Senior Manager State and Local Relations

Location: Franklin, TN

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

Education Requirement: Bachelor's degree preferred

Sponsorship: No 

Come Drive Innovation with Us. We are currently looking for an 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:   

The responsibilities listed are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties for this role. Additional tasks may be assigned, as needed, to support business objectives.

• 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 preferred plus 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 su