Director, Health Equity

About the Milken Institute

The Milken Institute is a globally minded, publicly supported, non-partisan, and nonprofit think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, with offices in Washington, DC, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore.
For the past three decades, the Milken Institute has served as a catalyst for practical, scalable solutions to global challenges by connecting human, financial, and educational resources to those who need them.
Guided by a conviction that the best ideas, under-resourced, cannot succeed, we conduct research and analysis and convene top experts, innovators, and influencers from different backgrounds and competing viewpoints.
We leverage this expertise and insight to construct programs and policy initiatives.
These activities are designed to help people build meaningful lives, in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities.


The Milken Institute's events and programmatic activities, involve the exchange of ideas with leaders from around the world.
The Institute hosts more than 200 events each year, with our annual flagship event, Global Conference, bringing together 4,500+ participants from around the world, featuring more than 900+ speakers throughout 200+ sessions over the course of the event.


About FasterCures

FasterCures is part of the Milken Institute, a global non-profit organization.
Today, there are approximately 10,000 known diseases affecting our world; we have treatments for about 500 of them.
The current system to discover and develop those treatments is complex, siloed, imperfect, and not aligned with the needs and wants of patients.
Much of the inefficiency is entrenched.
At FasterCures, we envision a system that is run effectively and driven by patient needs.
We envision a system where the potential of transformative science is fully realized through the right incentives, bringing better and faster treatments to the people who need them.


We define and map current and emerging barriers that slow medical treatments, finding the areas of challenge, and proposing more patient-serving solutions.
We address the following types of barriers to an optimal biomedical system: policy barriers, market disincentives, and areas where lack of leadership slows progress.
Finally, because we know we cannot do this alone, we engage and catalyze our network to take on these important challenges.


About the Position

The Director is responsible for supporting the mission of FasterCures by serving as a leader in addressing barriers and developing solutions to catalyze the biomedical research system - from basic science to bedside.
This position requires an ability to conceptualize and oversee a portfolio of programs and projects consistent with our areas of focus within the organization.
The role involves overseeing and supporting FasterCures' health equity portfolio of projects, as well as other projects related to FasterCures' mission.
The role includes representing FasterCures at conferences and meetings and supporting events programming.
The Director works with internal staff to bring FasterCures' programs to targeted external audiences and building communities around our areas of focus to move from ideas to implementation.


FasterCures is part of the Milken Institute, a global non-profit organization.
Today, there are approximately 10,000 known diseases affecting our world; we have treatments for about 500 of them.
The current system to discover and develop those treatments is complex, siloed, imperfect, and not aligned with the needs and wants of patients.
Much of the inefficiency is entrenched.
At FasterCures, we envision a system that is run effectively and driven by patient needs.
We envision a system where the potential of transformative science is fully realized through the right incentives, bringing better and faster treatments to the people who need them.


We define and map current and emerging barriers that slow medical treatments, finding the areas of challenge, and proposing more patient-serving solutions.
We address the following types of barriers to an optimal biomedical system: policy barriers, market disincentives, and areas where lack of leadership slows progress.
Finally, because we know we cannot do this alone, we engage and catalyze our network to take on these important challenges.


Responsibilities Oversee and advise on FasterCures' efforts to address barriers to medical product innovation and in particular, barriers to achieving equity in clinical research and access to health innovation.
Serve as FasterCures subject matter expert on diversity in clinical trials, clinical research infrastructure including workforce, community-engaged research, and innovative approaches to clinical trials.
Conceptualize and execute projects across all of FasterCures' priority areas, including projects focused on improving the R&D environment and accelerating innovation.
Work with and expand FasterCures' stakeholder network.
Develop project-specific work products including convenings, events, papers, summaries, etc., as required.
Represent FasterCures at conferences, meetings, workshops.
Contribute to overall FasterCures activities - events, programmatic work, etc.
Manage and contribute to the professional development of direct and indirect reports, with responsibility for staff supervision and development.
Engage cross-functionally including with Business Development, Government Affairs, and Communications.
Qualifications

We're looking for professionals who are: Flexible and adaptable.
Flexible, proactive, and comfortable with pivoting from project to project.
Possesses a roll-up-the-sleeves mindset.
Comfortable with ambiguity and proposing an approach upfront while constantly refining along the way.
Excellent writers, analytical, creative and rigorous thinkers: Detail-oriented and flexible problem solver.
Can synthesize diverse streams of information and switch comfortably between academic and real-world thinking.
Strong writer and communicator with ability to clearly convey key themes and ideas to a variety of audiences.
Team players: Collaborate well with multidisciplinary teams, comfortably taking leadership when necessary as well as following directions.
Experience & Training Bachelor's degree required, Master's degree or above preferred 10-15 years successful experience in health and medical research related field that include research and analysis, project management, and stakeholder engagement Deep understanding of the stakeholders in the biomedical research ecosystem, their challenges and drivers Ability to engage and build relationships with external audiences and stakeholders Strong written and oral communication skills Ability to prioritize multiple work streams and in the management of project teams Ability to facilitate and coordinate diverse individuals to solve specific problems Ability to be flexible and quickly take on new program areas and adapt to external environment Ability to engage external audiences and stakeholders, and skilled at program development and execution Comfortable with public speaking, either in small meeting settings or for large audiences Availability for overnight travel approximately 3-5 times per year Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

This position will work in a professional office environment.
This person will also be required to travel occasionally to other offices and/or venues to assist with events as needed, requiring occasional work outside of traditional hours.
Additionally, this position requires interacting virtually on a regular basis with Milken Institute staff based in other locations in the United States and around the world.


Note

We are interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in the United States.
Please note, we are not sponsoring visas at this time, being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.


This position will be working a hybrid model, where you will be expected to report to your respective office location 4-days per week (Monday - Thursday).
This is subject to change.


The statements herein are intended to describe the overall nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.
Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.


Please submit resume and cover letter illustrating how your experience and skills will contribute to the department and any unique qualities you bring to the position.
If applying via Indeed, please upload your resume and any supporting documentation as one attachment.
Any application that does not include both a resume and cover letter will be rejected.
If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact our Human Resources department to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.


Our Culture

The Milken Institute is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.


Every person at the Milken Institute is treated with respect, supported with resources and training, and exposed to a broad range of experiences.
We foster a space for growth with opportunities to share knowledge and passion with both clients and colleagues.
We are committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.
Our leadership is actively involved in our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and fostering a culture that creates opportunities for everyone.


Benefits Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision) Retirement Plan - 403b (5%) Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D) Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays) Family Leave (Maternity & Paternity) Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Flexible Spending Account (FSAs) Training & Development: LinkedIn Learning - over 15,000 self-guided classes offered Mentor Program Wellness Resources: Employee Assistance Program CALM app membership