Who We Are 

CityHealth is an initiative of the de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente. Our mission is to advance a package of evidence-based policy solutions that will help millions of people live longer, better lives in vibrant, prosperous communities. CityHealth advances a package of evidence-based, health promoting policies and regularly evaluates cities on the number and strength of their policies. We currently work in the nation’s 75 largest cities. As part of our effort to advance specific policy issues across these cities, we believe strongly in building partnerships with city leaders, city staff, stakeholders, and advocacy organizations to help drive policy change and advance common goals. The work is aspirational and rigorous given the breadth of issues and areas we work on, and combines government relations, technical assistance, and advocacy to accelerate policy change across the country. We are a small, highly driven team and value excellence, pushing boundaries, balance, strong communication, and a sense of humor. We are deeply committed to equity and believe strongly that local policy solutions have the potential to improve the lives of millions of Americans.

CityHealth is housed within the de Beaumont Foundation, and the CityHealth Executive Director has primary oversight of the project’s activities. The person hired for this position will be an employee of the de Beaumont Foundation and will report to the Executive Director.

The de Beaumont Foundation is a private charitable foundation that advances policy, builds partnerships, and strengthens public health to create communities where people can achieve their best possible health. We create and invest in bold solutions to make public health work better for everyone, through four main strategies:

  • Advancing Policy: We advance policies that improve health and create thriving communities.
  • Creating Partnerships: We build partnerships, often among unlikely allies, to help leaders achieve their shared goal of strengthening communities and improving lives.
  • Strengthening the Public Health System: We support the state and local government public health workforce and create practical solutions that help professionals improve their impact.
  • Improving Communication: We empower health communicators and build support for public health through research, training, and tools.

We fervently believe that the spirit in which we do our work is as important as the work itself. We pride ourselves on excellence, innovation, fostering collaboration between groups that might not otherwise interact, and a willingness to have fun with our work.

Position Overview – What You’ll Do 

Reporting to CityHealth’s Executive Director, you will have an unparalleled opportunity to contribute to a fast paced, big-thinking, mission-driven organization. This unique role directly supports and influences the work of one of the nation’s leading health philanthropies.

Responsibilities and Opportunities

Your day-to-day work will include activities such as:

  • Lead CityHealth’s government affairs and intergovernmental engagement strategy, particularly with mayors, city leaders, councilmembers, city managers, and national municipal networks.
  • Conduct research and analysis on policy issues (federal, state, and local) directly related and tangential to the CityHealth policy package to assess and forecast challenges and opportunities.
  • Support the adoption and advancement of CityHealth’s policies within a defined set of cities within the CityHealth footprint.
  • Inform the update of CityHealth’s policy package by surfacing emerging political, administrative, and legislative trends.
  • Build and strengthen CityHealth’s relationships with partner organizations, national leagues, and coalitions focused on urban policy and health.
  • Build, maintain, and track strong, bipartisan relationships with federal, state, and local policymakers, associations, chambers of commerce, and advocacy partners.
  • Provide guidance to the Executive Director on state preemption trends, opportunities for city authority, and federal-local interplay.
  • Build and maintain a living database of local contacts, policy exemplars, implementation tools, and other information/resources to support policy change work across the initiative.
  • Work collaboratively with the Director of Communications to translate policy findings into accessible visuals, compelling messaging/framing, infographics, and reports. Coordinate with the Communications Director and assessment partners to review and verify policy assessment data for the website and annual report release.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications – Who You Are 

You will possess 8+ years of experience in government affairs, public policy, or intergovernmental relations, ideally with a focus on public health, health policy, philanthropy, or local/federal/state governance. You are curious, driven, flexible, highly resourceful, and interested in working on issues that center equity. You are able to think and work independently, while also valuing collaboration as part of a team. You have a demonstrated ability to engage politically diverse stakeholders with diplomacy, clarity, and strategic judgment and you have a strong understanding of the federal, state, and local policymaking process. You are exceptional at relationship-building, communication, and representation skills. You are committed to seeing the work through, even if that may mean working outside of routine business hours.

To be successful in this job, you excel in these areas:

  • Mission-driven: You want to make a difference and have experience in successfully leading work that supports health equity. You are a thought leader in creating and promoting program solutions, including but not limited to those centered on communications, to end inequities in health and the social determinants of health.  You have experience in advocacy-related, cause-driven policy efforts and communications.
  • Ownership: You care deeply about doing what it takes to facilitate results, including paying attention to even small details, managing your own projects (or pieces of bigger ones), driving work forward with a sense of urgency, anticipating problems, and course-correcting when needed
  • Team player: You are eager to use your role to advance de Beaumont’s mission, and look for ways to help beyond your own core responsibilities. You are ready and willing to participate in all-hands-on-deck projects, which frequently come up. No job is too small for anyone on our team and your attitude reflects that.
  • Critical thinking skills: You know how to quickly process information and draw out the key points of various publications/documents to summarize and share with the leadership team on a host of public health related issues.
  • Relationship management: You have a good sense of how to manage internal relationships (i.e. with senior leadership, colleagues, and direct reports) and grow external ones. You know how to handle confidential information, use discretion around what information you share both internally and externally, and routinely apply good judgment as to when to involve others in decision-making.
  • Detail-oriented: You pay keen attention to detail and accuracy in a fast-moving policy environment with national reach.
  • Passion: You are deeply committed to public health, improving health equity, reducing disparities, and supporting the mission and work of the de Beaumont Foundation.
  • Convener: You are strategic and enjoy identifying, securing, and managing long-term relationships with policymakers as well as strategically aligned organizations or individuals.
  • Resourceful: You are able to skillfully and quickly manage new or challenging situations, prioritizing conflicting needs and following through on projects to successful completion while meeting deadlines.
  • Flexibility: You are able to adapt to the changing needs and priorities of elected officials as well as de Beaumont and CityHealth.
  • Bridge-builder: You excel in connecting people, ideas, and institutions that do not naturally or easily come together, creating alignment, reducing friction, and enabling collaboration that leads to better outcomes.

The ideal candidate will possess the attributes above and many of the following professional abilities and experiences.  

  • Bachelor’s degree is required, advanced degree preferred.
  • Minimum of eight years of related experience in government relations, public policy, or intergovernmental relations, ideally with a focus on public health, health policy, or local/federal/state governance.
  • Exceptional writing skills. Ability to translate complex subject matter for a general audience.
  • Ability to build and maintain relationships with elected leaders, strategic partners, and internal stakeholders.
  • Strong work ethic and desire to produce an exceptional product.
  • Possess strong analytical and legislative/statutory research skills.
  • Ability to work across two entities, manage competing priorities, and maintain transparency and alignment.
  • Commitment to nonpartisan engagement and advancing equitable public health outcomes.
  • Exceptional relationship-building, communication, and representation skills.
  • Impeccable strategic judgment.

Compensation and Benefits 

This is a full-time position based in downtown Bethesda, MD, just outside of Washington, DC. de Beaumont follows a hybrid work model, with employees working in the office on some days and from home on others; individual schedules are confirmed with direct supervisors.  All employees are required to attend (at a minimum) in-person bi-monthly team meetings, as well as annual weeklong all-staff meetings at the Bethesda office.

The compensation offered for this role is competitive and is commensurate with the candidate’s experience. The salary range for this position is $175,000 – $185,000. In addition to competitive compensation, the Foundation provides outstanding benefits that include 100% paid employee health benefits, AD&D and life insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, generous paid time off, 14 weeks of paid parental leave, monthly tech stipend, and health & wellness program. The Foundation fosters a collaborative and supportive work environment and has been designated a “Great Place to Work”.

How to Apply

To apply, email your resume, cover letter, and one writing sample to [email protected] with the subject of “Senior Director of Government Affairs” by February 16th, 2026. Early submission is encouraged as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until February 16th, 2026.

The de Beaumont Foundation is an equal-opportunity employer. Employment opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established under law.