Director, Government Affairs - West

GeneDx (Nasdaq: WGS) delivers personalized and actionable health insights to inform diagnosis, direct treatment, and improve drug discovery. The company is uniquely positioned to accelerate the use of genomic and large-scale clinical information to enable precision medicine as the standard of care. GeneDx is at the forefront of transforming healthcare through its industry-leading exome and genome testing and interpretation services, fueled by the world’s largest, rare disease data sets. For more information, please visit www.genedx.com.

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Government Affairs (West) will play a critical role in securing and expanding GeneDx’s leadership position in the genetic testing market, with a focus on exome and genome sequencing. As a member of the GeneDx Market Access team, this individual will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive government affairs strategy that advocates for policies enhancing provider and patient access to GeneDx services while ensuring meaningful reimbursement across the Western US. The Director will collaborate closely with Market Access teammates, who maintain relationships with commercial and government payors, to influence legislation and policy changes that support GeneDx’s mission to accelerate rare disease diagnoses and improve outcomes for pediatric patients.

MAJOR DUTIES AND REPONSIBILITIES

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and lead the GeneDx government affairs strategy across the Western US to secure and expand coverage and reimbursement for GeneDx genetic testing services through federal and state legislative channels.
• Internal Subject Matter Expert: Serve as the GeneDx government affairs subject matter expert both within and outside the Market Access Team, partnering closely with Market Access, Sales, and Medical Affairs colleagues to accelerate their pursuit of expanded access and reimbursement.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and nurture relationships with government officials, legislators, and industry groups to advocate for policies that improve access and expand GeneDx’s presence in the genomic testing market.
• Representation & Advocacy: Serve as GeneDx’s representative in key policy discussions with lawmakers, ensuring the company’s interests in access, reimbursement, and market growth are prioritized.
• Lobbyist Management: Retain and manage relationships with lobbyists in key states to drive GeneDx’s legislative and policy goals with in-state counsel.
• Legislation Tracking & Analysis: Proactively track key bills and the implementation of relevant laws, informing all areas of the company about the expected impact.
• Partnership Building: Collaborate with patient advocacy organizations, professional societies, industry partners, and healthcare providers to support and influence policy initiatives that enhance patient access and expand market opportunities for GeneDx’s services.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• This position may supervise external consultants and/or lobbying partners.

EDUCATION/TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s or master's degree in political science, Public Policy, Public Health, or a related field preferred.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 7-8 years of experience in US Government Affairs on the state level with a focus on healthcare or life sciences in California or Texas.
• Strong working knowledge of Medicaid coverage and funding mechanisms.
• Experience in laboratory, genomics, and/or rare disease is highly preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This role is primarily remote, with up to 30% travel required.

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Science - Minded, Patient - Focused. 

At GeneDx, we create, follow, and are informed by cutting-edge science. With over 20 years of expertise in diagnosing rare disorders and diseases, and pioneering work in the identification of new disease-causing genes, our commitment to genetic disease detection, discovery, and diagnosis is based on sound science and is focused on enhancing patient care.

Experts in what matters most. 

With hundreds of genetic counselors, MD/PhD scientists, and clinical and molecular genomics specialists on staff, we are the industry’s genetic testing experts and proud of it. We share the same goal as healthcare providers, patients, and families: to provide clear, accurate, and meaningful answers we all can trust.

SEQUENCING HAS THE POWER TO SOLVE DIAGNOSTIC CHALLENGES.

From sequencing to reporting and beyond, our technical and clinical experts are providing guidance every step of the way:

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE

• High-quality testing: Our laboratory is CLIA certified and CAP accredited and most of our tests are also New York State approved.
• Advanced detection: By interrogating genes for complex variants, we can identify the underlying causes of conditions that may otherwise be missed.

CLINICAL EXPERTISE

• Thorough analysis: We classify variants according to our custom adaptation of the most recent guidelines. We then leverage our rich internal database for additional interpretation evidence.
• Customized care: Our experts review all test results and write reports in a clear, concise, and personalized way. We also include information for research studies in specific clinical situations.
• Impactful discovery: Our researchers continue working to find answers even after testing is complete. Through both internal research efforts and global collaborations, we have identified and published hundreds of new disease-gene relationships and developed novel tools for genomic data analysis. These efforts ultimately deliver more diagnostic findings to individuals.

Learn more About Us here.

Our Culture

At GeneDx, we are dedicated to cultivating an environment where creativity and innovation thrive. We believe in the power of community and collaboration, where diverse perspectives are embraced, and every voice contributes to our shared success. Our team is a vibrant mix of professionals who challenge and support each other in equal measure, fostering growth both personally and professionally. When you join us, you're not just taking on a job—you're joining a movement. A movement that champions curiosity, embraces change, and believes in making an impact, one patient at a time. Cultural principles we live by:  

• Be bold in our vision & brave in our execution. 
• Communicate directly, with empathy. 
• Do what we say we're going to do.  
• Be adaptable to change.  
• Operate with a bias for action.    

Benefits include:

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Health, Dental, Vision and Life insurance
• 401k Retirement Savings Plan
• Employee Discounts
• Voluntary benefits

GeneDx is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All privacy policy information can be found here.