Director, Milken Institute Women’s Health Network at Milken Institute

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 the Position

The Milken Institute launched the Women’s Health Network in May 2025 to address decades of underfunding in research and development (R&D) and innovation in women’s health. While women make up half the U.S. population and nearly half the workforce, women’s health has faced decades of underinvestment, which is critical for wider economic productivity.  The Women’s Health Network will drive innovation by providing resources and promoting collaboration among key stakeholders, including research institutions, start-ups and entrepreneurs, corporations and businesses, investors, payers, policymakers, patient and community organizations, health systems, and philanthropists. It will facilitate engagement and financing across public and private sectors to optimize access to research and development, infrastructure, and products and services for women by elevating existing and new efforts across the women’s health ecosystem. 

In collaboration with the Women’s Health Team across the Institute, the Director will execute program goals, partner with internal and external stakeholders in achieving ensuring high level of engagement of network members, increasing the experience of members and the public on the digital platform, engage funders and potential funders in the investment fund initiative, ensure the development and success of proof of concept activities and projects of the Network.

The Director must have relevant women’s health and finance content expertise acquired through past work experience; have demonstrated excellence in project management, research and writing, relationship management, and coalition-building to deliver on the Network’s priorities and strategic deliverables; and have attention to detail, proactivity, resourcefulness, and flexibility. 

Responsibilities

• Recruit and retain member organizations by curating and offering compelling content for meetings, fostering collaboration among members, highlighting the work of members, including new research, programs, promising developments, and leveraging the unique expertise and experience of members to identify solutions and drive change.
• Provide overall project management for ongoing activities related to the curation, recruitment, scheduling, and agenda setting for activities of the Network.
• Create engagement opportunities to tap the depth and breadth of expertise across the Network on specific topics and focus areas. Use convening expertise and the expansive network of Milken Institute Health and the Milken Institute more broadly to organize working groups, workshops, and other interactive gatherings to break down silos, foster collaborations, and generate solutions to advance the health of women. 
• Work closely with the Managing Director, Milken Institute Finance to design and implement the philanthropic and investiment funds to be used to support researchers, community organizations, industry partners, and innovators.
• Work closely with Milken Institute Health and Milken Institute Finance leadership and Business Development to recruit, service, and retain sponsors or donors, including for sponsorship renewal management, new program or project sponsorship development, and fundraising for the philanthropic and investment funds.
• Lead the development of Network reports with Research team and articles for publication and co-authoring well-written and project-specific work products, including, articles, issue briefs, OpEds, and blogs.
• Stay abreast of the latest developments in women’s health on social media, news media, and through Network member organization announcements and newsletters.
• Develop content and program ideas that can be showcased at Milken Institute signature events such as Global Conference, Future of Health Summit, Middle East & Africa Summit, and Asia Summit; support the development of sessions at these events that feature expert discussions on women’s health issues, including developing session topics, identifying and recruiting speakers and moderators, developing session briefs, and orchestrating the conversations.
• Amplify the Network by working with communications staff to identify media opportunities, coordinate report production timelines, create collateral to share the work, and keep the Network’s website and web presence aligned with member needs and Network progess. 
• Speak on panels and moderate roundtables and panels, representing and sharing insights that elevate the impact of the Network externally. 
• Duties as assigned. 

Qualifications

We are looking for professionals who are:

• Proven leader and content experts: Areas in which we are seeking expertise include women’s health, health care, health care policy, R&D and innovation. Aware of relevant issues impacting women’s health, R&D, and has knowledge of the design and use of catalytic philanthropic funds or blended investment funds. Can utilize existing expertise, while also growing knowledge base, to contribute to thought leadership activities. 
• 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. 
• Roll-up-your-sleeves mindset: Flexible, proactive, and comfortable with ambiguity. Comfortable with proposing an approach upfront while constantly refining along the way.
• Team players: Collaborate well with multidisciplinary teams, comfortably taking leadership when necessary as well as following directions.

Requirements

• Minimum of ten years demonstrating increasing responsibility and relevant experience and working with senior-level leaders in the public and private sectors.
• Outstanding academic credentials with MD, JD, Ph.D., MBA, MPH, MPP or other terminal degree preferred.
• Broad understanding of the trends associated with women’s health and financing and investments to advance women’s health R&D.
• Excellent project and time management, problem-solving, organization, and communication skills.
• Engaged listener with intense curiosity and commitment to continuous learning.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills demonstrated in a variety of settings.
• Ability to engage and build relationships with external audiences and stakeholders, as well as to be a natural connector and collaborator. 
• Critical and analytical thinking skills that generate fact-based concepts and new ideas.
• Availability for overnight travel approximately 3-5 times per year. 

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

This position will work in a professional office environment on a hybrid schedule consisting of three (3) days per week reporting in-person to the Washington, DC office location (Tuesday – Thursday), with the remaining two (2) days working remotely. Please understand, this schedule is subject to change at the Institute’s sole discretion. 

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. International along with domestic travel is possible. 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

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. 

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.

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% match)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Personal, Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity & Paternity)
• Fertility Support
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability 
• Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)
• Pet Insurance Discount
• Training & Development:
• LinkedIn Learning – over 15,000 self-guided classes offered
• Annual Mentor Program
• Wellness Resources:
• Employee Assistance Program
• CALM app membership