Director, State Government Affairs (mid-South)

The Director of State Government Affairs is responsible for influencing changes to state laws and regulations by lobbying the Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Arkansas State Governments on GSK priorities and issues related to public health and the pharmaceutical industry. 

Responsibilities:

As the Director of State Government Affairs, your primary role is to influence changes to state laws and regulations within designated states to align with GSK's priorities and the pharmaceutical industry, emphasizing vaccines and public health.  

The responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to the following:

• Lobbying and Advocacy: Engage patient advocacy groups, health professional societies, State Departments of Health and trade associations to support business unit needs at GSK. 

• Strategic Leadership: Responsible for overseeing those representing GSK’s interests before state governments.  Serve as the company’s registered lobbyist in both state legislatures and executive branch agencies.  Manage senior executive engagement with Government officials and key business groups.

• Policy Influence: Influence state legislation and regulation affecting GSK’s business interests in the following areas: Oncology, Vaccines, Specialty, Respiratory and HIV with an emphasis on prevention policy.

• Objective Setting: Responsible for identifying and establishing annual legislative and policy objectives in coordination with Government Affairs management.

• Policy Awareness: Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of existing state policies affecting GSK, including product access and reimbursement, sales and marketing restrictions, and Public Health initiatives. Awareness of key business and tax related policies that could impact our corporate footprint in Montana.

• Contract Lobbyists: Manage GSK’s contract lobbyists or other consultants in key states as required.  Ensure they advocate GSK priorities and remain in compliance with GSK rules and values.

• Coalition Building: Engage in legislative coalition-building and perform other functions designed to ensure a legislative and regulatory environment that recognizes and rewards the value and importance of innovative medicines and prevention of disease.

• Opportunity Identification: Identify legislative and regulatory opportunities that support GSK’s business priorities or have a negative impact on GSK.  These issues can affect GSK’s business planning over periods of many years.

• Industry Engagement: Influence industry trade associations to ensure these associations’ priorities include GSK’s priorities.

• Stakeholder Alliances: Establish alliances with patient advocacy groups, health professional organizations, business associations, or other relevant groups as appropriate to further GSK’s priorities to ensure transparency and values-based mechanisms for funding, strategy, and relationship development.

• Strategic Relationships: Build long-term strategic relationships and communicate with internal and external stakeholders to deliver optimal value through strategy, alignment, and execution.

• Matrix Teams: Participate with matrix teams and task forces, both with GSK business units and with external organizations, to advocate GSK priorities.  Key internal stakeholders include but not limited to: Policy, Federal Government Relations, Patient Advocacy, Medical, Legal, Compliance, and Business Unit Sales/Marketing teams in various business units.

• Political Action Committee (PAC): Represent the GSK Employees Political Action Committee, and interface with the PAC board members as needed.

Why You?

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree

• At least 7 years of professional experience working in government or in government relations and familiarity with political and policy processes in the mid-South United States.

• Experience in developing working relationships with diverse individuals and groups.

• Experience working with numerous internal and external stakeholders in a values-compliant manner.

• 50% travel within the geographic footprint outlined for this role is expected.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct lobbying and familiarity with patient advocacy groups, Departments of Health and health care provider organizations.

• Pre-existing relationships with policy and legislative leaders in Georgia or Tennessee.

• Extensive exposure to health care policy with an emphasis in the public health sector.

• Expertise in building alliances and coalitions with third party and patient advocacy groups.

• Possess verbal and written communication skills commensurate with the needs of the role.  Ability to process complex information and summarize it concisely in writing and/or verbally in a professional manner in a time sensitive environment.

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