Senior Director State and Local Government Affairs

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 Senior Director of State Government Affairs (SGA) is accountable for shaping health care policy to benefit patient access, affordability, and innovation. This position is responsible for management of a team of state and local government affairs professionals. This position will also have direct responsibility over a region to be tailored to their experience and expertise. serving as the primary representative of BMS to the assigned state legislatures, state executive branch and associated state agencies to generate awareness and support for the BMS public policy agenda. Reporting to the Executive Director State and Local Government Affairs (SLGA), the Senior Director will establish legislative and policy objectives in coordination with USPGA leadership to ensure alignment with overall departmental goals, objectives and key corporate functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage team of lobbyists and government affairs professionals including budget oversight, professional development, adherence to company protocols, communication to senior leadership.

• Develop and implement broad political strategy at the state level

• Represent BMS before policy makers and government agencies

• Engage state policy makers including Governors, Legislators and State Attorneys General

• Build policy champions

• Educate state policymakers about BMS’ business interests and advocate for legislative solutions focused on patient affordability and access. Assist on issues as they arise related to BMS facility sites in Florida and Puerto Rico.

• Help further USPGAPC’s goals and explore opportunities for BMS to collaborate and advance implementation of policies to ensure patient access to medicines.

• Maximize opportunities to establish business connectivity and collaborate with the communications, policy, local government affairs and alliance teams to ensure seamless coordination internally and externally.

• Assess impact of proposed state legislation and regulation on the businesses within the BMS portfolio, propose and guide lobbying strategies.

• Manage local budgets and coordinate campaign contributions and memberships.

• Work to leverage BMS memberships in business and industry trade groups.

• Partner closely with multiple cross-functional teams to analyze access and payment policies proposed by government and commercial payers, including rules and guidance from state Medicaid agencies, state legislatures, and other relevant stakeholders.

• Develop targeted engagements with key stakeholders at state legislatures and with the Governor’s office and other key agencies.

• Demonstrate commitment to ensuring patient access to innovative medicines and the importance of a thriving biopharmaceutical industry.

Qualifications & Experience

• A minimum of 12 years of experience in lobbying, advocacy or state government service in the Southeast region focused on healthcare and/or Medicaid issues in state government or relevant pharmaceutical/private sector experience.

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

• Excellent verbal, analytical, written, and interpersonal communication skills, particularly in interpreting and distilling complex information.

• Excellent organizat