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GRAIL is a healthcare company whose mission is to detect cancer early, when it can be cured.
The Role
The Director of Government Affairs will lead advocacy strategies, build relationships with policymakers, and influence health policy to support early cancer detection.
Summary Generated by Built In
Our mission is to detect cancer early, when it can be cured. We are working to change the trajectory of cancer mortality and bring stakeholders together to adopt innovative, safe, and effective technologies that can transform cancer care.
We are a healthcare company, pioneering new technologies to advance early cancer detection. We have built a multi-disciplinary organization of scientists, engineers, and physicians and we are using the power of next-generation sequencing (NGS), population-scale clinical studies, and state-of-the-art computer science and data science to overcome one of medicine’s greatest challenges.
GRAIL is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, with locations in Washington, D.C., North Carolina, and the United Kingdom. It is supported by leading global investors and pharmaceutical, technology, and healthcare companies.
For more information, please visit grail.com.
GRAIL is seeking a seasoned federal government affairs leader to shape and execute our engagement strategy in Washington, D.C. This role will elevate GRAIL’s visibility among policymakers, advance legislative and regulatory frameworks that support early cancer detection, and strengthen alliances that drive meaningful change in U.S. health policy.
Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Alliance Development, this individual will play an integral role in developing and implementing coordinated federal advocacy strategies with federal policy makers and officials on issues that impact GRAIL.
Responsibilities
- Develop and lead coordinated federal advocacy strategies that promote GRAIL’s mission and business objectives across Congress, federal agencies, and industry coalitions.
- Build, cultivate, and sustain high-impact relationships with Members of Congress, key committee staff, and executive branch officials, positioning GRAIL as a credible partner and thought leader in early cancer detection.
- Monitor and analyze legislative and regulatory developments in healthcare, diagnostics, reimbursement, and innovation policy; identify both opportunities and risks to GRAIL’s mission and business.
- Work closely with internal teams and external consultants to ensure consistent and strategic messaging, aligning advocacy efforts with corporate, scientific, and commercial priorities.
- Represent GRAIL in industry trade associations and policy forums, helping shape collective strategies that advance innovation-friendly frameworks for diagnostics.
- Translate GRAIL’s science, technology, and patient impact into compelling policy narratives that resonate with policymakers and align with national health priorities.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree and 15+ years of experience in federal legislative affairs, preferably with direct exposure to healthcare, diagnostics, or life sciences policy or equivalent.
- Proven track record navigating the federal legislative process and understanding the interplay between Congress, federal agencies (e.g., CMS, FDA, NIH), and the Executive Branch.
- Deep familiarity with healthcare coverage, reimbursement, and innovation policy, including Medicare and other federal programs.
- Established network of relationships in Congress and across key industry trade associations.
- Exceptional ability to anticipate and interpret policy and political trends, crafting proactive strategies to advance organizational goals.
- A strategic communicator — persuasive, diplomatic, and able to translate complex science and technology into policy-relevant language.
- A collaborative, entrepreneurial leader energized by the opportunity to shape national dialogue around cancer detection and prevention.
The expected, full-time, annual base pay scale for this position is 200-286k. Actual base pay will consider skills, experience, and location.
Based on the role, colleagues may be eligible to participate in an annual bonus plan tied to company and individual performance, or an incentive plan. We also offer a long-term incentive plan to align company and colleague success over time.
In addition, GRAIL offers a progressive benefit package, including flexible time-off, a 401k with a company match, and alongside our medical, dental, vision plans, carefully selected mindfulness offerings.
GRAIL is an Equal Employment Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We will reasonably accommodate all individuals with disabilities so that they can participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. GRAIL maintains a drug-free workplace.
Top Skills
Computer Science
Data Science
Next-Generation Sequencing
What the Team is Saying
Neda Ronaghi
Strategy and Operational Excellence Associate Director
Ruth Mauntz
Staff Bioinformatics Scientist
Tristan Matthews
Senior Director, Software Engineering
David Jenions
Principal Automation Engineer
Satnam Alag
SVP, Software Engineering
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The Company
What We Do
GRAIL is a healthcare company whose mission is to detect cancer early, when it can be cured. GRAIL is using the power of high-intensity sequencing, population-scale clinical studies, and state-of-the-art computer science and data science to enhance the scientific understanding of cancer biology, and to develop and commercialize pioneering products.
Why Work With Us
Everything we do is guided by our mission to detect cancer early, when it can be cured. It’s the reason we’re here, and it’s no small task.
The right people make all the difference. That’s why we’re looking for those who strive to share their knowledge, contribute their skills, inspire each other and commit to something bigger than themselves.
Gallery
GRAIL Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
GRAIL has a variety of work types depending on the roles. Some are onsite like a lab role, others are hybrid and still others are remote. Hybrid is typically Tuesday and Thursday but leaders may be flexible depending on the role.
Typical time on-site:
2 days a week
