Head of State Government Affairs – West Region

Merck; Denver (CO); Remote; USD 256,000 - 403,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) plan

Paid holidays & vacation

Sick days

Job summary

Merck is seeking an Executive Director State Government Affairs to lead a 6-7 person team covering about 25 states in the western U.S. You will shape policy priorities for biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, and animal health, and represent the company with executives, legislators, and regulators.

The role requires strong leadership, policy development, and stakeholder engagement, with 50% travel across the U.S. and remote flexibility.

Qualifications

• BS/BA required.
• Minimum 10 years-experience in state government affairs and policy.
• 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

Policy development

Stakeholder engagement

Executive communication

Team leadership

Public policy analysis

Written communications

Strategic planning

Regulatory affairs

Education

BS/BA

Job description

Merck is seeking an Executive Director State Government Affairs to lead a 6-7 person team covering about 25 states in the western U.S. You will shape policy priorities for biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, and animal health, and represent the company with executives, legislators, and regulators.

The role requires strong leadership, policy development, and stakeholder engagement, with 50% travel across the U.S. and remote flexibility.