achieve reasonably expects to pay for this position at the time of hire. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors including relevant experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity. This position is also eligible for an annual target bonus and equity compensation as determined by the Company’s compensation committee.

Benefits

Achieve offers a comprehensive benefits package, which currently includes: medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) retirement plan; participation in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan; company-paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage; paid time off, and paid company holidays.

Location & Travel

This is a remote position. Candidates may reside anywhere in the United States. This role requires travel of approximately 75% for advocacy conferences, coalition meetings, policymaker engagements, and company meetings.

Additional Requirements

This position may require registration as a federal and/or state lobbyist and ongoing compliance with applicable lobbying disclosure laws, including the federal Lobbying Disclosure Act, as well as Achieve’s policies governing political activity and advocacy engagement.

About Achieve Life Sciences

At Achieve, we are committed to bringing medicines forward that contribute to a healthier world. Achieve is a specialty pharmaceutical company committed to advancing cytisinicline as a widely available treatment option to help people battling nicotine dependence.

If you enjoy working in a dynamic team environment and are passionate about making a difference, we invite you to apply. We strive to attract, develop, and retain highly qualified individuals representing the diverse communities we serve.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Achieve Life Sciences is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact hr@achievelifesciences.com.