Executive Director, State Government Affairs East
About The Position
The Executive Director, State Government Affairs leads a team of 6–7 State Government Affairs Directors covering approximately 25 states in the western half of the U.S. The team represents the company in interactions with executive, legislative, and regulatory bodies of state and local governments. The role is part of the U.S. State Government Affairs & Policy team, which addresses legislative and regulatory issues to promote and protect the discovery of innovative medicines, vaccines, and animal health products while improving and protecting patient access to care. The position directs regional legislative and policy work supporting all U.S. divisions and operations, including human health and animal health. It leads regional strategy and stakeholder engagement, analyzes policy issues affecting company priorities, manages assigned policy priorities and regional resources, and ensures advocacy is conducted in compliance with company policy and applicable laws. The role supports team members’ professional development and works across divisions with franchise, policy, and subject-matter experts. The position is site based in Upper Gwynedd (North Wales), Pennsylvania, with remote flexibility and travel to multiple sites. Travel is approximately 50% across the U.S., including routine travel to Washington, DC.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree required.
- At least 10 years of experience in state government affairs and policy.
- Experience developing legislative policy priorities aligned with business priorities.
- Experience addressing policy issues affecting the biopharmaceutical industry.
- Experience managing and leading teams, including employee development.
- Demonstrated experience engaging executive-level leaders.
- Strong experience with internal and external stakeholder engagement.
- Knowledge of state legislative policymaking processes.
- Experience analyzing state legislation.
- Strong writing and presentation skills.
- Required skills include financial research, healthcare policies, health technology assessment (HTA), international engagements, legislative relations, market access, people leadership, pharmaceutical industry knowledge, policy development, political forums, program management, relationship building, stakeholder coordination, and strategic planning.
Responsibilities
- Direct and manage the team’s work on state legislative and policy issues supporting all U.S. divisions and operations, including human health and animal health.
- Manage the activities of individual Directors in the West region as they interact with state and local officials.
- Lead execution of regional strategy to mitigate legislative policy risks that could limit access to company products and support proactive policy that maintains a competitive market for innovative biopharmaceuticals.
- Manage the team’s engagement with stakeholders in legislative and executive branches of government, key state agencies, and business, trade, and health policy associations.
- As part of the leadership team, identify, analyze, and develop the company’s response to legislative policy issues affecting strategic business priorities.
- Lead assigned policy priorities for products, above-brand issues, department operations, and resource development, and manage team assignments.
- Serve as a point of contact for external stakeholder legislative, policy, and business groups to ensure alignment on policy positions.
- Work cross-divisionally with franchise, policy, and subject-matter experts to align policy priorities and strategy.
- Support and guide the professional development and growth of team members.
- Manage contractual and operational resources for the western region, including political contributions, contract counsel, and policy grant oversight.
- Ensure company advocacy in the region complies with company policy and all state and federal laws.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, vision, healthcare, and other insurance benefits for employees and family.
- Retirement benefits, including 401(k).
- Paid holidays, vacation, compassionate days, and sick days.
- Eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
