Executive Director, State Government Affairs — West

Merck; City of Albany (NY); Hybrid; USD 256,000 - 403,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote

Travel 50%

Job summary

Merck in the United States is seeking an Executive Director, State Government Affairs to lead a 6-7-person team overseeing state government affairs across the western U.S. This role directs policy engagement with executives, legislators, and agencies to protect patient access and promote innovative medicines.

The position requires a strong track record in policy development, stakeholder engagement, and leadership, with up to 50% travel and site-based work in Upper Gwynedd, PA.

Qualifications

• Minimum 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 bio-pharmaceutical 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 policy-making process.
• Experience in analysing state legislation.
• Strong writing and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Direct and manage team’s work on state legislative and policy issues to support all U.S. Divisions and operations, including human health and animal health.
• Manage the activities of the individual Directors in the West region on their interactions with state and local officials.
• Lead execution of region strategy to mitigate legislative policy risks that would limit access to our products and support proactive policy to maintain a competitive market for innovative biopharmaceuticals.
• Manage the team’s engagement with a broad group of stakeholders in the legislative and executive branches of government, key state agencies, and business, trade, and health policy associations.
• As part of leadership team identify, analyze, and develop Company’s response to legislative policy issues impacting strategic business priorities.
• Serve as lead for assigned policy priorities for products, above-brand issues, department operations, and resource development; and manage team assignments.
• Serve as point to 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 on policy priorities and strategy.
• Support and guide the individual 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 state advocacy on behalf of the company in the region is conducted in compliance with company policy and all state and federal laws.

Skills

Coalition Management

Government Relations

Health Equity

Health Technology Assessment

Legislative Issues

Media Relations

People Leadership

Policy Development

Public Health Policy

Public Policy Analysis

Public Relations

Public Speaking

Regulatory Development

Results-Oriented

Strategic Planning

Education

BS/BA required

Tools

Job description

Merck in the United States is seeking an Executive Director, State Government Affairs to lead a 6-7-person team overseeing state government affairs across the western U.S. This role directs policy engagement with executives, legislators, and agencies to protect patient access and promote innovative medicines.

The position requires a strong track record in policy development, stakeholder engagement, and leadership, with up to 50% travel and site-based work in Upper Gwynedd, PA.