Senior Director, State Policy

Bristol Myers Squibb • Washington, DC

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director, State Policy, is a critical leadership role within the U.S. Policy & Research team and is responsible for shaping and executing BMS’s state policy strategy across Medicaid, drug pricing, coverage and reimbursement, affordability initiatives, CMMI demonstrations, and 340B related state activity. This leader will drive an enterprise wide, proactive approach to state policy development, ensure strong alignment across internal teams both within USPGA and cross-functionally, and represent BMS with key external stakeholders to advance policies that support patient access, affordability, and innovation. The Senior Director will report to the Vice President, U.S. Policy & Research. The role requires clear, concise, and proactive communication with senior executives and strong coordination with Market Access, Legal, Communications, and therapeutic area teams. The Senior Director will also work closely with the heads of State and Local Government Affairs and Alliance Development to align on priorities and shape advocacy campaigns on prioritized state topics. Further, this leader will help ensure BMS’s state policy priorities are reflected across major trade associations and state level partners.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public health, law, economics, political science, or related discipline.
• Minimum 12–15 years of experience in state healthcare policy, government affairs, Medicaid policy, reimbursement, or related fields.
• Deep understanding of state Medicaid programs, drug pricing legislation, reimbursement mechanisms, and emerging affordability initiatives.
• Proven ability to lead complex policy development with cross functional teams.
• Demonstrated experience engaging with state officials and leading policy advocacy.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with experience preparing materials for senior executives.
• Lead team with a patient first mentality and strict adherence to the BMS corporate values

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree (MPH, JD, MPP, MBA, or related).
• Biopharmaceutical industry or trade association experience.
• Prior leadership of policy teams or state government engagement functions.

Responsibilities

• State Policy Leadership Lead development and execution of BMS’s state policy agenda, including Medicaid reimbursement, state affordability proposals, state price setting proposals, and 340B related state legislative and regulatory activity.
• Anticipate state policy risks and opportunities and translate them into strategic, actionable recommendations for the enterprise.
• Oversee monitoring and analysis of state legislative sessions, Medicaid waiver activity, regulatory actions, and state implementation of federal reforms.
• Cross Functional Partnership Ensure coordinated internal alignment across policy, legal, MaX, business leads, and communications.
• Provide state policy insights that inform brand planning, access strategy, contracting, and broader enterprise risk mitigation.
• Lead development of clear and concise internal briefing materials, impact analyses, and executive summaries for senior leadership.
• Create innovative state policy ideas for State and Local Government Affairs and Alliance teams to utilize for coalition building and advocacy campaigns.
• External Engagement Represent BMS before state Medicaid agencies, governors’ offices, state legislators, and key regulatory bodies in partnership with State and Local Government Affairs and State Alliance Development.
• Strengthen BMS’s presence and credibility with national organizations (e.g., NAMD, NCSL, NGA, state trade associations).
• Shape state focused policy positions within trade associations such as PhRMA and BIO to ensure BMS priorities are reflected and advanced.
• Enterprise Communication & Strategy Development Develop and oversee creation of policy briefs, messaging documents, and external facing materials for use with state officials and partner organizations.
• Provide timely updates to BMS executives on emerging state policy developments, anticipated impacts, and recommended actions.
• Drive strategic planning for the State Policy function, ensuring alignment with BMS enterprise goals and multi‑year policy priorities.
• Articulate company’s state public policy positions in a clear, straightforward and comprehensible way for use with bipartisan mix of policymakers and other KOLs.
• Team Leadership Lead and mentor a team of state policy professionals across multiple regions.
• Build a high performing team culture focused on analytical rigor, enterprise thinking, and strong collaboration.
• Partner with USPGA leadership on staffing, role definition, and State Policy team development.

Benefits

• Health Coverage: Medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care.
• Wellbeing Support: Programs such as BMS Well-Being Account, BMS Living Life Better, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).
• Financial Well-being and Protection: 401(k) plan, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accident insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection, personal liability protection, identity theft benefit, legal support, and survivor support.
• Work-life benefits include: Paid Time Off US Exempt Employees: flexible time off (unlimited, with manager approval, 11 paid national holidays (not applicable to employees in Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico or Rayzebio employees) Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico and Rayzebio Exempt, Non-Exempt, Hourly Employees: 160 hours annual paid vacation for new hires with manager approval, 11 national holidays, and 3 optional holidays Based on eligibility, additional time off for employees may include unlimited paid sick time, up to 2 paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military needs and an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas and New Years Day. All global employees full and part-time who are actively employed at and paid directly by BMS at the end of the calendar year are eligible to take advantage of the Global Shutdown.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director