Associate Director, US Local Public Affairs

Responsibilities:
- Lead the Local Public Affairs team to advance US manufacturing priorities by protecting operations and enabling site growth.
- Collaborate with USO Public Affairs on proactive local/state government affairs strategies (infrastructure, utilities, permitting, zoning, construction impacts, expansion incentives, and regulations).
- Own external issues management with site leadership/internal functions to anticipate risks, support incident response, and maintain consistent stakeholder engagement.
- Oversee relationships with state/local elected officials, community/industry partners; build alliances to strengthen workforce readiness, reputation, and social license to operate.
- Set strategy and execute local government affairs priorities across US GMS sites; reduce risk and support operations and business growth.
- Manage external affairs operating model (planning, priorities, KPIs, budget/vendor oversight).
- Monitor policy/regulatory developments and align internal stakeholders on actions and messaging.
- Lead engagement and maintain senior stakeholder relationships with key local officials and decision-makers.
- Set community engagement and investment strategy; lead economic development/incentives efforts.
- Provide stakeholder intelligence and risk/opportunity insights to leadership.
- Oversee lobbying/advocacy while ensuring compliance with ethics, registration, and reporting requirements.
- Follow all safety and environmental requirements.

Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, Government, Public Affairs, Political Science, Public Administration, or related field (advanced degree preferred).
- 12+ years progressive experience in government/public/external affairs supporting large, complex operations (manufacturing/industrial preferred).
- 5+ years people leadership experience (or success leading through a matrix), including priority setting, coaching, and execution across stakeholders.
- Experience engaging agencies/officials on site operations issues (permitting, zoning, utilities, infrastructure, emergency services, construction impacts, incentives).
- Strong analytical judgment; working knowledge of legislative/regulatory processes.
- Ability to set strategy, establish governance, and lead cross-functional teams.
- Ability to lead external issues management (scenario planning/incident response communications).
- Coalition-building/alliance development experience.
- Strong communication, negotiation, and advocacy skills; executive presence.
- Commitment to integrity/compliance (lobbying/ethics); healthcare/pharma/life sciences/regulated industrial environment experience preferred.

Benefits:
- Leading pay and annual performance bonus; paid time off including 14 paid holidays.
- Health, dental, and vision insurance (effective day one).
- Guaranteed 8% 401K contribution plus company match option.
- 14 weeks paid parental & 6 weeks paid family medical leave.
- Free access to Novo Nordisk-marketed pharmaceutical products.
- Tuition assistance; life & disability insurance; employee referral awards.

Application instructions:
- If special assistance/accommodation is needed to apply, call 1-855-411-5290 (accommodation requests only).