Executive Director, Government Affairs and Trade Association Engagement

Working with Us
Challenging. Meaningful. Life-changing. Those aren’t words that are usually associated with a job. But working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department. From optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy, this is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. You’ll get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities uncommon in scale and scope, alongside high-achieving teams. Take your career farther than you thought possible.

Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue their goals, both at work and in their personal lives. Read more: careers.bms.com/working-with-us.

Position Summary

The Executive Director (ED), Government Affairs & Trade Association Engagement, will serve in a key leadership role on the U.S. Policy & Government Affairs team, coordinating, directing, and advancing BMS’ external industry engagement to position the company as a leader in biopharmaceutical policy. In close collaboration with executive leadership, the ED is accountable for driving policy outcomes at major industry trade associations in alignment with BMS priorities. This role requires strong executive presence and confidence managing up in the highest levels of the company, while navigating a highly complex and dynamic external environment.

 

Importantly, the successful candidate will partner closely with the USPGA executive engagement team to ensure seamless integration of trade association and executive preparedness across the broader global and U.S. organizations. A collaborative, cross-functional mindset will be key to the Executive Director’s success in this critical role, along with the discretion to serve as a trusted advisor to executive leaders.  

 

Specifically, the Executive Director will be responsible for positioning BMS c-suite and other leaders to effectively shape short- and long-range policy agendas and influence outcomes across all levels and channels of major industry trade associations. In addition, the successful candidate will own efforts to spearhead policy priority alignment at the functional level within trade associations (e.g., federal, state, etc.), including full decision authority to drive this transformational workstream.

 

To support this work, the Executive Director will lead and set strategy for the team responsible for broadly maximizing BMS’ participation in key industry trade associations. This team of four will champion BMS’ priorities at the work group and committee level within key trades, serving as subject matter experts on critical policy issues, helping shape alliances among association members with mutual interests, and endeavoring to agreement on policy priorities among industry peers. 

Key Responsibilities

• Own staffing and expertise for all levels of BMS engagement in major industry trade associations (PhRMA, BIO, NPC, among others).

• Direct development and execution of executive-level briefings to CEO and ELT members as Board-level representatives in major industry trade associations.

• Serve as trusted advisor to executives and other internal partners.

• Accountable for preparing c-suite executives to drive BMS policy priority outcomes across trade associations.

• Advise/counsel senior leaders on driving policy consensus in preparation for complex debates at trade association board meetings

• Lead team responsible for coordinating work group and committee alignment across levels and channels (focus on federal, state, and international, regulatory, IP and law within the trade associations)

• Author executive level materials that synthesize complex policy, political, and governance dynamics into clear implications and options.

• Ensure trade association activity reinforces corporate priorities and avoids fragmentation or duplication.

• Drive internal alignment ahead of key planning moments, working closely with GPGA, Law, Communications, and other partners.

• Manage continuity from planning through execution, tracking priorities and commitments across trade venues.

• Identify emerging issues, risks, or misalignment and elevate them with appropriate context and recommendations.

• Partner closely with broader USPGA team to ensure functional alignment.

 

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in public policy, political science, law, business, or related field preferred.

• 15+ years of experience in government affairs, health policy, trade association leadership, or executive advisory roles.

• Management experience preferred.

• Demonstrated experience navigating complex governance or external engagement environments.

• Broad and deep knowledge of structure and governance of major U.S. biopharmaceutical trade associations.

• Strong understanding of U.S. and global health policy and its interaction with business strategy.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to synthesize complex information into executive ready insights.

• Strong judgment, discretion, and comfort operating in politically sensitive, high stakes settings.

• Collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively across a matrixed organization.

• Detail-oriented with sound judgement.

#LI-Hybrid

If you come across a role that intrigues you but doesn’t perfectly line up with your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway. You could be one step away from work that will transform your life and career.

$276,340 - $334,853

The starting compensation range(s) for this role are listed above for a full-time employee (FTE) basis. Additional incentive cash and stock opportunities (based on eligibility) may be available. The starting pay rate takes into account characteristics of the job, such as required skills, where the job is performed, the employee’s work schedule, job-related knowledge, and experience. Final, individual compensation will be decided based on demonstrated experience. 

Eligibility for specific benefits listed on our careers site may vary based on the job and location. For more on benefits, please visit https://careers.bms.com/life-at-bms/.
 

Benefit offerings are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans in effect at the time and may require enrollment. Our benefits include:

• Health Coverage: Medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care.

• Wellbeing Support: Programs such as BMS Well-Being Account, BMS Living Life Better, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).

• Financial Well-being and Protection: 401(k) plan, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accident insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection, personal liability protection, identity theft benefit, legal support, and survivor support.

​Work-life benefits include:

Paid Time Off

• US Exempt Employees: flexible time off (unlimited, with manager approval, 11 paid national holidays (not applicable to employees in Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico or Rayzebio employees)

• Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico and Rayzebio Exempt, Non-Exempt, Hourly Employees: 160 hours annual paid vacation for new hires with manager approval, 11 national holidays, and 3 optional holidays

Based on eligibility*, additional time off for employees may include unlimited paid sick time, up to 2 paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military needs and an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas and New Years Day.

All global employees full and part-time who are actively employed at and paid directly by BMS at the end of the calendar year are eligible to take advantage of the Global Shutdown. 

*Eligibility Disclosure: The summer hours program is for United States (U.S.) office-based employees due to the unique nature of their work. Summer hours are generally not available for field sales and manufacturing operations and may also be limited for the capability centers. Employees in remote-by-design or lab-based roles may be eligible for summer hours, depending on the nature of their work, and should discuss eligibility with their manager. Employees covered under a collective bargaining agreement should consult that document to determine if they are eligible. Contractors, leased workers and other service providers are not eligible to participate in the program.

Uniquely Interesting Work, Life-changing Careers
With a single vision as inspiring as “Transforming patients’ lives through science™ ”, every BMS employee plays an integral role in work that goes far beyond ordinary. Each of us is empowered to apply our individual talents and unique perspectives in a supportive culture, promoting global participation in clinical trials, while our shared values of passion, innovation, urgency, accountability, inclusion and integrity bring out the highest potential of each of our colleagues.

On-site Protocol

BMS has an occupancy structure that determines where an employee is required to conduct their work. This structure includes site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design jobs. The occupancy type that you are assigned is determined by the nature and responsibilities of your role:

Site-essential roles require 100% of shifts onsite at your assigned facility. Site-by-design roles may be eligible for a hybrid work model with at least 50% onsite at your assigned facility. For these roles, onsite presence is considered an essential job function and is critical to collaboration, innovation, productivity, and a positive Company culture. For field-based and remote-by-design roles the ability to physically travel to visit customers, patients or business partners and to attend meetings on behalf of BMS as directed is an essential job function.

Supporting People with Disabilities

BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to adastaffingsupport@bms.com. Visit careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.

Candidate Rights

BMS will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area.

If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County if hired for this position, please visit this page for important additional information: https://careers.bms.com/california-residents/

Data Protection

We will never request payments, financial information, or social security numbers during our application or recruitment process. Learn more about protecting yourself at https://careers.bms.com/fraud-protection.

Any data processed in connection with role applications will be treated in accordance with applicable data privacy policies and regulations.

If you believe that the job posting is missing information required by local law or incorrect in any way, please contact BMS at TAEnablement@bms.com. Please provide the Job Title and Requisition number so we can review. Communications related to your application should not be sent to this email and you will not receive a response. Inquiries related to the status of your application should be directed to Chat with Ripley.

R1601585 : Executive Director, Government Affairs and Trade Association Engagement