Manager, State Licensing

EVERSANA•Chicago, IL

14h•Onsite

About The Position

The State License Manager plays a critical role in supporting clients across the life sciences, pharmaceutical distribution, medical device distribution, and healthcare service sectors by managing end-to-end state licensing activities. This position ensures clients maintain continuous compliance with state regulatory requirements for operations such as wholesale distribution, third‑party logistics (3PL), pharmacy, manufacturer, and controlled substance licensing. You will collaborate closely with clients, state agencies, and internal teams to interpret regulatory requirements, prepare, and submit applications, monitor renewals, monitor regulations, and resolve compliance issues. This role requires strong attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple licensing workflows simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, legal studies, public policy, scientific discipline, or a related field preferred.
Minimum 7 years of experience in state licensing, regulatory compliance, and/or related fields (pharmaceutical, medical device, healthcare, legal services, and/or corporate compliance).
Experience preparing and submitting state license applications (e.g., wholesale distributor, 3PL, pharmacy, manufacturer, controlled substances).
Strong research skills and ability to interpret state statutes, regulations, and agency guidance.
Effective verbal and written communication skills with internal and external stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to manage high-volume, detail-oriented regulatory processes with strict deadlines and accuracy requirements.
Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
High attention to detail, analytical thinking, and problem‑solving skills.
Proficiency with tracking systems, databases, and document management tools.
Demonstrated experience managing regulatory licensing, including applications, renewals, amendments, and ongoing compliance requirements.
Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements related to licensure, operational compliance, and audit readiness.
Experience working with regulatory agencies, including state boards and FDA.
Strong project management skills; knowledge and application of process and planning best practices.
Experience with regulatory tracking tools, documentation systems, and compliance record management.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills supporting a high level of professionalism.
Ability to effectively communicate with regulatory agencies and cross-functional stakeholders regarding licensing and compliance matters.
Ability to handle multiple priorities across a variety of external clients.
Ability to work with stakeholders and resources at a variety of levels.
Managerial experience
Extremely detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and a focus on documentation accuracy and compliance integrity.
Demonstrated ability to maintain audit readiness and inspection preparedness
Ability to manage multiple priorities with tight timelines.

Nice To Haves

Master’s, PhD, or PharmD degree in a scientific and/or business discipline preferred.
Experience working with state boards of pharmacy, departments of health, and/or secretary of state offices.
Familiarity with licensing platforms such as state online portals and/or compliance management systems.
Experience supporting licensing for pharmaceutical manufacturers, medical device manufacturers, distributors, 3PLs, and/or pharmacies.
Knowledge of federal regulations impacting state licensing (e.g., DSCSA, DEA requirements).
Prior consulting experience or client‑facing service delivery.
Experience supporting or partnering with corporate compliance programs, including audits, inspections, and internal controls.
Familiarity with regulatory information management systems (RIMS), licensing databases, and compliance tracking tools.
Experience operating in a client-facing, consulting, and/or matrixed cross-functional environment.
Experience managing and/or mentoring technical resources is highly desired.

Responsibilities

Provide full‑service licensing oversight and consultation to clients, including identifying required state licenses, preparing application packages, and managing submissions through approval.
Conduct regulatory research to interpret state requirements for pharmaceutical, device, wholesale, 3PL, and controlled substance licensing.
Own and manage the full lifecycle of client licenses required for product distribution, including applications, renewals, amendments, ownership and personnel changes, periodic reporting, and terminations.
Stay current on state regulatory changes and emerging compliance trends affecting licensing requirements.
Serve as a liaison between clients and state regulatory agencies, maintaining professional and productive relationships to facilitate timely resolution of licensing issues.
Track and monitor licensing timelines, proactively communicating status updates, risks, and required client actions.
Maintain accurate records of licensing activities, documentation, and correspondence in internal systems.
Ensure continuous audit readiness through accurate documentation and adherence to regulatory standards.
Monitor regulatory changes impacting licensing requirements and ensure organizational compliance.
Partner with compliance, legal, and operational teams to support corporate compliance initiatives.
Support business development by providing subject‑matter expertise during sales discussions, scoping calls, and proposal development.
Provide guidance to internal stakeholders regarding licensing requirements and compliance expectations.
Support internal and external audits and inspections.
Partner with Corporate Compliance to ensure alignment with internal policies and regulatory obligations.
Promote a culture of operational excellence, accountability, and compliance discipline.
Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.
Partner with clients to understand operational models and recommend appropriate licensing strategies.
Understand the client’s needs and recommend regulatory strategies and tactics.
Cross functional collaboration to ensure objectives and milestones are met.
Consultative services and selling to clients, ensuring positive front-line contact.
Deliver high‑quality client service through responsiveness, accuracy, and proactive problem‑solving.
Mentoring and knowledge sharing with other regulatory associates.