Senior Manager, State Government Affairs

Elanco; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 142,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation packages

2 weeklong shutdowns (mid-summer & end

8-week parental leave

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Annual bonus

Flexible work arrangements

401(k) matching

Job summary

Elanco, a global leader in animal health, seeks a Senior Manager of State Government Affairs to drive policy advocacy nationwide. You will work with U.S.

business leaders to connect policy developments with internal decisions, while building bipartisan relationships with state officials and stakeholders. You will advance state and federal policy priorities, ensure regulatory compliance, and manage advocacy projects across multiple states with a focus on animal health, environmental policy, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, environmental science, agriculture, political science, public policy, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years in state government affairs, lobbying, or state regulatory policy.
• Ability to distill complex technical issues into clear messaging for non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead Elanco’s state government affairs advocacy nationwide with primary liaison duties.
• Define and execute state-focused advocacy strategies aligned with business goals.
• Translate policy issues into persuasive communications for legislatures and regulators.
• Coordinate state market access registrations for animal health and feed products.
• Support federal advocacy on environmental and parasiticide policy matters.

Skills

Policy advocacy

Stakeholder engagement

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree (related field)

Job description

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!Your Role:As Senior Manager, State Government Affairs, you will be part of the Corporate Affairs team to deliver strategic advocacy outcomes in state legislatures, manage state regulatory compliance, and execute dual state and federal policy strategies for select matters. In this role, you’ll be responsible for advancing Elanco’s policy interests in animal health, environmental policy, and legislative engagement. It is essential for this role to work closely with Elanco’s U.S. business and functional leaders to connect policy developments with internal decisions and vice-versa. A deep capacity to build and maintain bipartisan relationships is essential. You will also be responsible for cultivating relationships with stakeholder organizations who are relevant for Elanco’s policy priorities. In all engagements, the ideal candidate will operate with integrity, discipline, and excellence.Your Responsibilities:Lead Elanco’s state government affairs advocacy nationwide, serving as the primary liaison with state government officials, animal health stakeholders, and customers.Establish clear and effective state government affairs strategies and plans for advancing Elanco’s state public policy priorities within financial resources.Define and execute state-focused advocacy strategies that align with Elanco’s overall business strategy, culture, and long-term goals. This requires close collaboration and interaction with many leaders and functions across Elanco.Translate complex policy issues into persuasive, accessible communications for diverse audiences, including legislative bodies, regulators, and internal leadership.In close coordination with internal regulatory and commercial colleagues, complete state market access registrations for animal health and feed products.Lead federal advocacy efforts on environmental and parasiticide policy matters to protect and advance Elanco’s business interests.Design and execute advocacy projects, demonstrating agility by monitoring legislative trends and adjusting strategies to meet organizational goals.Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local lobbying requirements and disclosuresWhat You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Environmental Science, Agriculture, Political Science, Public Policy, or a related field (or equivalent level of experience).Experience: A minimum of 5 years of experience in state government affairs, lobbying, or state regulatory policy.Proven experience in multi-state lobbying and the ability to distill complex technical issues into clear, persuasive messaging for non-technical audiences.What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications):Direct experience with pesticide regulation, environmental policy, or animal health policy.Strong professional background in the livestock industry (dairy, cattle, swine, or poultry).Previous experience working for or directly with state regulatory agencies with animal health jurisdiction, with recent experience in California a plus.Demonstrated success in building and maintaining influential networks with state government officials and stakeholders.Proven ability to meet objectives through active management of advocacy projects in evolving environments.Additional Information:Travel: 35%Location: Washington, DC - Hybrid Work EnvironmentDon't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrecognized groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for a role but don't necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!Elanco Benefits and Perks:We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well-being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose! Some highlights include: • Multiple relocation packages • Two weeklong shutdowns (mid-summer and year-end) in the US (in addition to PTO) • 8-week parental leave • 9 Employee Resource Groups • Annual bonus offering • Flexible work arrangements • Up to 6% 401K matchingElanco currently anticipates that the base salary for this position could range from $85,400 to $142,400 depending partly on the successful candidate’s qualifications, including education and experience. Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending partly on company and individual performance). Additionally, Elanco offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees that includes a company-matching 401(k); vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities). Of course, the compensation is subject to change and could be higher or lower than the range described above. Elanco reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion, and Elanco’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Elanco employees. Estimated application closing date is August 6, 2026. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected statusElanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.