Sr. Director Policy Development

Sr. Director Policy Development

Washington, D.C. (Hybrid)

The American Medical Association (AMA) is the nation's largest professional Association of physicians and a non-profit organization. We are a unifying voice and powerful ally for America's physicians, the patients they care for, and the promise of a healthier nation. To be part of the AMA is to be part of our Mission to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.

At AMA, our mission to improve the health of the nation starts with our people. We foster an inclusive, people-first culture where every employee is empowered to perform at their best. Together, we advance meaningful change in health care and the communities we serve.

We encourage and support professional development for our employees, and we are dedicated to social responsibility. We invite you to learn more about us and we look forward to getting to know you.

We have an opportunity at our corporate offices in Washington D.C. for a Sr. Director Policy Development on our Digital Health and AI team. This position can be hybrid (working from both office and home), with a schedule to be determined by business needs.

As a Sr. Director Policy Development, you will lead the AMA's policy development, regulatory engagement, and advocacy strategies on digital health, artificial intelligence (AI), emerging technologies, AI ethics, transparency, and clinical integration. This role is responsible for shaping federal and state policy, influencing regulatory frameworks, and ensuring that the physician voice is central to how health technologies are designed, governed, and adopted. This role partners with AMA leadership, policymakers, regulators, and industry partners to advance safe, unbiased, and effective innovation that improves patient care and strengthens the physician-patient relationship.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy and Planning

• Develop and lead AMA's policy agenda on digital health, AI, interoperability, and emerging health technologies.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on health technology policy, ensuring AMA remains a trusted and credible voice.
• Monitor federal and state regulatory developments, translating complex proposals into clear implications for physicians and patients.
• Collaborate and build AMA positions on issues such as AI use, data privacy, security, EHR usability, digital health, payment and coverage, and liability.
• Examine AI policies to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and ethical guidelines, focusing on issues like bias, privacy, security, and human rights.
• Represent AMA at conferences, public meetings, and media opportunities to advance AMA's leadership in digital health policy.
• Ensure timely analysis, communications, and strategy execution on fast-evolving issues in digital health and AI.

Regulatory & Advocacy Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with federal agencies (e.g., HHS, FDA, CMS, ONC), Congress, and state policymakers.
• Represent AMA in public forums, coalitions, and stakeholder groups to advocate for physician-centered approaches to health tech policy.
• Provide thought leadership on how regulatory frameworks can enable innovation while protecting patient safety and trust and reducing administrative burden for physicians.
• Monitor the rapidly evolving AI landscape, including new technologies (generative AI, explainable AI), , and international trends, to inform future policies.
• Identify potential risks associated with AI deployment and policy (e.g., data privacy issues, security threats, biased outcomes) and help create solutions and governance frameworks to mitigate them.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Engagement

• Partner with AMA colleagues in advocacy, legal, research, and practice transformation to align strategies and amplify impact.
• Collaborate with the Center for Health Care Technology and other AMA business units to translate policy into practice.
• Support AMA leadership with briefings, policy analyses, and recommendations.
• Engage with physicians, specialty societies, technology companies, and standards organizations to align policy priorities.

Staff Management and Operations

• Lead, mentor, and provide management oversight for staff.
• Responsible for setting objectives, evaluating employee performance, and fostering a collaborative team environment.
• Responsible for developing staff knowledge and skills to support career development.

May include other responsibilities as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Bachelor's degree required, master's degree strongly preferred. Advanced degree/training in public policy, law, health administration, or related fields strongly preferred.
2. 12+ years of experience in health policy, regulatory affairs, or related leadership roles, with a strong background in digital health, AI, and emerging technologies.
3. 7+ years' experience in people management required; able to attract and develop talent.
4. Proven success influencing federal and/or state policy outcomes, with deep knowledge of regulatory processes.
5. Proven ability to assess, design, and execute strategic plans that align with business objectives.
6. Proven ability to lead complex policy initiatives at the intersection of technology, health care delivery, and law.
7. Proven knowledge of health care delivery, physician practice needs, and the implications of technology adoption.
8. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to distill complex regulatory issues into clear, actionable insights.
9. Excellent leadership and communication skills with the ability to influence and build consensus across cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders, both internally and externally.

This role is an exempt position, and the salary range for this position is $218,484-$294,953. This is the lowest to highest salary we believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's pay within the salary range will be determined by a variety of factors including but not limited to business consideration and geographical location, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience. Employees are also eligible to participate in an incentive plan. To learn more about the American Medical Association's benefits offerings, please click here.

The AMA offers competitive salaries, including an incentive plan and excellent benefits. Our office is a business casual environment, and we respect work-life balance. The American Medical Association is located near Union Station and the Capitol in Washington D.C.

We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity in our workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. As an EOE/AA employer, the American Medical Association will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and veteran or disability status.

THE AMA IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF THE NATION