Senior Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Americas

Walmart•Washington, DC

2d•$130,000 - $338,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy – Americas develops and executes government affairs strategies across Walmart’s Western Hemisphere markets, including Mexico, Canada, Central America, and Chile. The role partners with business and market leadership to advance business priorities and support long-term growth, while identifying and addressing political, regulatory, geopolitical, trade, and reputational risks and opportunities. The Senior Director advises senior leaders, builds trusted relationships with government officials and policy influencers, and coordinates across markets and functions to strengthen Walmart’s reputation and advance public policy priorities. The role is part of Walmart’s Global Government Affairs team, which works across international markets to support business growth, strengthen the company’s reputation, and advocate for policies that positively affect Walmart’s businesses. It collaborates with international market leaders and functions including Legal, Communications, Corporate Affairs, Public Affairs, Trade, Sustainability, Compliance, Marketplace, Merchandising, Supply Chain, and Finance. The position also provides strategic counsel and communication guidance to senior leaders; leads stakeholder engagement, foresight, policy, reputation-management, and cross-functional initiatives; and helps align advocacy with business objectives and societal expectations. It promotes compliance with Walmart’s values, company policies, and applicable laws, and supports an inclusive, collaborative culture. International travel to multiple facilities and work sites across the Americas and other global locations is required and may involve extended overnight stays.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Economics, Communications, or a related area and 10 years of experience in government relations, public policy research, legislative affairs, regulatory analysis, or a related area; OR 12 years of relevant experience without the degree.
Significant experience working across Latin America and/or Canada, including knowledge of regional political, regulatory, and economic environments.
Demonstrated experience developing and executing government affairs strategies that support business growth and reputation.
Experience engaging senior government officials, trade associations, multilateral organizations, and other policy influencers.
Strong knowledge of international trade policy and geopolitical developments affecting global retail and digital commerce.
Excellent executive communication, presentation, and writing skills.
Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and lead through cross-functional partnerships.
Strong strategic planning and project-management capabilities.
Ability to work effectively across cultures and multiple international markets.
Willingness and ability to travel internationally, including to multiple facilities and work sites across the Americas and other global locations; travel may require extended overnight stays.
Ability to uphold Walmart’s values, company policies, and applicable laws and to foster an inclusive and collaborative culture.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or advanced graduate degree.
Professional proficiency in Spanish.
Experience advising senior leadership and engaging senior government stakeholders within the region or area of expertise.
People management experience.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute government affairs strategies across Mexico, Canada, Central America, and Chile in partnership with business and market leadership.
Identify emerging political, regulatory, geopolitical, trade, and reputational risks and opportunities, aligning strategies with Walmart’s business growth objectives.
Monitor and assess legislative and regulatory developments affecting retail, eCommerce, labor, tax, sourcing, supply chain, sustainability, and other business priorities.
Develop proactive advocacy strategies, coordinate policy positions across markets and global stakeholders, and advise leaders on business implications and mitigation strategies.
Build and maintain relationships with government officials, trade associations, embassies, multilateral organizations, chambers of commerce, think tanks, nongovernmental organizations, and other policy influencers.
Coordinate executive engagement strategies, represent Walmart in external forums and legislative hearings, and advance policies that support long-term growth and market competitiveness.
Partner with country Corporate Affairs and business leadership teams to strengthen Walmart’s reputation with governments and external stakeholders.
Coordinate reputational initiatives and executive visits, support market-specific government affairs strategies, and promote consistent regional messaging.
Evaluate international trade agreements, domestic policies with international implications, and geopolitical developments affecting Walmart’s international operations.
Provide strategic counsel to senior executives through briefings, analyses, memoranda, presentations, speeches, talking points, and stakeholder-engagement materials.
Prepare senior leaders for engagement with government officials and policy influencers on complex policy, business, and reputational matters.
Lead cross-functional government affairs initiatives to align advocacy, manage policy risks, and support business priorities across the Americas.
Advise senior leadership on enterprise-wide policy and reputation communication strategy; develop messaging frameworks and training programs for Government Affairs teams.
Anticipate stakeholder and media trends, shape proactive communication strategies, oversee integrated communication plans, and use social media for external storytelling.
Shape enterprise-wide stakeholder engagement and foresight strategies, develop engagement and trend-analysis tools and methodologies, and mentor senior leaders and teams.
Lead complex cross-functional projects, adapt plans to changing needs and risks, coach team members on project-management practices, and measure outcomes against business goals.
Guide adoption of technologies and digital tools, assess their strategic and operational fit, improve workflows and data visibility, and advise on digital compliance and data governance.
Champion AI tools for predictive analytics, stakeholder mapping, policy monitoring, task automation, and data quality.
Synthesize business strategy with societal and policy insights, advise on ethical and strategic implications, and integrate stakeholder perspectives into business planning.
Lead reputation management and crisis communication efforts for high-profile initiatives or emerging issues, coordinating responses and advising leadership on reputational implications.
Develop and implement workforce strategies, including diagnosing capability gaps, recruiting and developing talent, mentoring, and succession planning.
Cultivate integrity, ethics, compliance, inclusion, collaboration, and accountability in accordance with Walmart’s values, policies, and applicable laws.
Develop internal and external partnerships and networks, and lead community outreach and involvement initiatives that support business goals.
Support associate development, feedback, coaching, mentoring, recognition, and talent-retention initiatives.

Benefits

Competitive pay and performance-based bonus awards.
Medical, vision, and dental coverage.
401(k).
Stock purchase plan and potential stock compensation for certain positions.
Company-paid life insurance.
Paid time off, including sick leave, and PTO/PPTO that may be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes.
Parental leave, family care leave, bereavement leave, jury duty leave, and voting leave.
Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
Company discounts.
Military Leave Pay.
Adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement.
Live Better U education benefit, with Walmart-paid tuition, books, and fees for eligible programs.