Executive Director, Western State Government Affairs

MSD; North Wales (Montgomery County); Hybrid; USD 256,000 - 403,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) retirement

Paid holidays

Vacation & sick days

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in North Wales, PA, seeks an Executive Director, State Government Affairs to lead a team of 6–7 Directors across the western U.S., directing policy development and regulatory strategy to protect patient access and support biopharmaceutical innovation.

The role covers 25 states, engages with executives, legislators and agencies, shapes state policy priorities, and ensures compliance with all applicable laws.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years 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 analyzing 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

Leadership

Policy strategy

Stakeholder engagement

Public policy

Team management

Education

BS/BA required

Job description

Merck & Co., Inc. in North Wales, PA, seeks an Executive Director, State Government Affairs to lead a team of 6–7 Directors across the western U.S., directing policy development and regulatory strategy to protect patient access and support biopharmaceutical innovation.

The role covers 25 states, engages with executives, legislators and agencies, shapes state policy priorities, and ensures compliance with all applicable laws.