Director Policy/Government Relations

Job Description

Our State Government Affairs & Policy team collaborates with state, local and national levels.  We address legislative and regulatory issues that promote and protect the discovery of innovative medicine, vaccines and animal health products while improving and protecting patient access to care.  

The Director as a part of the U.S. Human Health Government Affairs & Policy team is responsible for representing the company in its interactions with Executive, Legislative and Regulatory bodies of state and local governments in the states of Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.

Responsibilities:

• Lead advocacy strategy to address key policy issues affecting our company and the pharmaceutical industry. 

• Support strategies to ensure appropriate access to and reimbursement for company products within state-funded programs.

• Support company state licensure, economic development, tax, real estate, and employer related policy issues.

• Represent company on regional trade and business association task forces and committees, including regional PhRMA and BIO trade association task forces.

• Serve as point lead for assigned policy priorities for products, above-brand issues, and/or state policy organizations. Includes membership on internal cross-functional teams.

• Engage external legislative, policy, and advocacy organizations at state and national levels on aligned policy efforts.

• Manage company resources within the region.

• Ensure state advocacy on behalf of the company in the region is conducted in compliance with company policy and all state and federal laws.

Location:

• South Central Region (currently includes TX, LA, & OK.) ideal candidate will live in one of these states.

• This position can be remote within the identified region with 40% travel.

Required Minimum Experience:

• Bachelor's degree required in related field

• Minimum 10 years of experience in state government affairs and policy

• Demonstrated knowledge of state legislative policy-making process

• Knowledge of policy issues affecting the bio-pharmaceutical industry

• Experience in analyzing state legislation

• Demonstrated ability to influence state legislative policy through direct advocacy

• Strong writing and presentation skills    

Preferred Experience:

• Advanced degree related to public policy preferred 

• Direct lobbying on bio-pharmaceutical health care issues in multiple states

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Required Skills:

Adaptability, Animal Health Care, Communication Coordination, Compliance Support, EU Policy Making, Healthcare Policies, Multilateral Organizations, Noncommunicable Diseases, Patient Advocacy, Personal Initiative, Policy Development, Political Forums, Regulatory Development, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The salary range for this role is

$190,800.00 - $300,300.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits.  Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

50%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Remote

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

08/22/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.