Director, Market Access & Government Affairs

Change people’s lives and love what you do! Cochlear is the most recognized brand in hearing health care.

Director, Market Access & Government Affairs

About the role

Change people's lives and love what you do at Cochlear , the most recognized brand in hearing health care, helping people hear and be heard around the world, while being part of one of Denver Business Journal's 2026 Best Places to Work honorees in Denver. If you have experience leading reimbursement, market access, government affairs, or health policy initiatives within the medical device, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or healthcare industries, this is a unique opportunity to help expand access to life-changing hearing implant technologies at the global leader in implantable hearing solutions.

The Director, Market Access & Government Affairs is responsible for developing and executing strategies that expand patient access, strengthen reimbursement, influence health policy, and support the successful adoption of Cochlear 's current and future product portfolio. Serving as a strategic partner across commercial, clinical, regulatory, medical affairs, and health economics teams, this leader will oversee reimbursement strategy, payer engagement, coding and payment initiatives, government affairs activities, and market access planning across the United States and Canada.

In this role, you will lead efforts to remove reimbursement and access barriers, shape coverage and payment strategies across Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers, and drive policy initiatives that improve access to hearing implant technologies. You will also lead and develop a high-performing Market Access team while building relationships with payers, policymakers, professional societies, advocacy organizations, and healthcare providers to advance Cochlear 's mission and support long-term business growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the organization's government affairs strategy to engage policymakers and regulatory bodies at the federal, state, and local levels.

• Lead reimbursement strategy including; HCPCS and CPT coding, Medicare payment policy, Coverage strategy, Hospital and ASC reimbursement, and DMEPOS.

• Lead strategic planning for reimbursement across Medicare, Medicaid, commercial payers, and integrated delivery networks.

• Identify reimbursement, policy, and access barriers and develop solutions to overcome them.

• Analyze and influence healthcare policy trends to drive favorable conditions for the adoption and reimbursement of the company's products.

• Oversee the integration of health economic models and analyses into reimbursement and market access strategies.

• Lead government affairs efforts at the Federal and State level to ensure policy supports patient access.

• Build and lead a high-performing Market Access team, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and innovation.

Key Requirements

To add value to Cochlear in this role you'll be able to meet and demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities in your application and at interview:

• Bachelor's Degree required; advanced degree in law, public policy, public health, business, economics, or life sciences strongly preferred

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in government affairs, public policy, market access, or reimbursement advocacy roles within the healthcare, medical device, or pharmaceutical sectors

• Demonstrated ability to influence policy and drive reimbursement strategies for innovative medical technologies.

• In-depth understanding of U.S. and Canadian healthcare systems, reimbursement frameworks, and policy dynamics.

• Proven track record of developing and implementing successful programs for diverse audiences.

• Proven ability to analyze and synthesize multiple data sources, market research, VOC and performance metrics to drive decision-making.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, comfortable presenting and facilitating.

• Skilled