Senior Manager State and Local Relations

Nissan; Franklin (TN); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Mental health support

Parental leave

Retirement savings

Lease vehicle discounts

Vehicle Purchase Program

Job summary

Nissan in Franklin, TN is seeking a Sr. Manager of State & Local Relations to advance corporate priorities through state and federal legislation.

You will lead local incentive negotiations, build key relationships with regulators, and educate internal teams on emerging issues at multiple government levels. The role requires extensive experience in government affairs, strong cross‑functional collaboration, and the ability to operate with minimal oversight.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum 7 years of enterprise-level Government Affairs experience.
• Minimum 3 years in a legislative or lobbying role at federal or state level.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with regulatory agencies.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration to align stakeholder priorities with regulations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Nissan's advocate on state, local, and federal issues.
• Lead negotiations with state incentives and engage with state associations and chambers.
• Educate internal stakeholders on legislation affecting the U.S. business.
• Monitor policy trends and provide updates to internal Nissan teams.
• Coordinate with government affairs colleagues for comprehensive coverage.

Skills

Government Affairs

Regulatory liaison

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Location: Franklin, TN

Job Schedule: Full-time (Hybrid 4 days on-site)

Education Requirement: Bachelor's degree

Sponsorship: No

Come Drive Innovation with Us. We are currently looking for a Sr. Manager of State & Local Relations to join our team in Franklin, TN.

This role will work collaboratively with the government affairs team, safety leadership, and internal partners to advance Nissan's corporate priorities related to current business needs and emerging environmental and regulatory issues.

This role requires a solid understanding of state and federal legislative processes and the ability to educate and inform internal stakeholders on legislation impacting the business in the U.S.

A Day in the Life:

• Serve as primary support for emerging issues impacting the industry or business at the state level, including tracking and lobbying on all non-California state legislation and regulations.
• Support local relations (e.g., Canton community), lead state and local incentive negotiations, and act as the point of contact with relevant state associations and chambers.
• Provide additional support on federal legislative issues affecting the business.
• Engage regularly with responsible internal departments to stay informed of Nissan's evolving corporate strategy and business development.
• Serve as Nissan's point of contact for all state auto association campaigns (e.g., right-to-repair, third-party time guides).
• Identify policy trends and provide legislative updates to a broad range of internal Nissan stakeholders.
• Support the identification of risks and opportunities arising from the intersection of policy trends with existing and future corporate priorities.
• Serve as a subject matter lead for issues related to the holistic electric-vehicle ecosystem, including incentives, regulatory requirements, vehicle and battery manufacturing, battery recycling, charging infrastructure, and state franchise issues.
• Support additional focus areas including privacy, intellectual property, data access, autonomous mobility, and cybersecurity.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with elected and appointed officials at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Engage with relevant trade associations (e.g., Auto Drive America, Auto Innovators, State Dealer Associations).
• Monitor, track, and report on federal and state grants, government/industry coalitions, and related meetings.
• Collaborate with other government affairs team members to ensure comprehensive coverage and consistent understanding of cross-functional issues.

Who We're Looking for:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree
• A minimum of 7 years of enterprise-level experience in Government Affairs.
• Ideal candidates will have at least 3 years of experience working in a legislative or lobbying role at the federal or state level, with familiarity in trade associations and legislative relationship management.
• This Manager will represent Nissan at the local, state, and federal levels and will build and maintain key relationships with regulatory agencies.
• This role requires strong cross-functional collaboration to understand stakeholder priorities and ensure compliance with regulations related to safety, environmental considerations, and emerging issues affecting the company.

Desired:

• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Must be comfortable working with minimal oversight, managing complex issues, and engaging directly with company executives and elected officials.
• Ability to work on-site in Franklin, TN with occasional travel to various states and Washington, D.C.

What You'll Look Forward to at Nissan:

Career Growth and Continuous Learning Opportunities: Benefit from diverse career paths, cross-departmental moves, and innovative learning platforms. Enhance your skills through seminars, leadership training, and tuition reimbursement programs, all while playing a vital role in shaping the future of transportation. From day one, you'll have the support to tackle challenges and contribute to impactful solutions across our organization.

Rewards:

Be supported with a Comprehensive Benefits Package, including medical, mental health, parental leave, retirement savings & unique Nissan perks, including discounts on lease vehicles as part of our Employee Lease Program and a Vehicle Purchase Program (VPP). For more information, access our Nissan Benefits Overview Guide .

Built for Your Best:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXuame0vwiw&list=PLki2k0CDxrPe8V6WmEeEdhj1fosRD-JQa

Nissan is committed to a drug-free workplace. All employment is contingent upon the successful completion of drug and background screenings in accordance with Nissan policies and in compliance with federal, state, and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act and the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance. Nissan will consider qualified candidates with arrest or c