Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Strategic Planning

General Summary

With a focus on the next chapter of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Initiative, this role supports the CEO and senior leadership on developing, executing, and sustaining the MLSC's various initiatives. Reporting directly to the Chief of Strategy and Public Affairs, this position serves on the executive leadership team for the Center and works closely with the entire MLSC team and the Center’s board, advisors and external partners to develop short-term and long-term initiatives. The SVP guides the organization through strategic planning, while advising the CEO on the intricacies and nuances of leading the Center, and executing on the Center’s mission and strategic goals. The successful candidate will also partner closely with the Director of Office Administration on the strategic execution and vision for the Center.

Additionally, this person serves as primary contact for the Healey-Driscoll Administration and elected officials on the local, state, federal, and international levels.

Essential Job Functions

• Oversee external and government relations, including coordination with Healey-Driscoll Administration and other state and federal elected officials and municipal leaders for Center-related events/announcements/opportunities. Represent MLSC and/or connect MLSC leadership with elected officials at the federal, state, and local levels.

• Provide guidance to president and CEO and executive leadership on planning, implementing, and evaluating organizational goals that contribute to the Center’s strategy, programming, and other key areas.

• Facilitating the MLSC’s ongoing engagement with ARPA-H and its Investor Catalyst Hub. This will include working with key stakeholders to position Massachusetts for partnership opportunities with the agency, supporting the success of the Investor Catalyst Hub and broader ARPANET-H, and helping secure funding for Massachusetts-based institutions.

• Support the logistics and organization of various meetings and engagements. Coordinate with Center colleagues and external partners on events, announcements, and other strategic opportunities.

• Lead speech writing and drafting of presentation materials for president and CEO and executive leaders/staff. Guide and support MLSC staff, providing the necessary consultation to effectively position Center activities and engage prospective partners.

• Working closely with the CEO and other key members of the MLSC team to ensure MLSC programming and other efforts align with the Center’s strategic outcomes related to job creation, innovation, equity, competitiveness, and other key areas with internal and external messaging and opportunities.

• As the Center continues to analyze the opportunities and gaps of the Massachusetts life sciences ecosystem, advise on the “push and pull” of how best the Center should position itself in terms of program design/execution and formation of strategic partnerships. Analyze and identify gaps and opportunities in the Massachusetts life sciences ecosystem.

Competencies

• Strategic Decision-Making - Applies seasoned judgment to make decisions guided by broad objectives and organizational principles. Navigates complexity with interpretive insight, providing recommendations that supports impactful business outcomes.

• Analytical Problem Solving - Tackles challenges by integrating direct observation, stakeholder perspectives, and strategic precedent. Converts ambiguity into clarity through decisive analysis.

• Autonomous Leadership & Goal Setting - Operates with considerable independence, setting goals and architecting pathways to measurable success. Receives directional input from executive leaders, then transforms it into tangible outcomes that elevate organizational performance.

Preparation, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Graduate or Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of communications, public affairs, government relations, or related experience.

• Superior verbal, written, and persuasive communication skills.

• High political acumen with experience navigating complex political landscapes.

• Crisis communications experience and providing counsel to c-suite preferred.

• Basic familiarity with computers. Ability to navigate at a basic level within web-based applications.

• Adroit ability to summarize and communicate in English moderately complex information in varied written formats to internal and external customers.

• Exemplary skill at comprehending and communicating complex verbal information in English with staff and customers.

• In-depth knowledge of relevant concepts, practices, and policies with the ability to use in them complex varied situations.

• Proven acumen to direct multiple collaborative teams for large projects or groups both internal and external to the business and across functional areas. Results have significant implications for the management and operations of the organization.

• Known ability to provide a high level of customer service to visitors, staff and external customers in a professional, service-oriented, respectful manner using skills in active listening and problem solving. Ability to remain calm in stressful situations.