State Government Affairs Director

ITG Brands, LLC; District of Columbia; On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the tobacco industry seeks a Director of State Government Affairs. This role involves influencing public policy and managing relationships with legislators and stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in government affairs and a strong educational background in political science or related fields. Competitive benefits and a collaborative work environment are offered.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401k match up to 6%

15 Company-paid holidays

Generous paid time off

Education assistance

Employee referral bonus program

Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant experience in state government affairs or public policy.
• Knowledge of US, state, and local legislative processes.

Responsibilities

• Leads state government affairs strategy across a designated region.
• Maintains relationships with legislators and regulators.
• Tracks legislation and develops reports for stakeholders.

Skills

Legislative and regulatory analysis

Strategic planning and execution

Public speaking

Written communication

Relationship management

Consensus building

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Political Science

Master’s degree in Political Science

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

ITG Brands is the third-largest tobacco company in the USA with offerings of some of the most well-known cigarette, cigar, and e-vapor brands. As a member of the globally recognized Imperial Brands PLC family, we are a forward-thinking partner with operational integrity.

ITG Brands is committed to putting consumers at the center of what we do, while creating an innovative workplace that is diverse and inclusive. This empowers us to bring our true selves to work, to collaborate more effectively through showing our passion and being confident to bring new ideas to the table.

We are not afraid to seize opportunities and make things happen – both individually and collaboratively. We strive to exceed expectations by seeing things differently and doing things differently. This truly is a place where we all share a challenger mindset which drives our success.

What You Will Do

- JOB SUMMARY

Responsible for leading ITG Brands’ state government affairs strategy across a designated region of the United States. This role is accountable for influencing public policy at the state and local levels by maintaining strong relationships with legislators, regulators, and other stakeholders who shape the legislative and regulatory environment. The Director will serve as ITG’s lead representative across their assigned states, proactively addressing policy developments to protect and advance the company’s business priorities. The specific region will be determined based on business needs.

- WHAT YOU WILL DO

(This list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary by the Company)

• Leads and executes a state and local government affairs strategy within a multi-state region, aligned with ITG Brands’ legislative and regulatory priorities.
• Serves as the company’s regional lead for elected officials, regulators, trade associations, and advocacy groups.
• Anticipates policy trends and provides strategic counsel to senior leadership on emerging risks and opportunities.
• Manages and coordinates external state consultants across assigned regional states, overseeing their advocacy activities and ensuring alignment with company priorities.
• Develops rapid response strategies to counter restrictive legislation, tax threats, or regulatory proposals that may impact ITG Brands’ portfolio.
• Tracks legislation and regulatory developments across assigned regional states, developing timely reports and briefings for internal stakeholders.
• Establishes structured engagement with state regulatory agencies to help shape rulemaking and implementation of policy impacting the business.
• Collaborates with the Director of External Communications to support mobilization and grassroots advocacy efforts.
• Coordinates participation in state-level legislative campaigns, advocacy days, and stakeholder events.
• Supports budget planning for regional government affairs efforts and assists with special events or fundraisers in consultation with leadership.
• Represents ITG Brands in regional coalitions and industry trade associations, working collaboratively with peers and third-party partners.
• Develops and maintains strong working relationships with local political organizations, advocacy groups, and other relevant external stakeholders.
• Contributes to the development of annual strategic plans and internal legislative updates, including presentations for internal conferences.
• Defines key performance metrics to measure the impact of regional government affairs activities.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

- REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Policy or Administration, Law, or related field of study
• 7+ years of relevant experience in state government affairs, public policy, lobbying, or related work

Knowledge of:

• US, state and local legislative and regulatory processes
• Coalition building and stakeholder engagement
• Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Teams

Skilled in:

• Legislative and regulatory analysis
• Strategic planning and execution
• Public speaking and written communication
• Relationship management and consensus building

Ability to:

• Travel domestically up to 30%
• Attend early morning and evening events as needed.
• Communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences
• Work independently while coordinating with cross-functional teams

- PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Master’s degree in Political Science, Public Policy or Administration, Law, or related field of study

• Experience in a highly regulated industry (e.g., tobacco, alcohol, pharmaceuticals)
• Corporate experience, legislative, or regulatory background

Work Environment and Physical Demand

• Walks, sits, or stands for extended periods.
• Requires prolonged machine operation including vehicle, computer, and keyboard equipment.
• Use of manual dexterity and fine motor skills.
• Ability to Travel Internationally & Domestically 30%

This job description is intended to be generic in nature and describe the essential functions of the job. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities, and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

What We Offer

• Competitive benefits package that includes medical/dental/vision/life insurance/disability plans
• Dollar for dollar 401k match up to 6% and 5% annual company contribution
• 15 Company-paid holidays
• Generous paid time off
• Employee recognition and discount programs
• Education assistance
• Employee referral bonus program

This job description describes the essential functions of the job at the time the job description was created, but it is not an exhaustive list of tasks, duties and responsibilities. In addition, the position may evolve or change over time and such changes may not be reflected in the job description until it is next updated.

Everyone Belongs

ITG Brands and ITG Cigars provides equal employment opportunities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. If you have a concern about discrimination in the application or hiring process or you need an accommodation based on religion, disability or pregnancy in the application or hiring process, please contact us at [e-mail] .

SHARE THIS JOB

The posting for the position for which you are applying highlights key aspects of the position only. It is not a complete description of the position.

All candidates must consent to an independent investigation of their background, references, past employment, education, criminal record, and drug screening. Results of such background checks will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, giving consideration to the nature of the information reported and its relevance to the specific job being sought before a decision is made using this information.

ITG Brands and ITG Cigars provides equal employment opportunities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. If you have a concern about discrimination in the application or hiring process or you need an accommodation based on religion, disability or pregnancy in the application or hiring process, please contact us at [e-mail] .

We collect personal information from you in connection with your application for employment with ITG Brands or ITG Cigars. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy . If you are a job applicant from California, additional information can be found on our California Applicant Privacy Notice . If you have questions, contact us at [e-mail] .