Director, Public 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

Reporting to the Executive Director, Public Affairs, the Director, Public Affairs will drive Bristol Myers Squibb's integrated public affairs strategy at the federal and state levels and in key priority markets, advancing the company's policy agenda, enterprise priorities, and reputation with critical government, political, and stakeholder audiences.

Based in Washington, D.C., this role sits at the intersection of politics, policy, and corporate strategy. The Director will serve as a strategist and operator, collaborating on and executing sophisticated public affairs campaigns that build support for BMS's positions, educate and engage stakeholders on harmful public policy, and strengthen the company's standing among influential decision-makers in and around the nation's capital.

This position requires a seasoned political and public affairs professional who brings deep experience with high-stakes, multi-stakeholder campaigns, and who understands how to leverage digital engagement, coalition building, third-party advocacy, and strategic communications to advance a complex legislative and regulatory agenda. Experience in the health care sector, pharmaceutical industry, or business community is strongly preferred.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement Strategic Public Affairs Campaigns: Identify and develop integrated public affairs strategies to advance BMS's public policy priorities, protect enterprise interests, and build political support for the company's positions with Members of Congress, state legislators, Administration officials, and other key stakeholders.
• Advocacy & Digital Strategy: Execute advocacy programs that activate key constituencies, utilizing digital engagement best practices to amplify BMS's policy positions, and expand the company's political footprint in priority regions and markets.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner closely with U.S. Policy & Government Affairs teams to ensure alignment between public affairs strategy and broader business and policy objectives.
• Political Intelligence & Landscape Analysis: Monitor, analyze, and provide guidance on the federal and state political environments, legislative developments, regulatory activity, and election dynamics that may create risk or opportunity for BMS. Translate complex political and policy intelligence into clear, actionable strategic recommendations for senior leadership.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Coalition Building: Work cross-functionally with BMS teams to identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with key political, policy, and advocacy stakeholders—including patient groups, professional associations, business coalitions, think tanks, and community organizations to build durable support for BMS's policy agenda.
• Campaign Planning & Execution: Develop and manage comprehensive public affairs campaign plans, including message development, paid media strategy, digital engagement, and field operations, to advance BMS's enterprise priorities and policy positions.
• Reporting & Metrics: Track and evaluate the effectiveness of public affairs programs and campaigns, providing regular reporting to the Executive Director on progress, outcomes, and strategic adjustments.

Qualifications & Experience

• A minimum of 8-10 years of demonstrated experience in political campaigns, corporate public affairs, advocacy, or a related field—with a proven track record of designing and executing successful strategic campaigns at the state, federal or national level.
• Familiarity with the federal legislative and regulatory process, as well as federal and state political landsca