AVP, US State Policy and Government Affairs
Merck
August 26, 2026
Remote friendly (Washington, DC)
United States
Market Access
Key Responsibilities
- Strategy and policy leadership: Lead the U.S. strategy for key state policy issues affecting the company and the biopharmaceutical industry.
- Team leadership and execution: Direct the team’s strategy and execution on state legislative and policy issues; oversee executive directors for lobbying, policy, and alliance development.
- Issue analysis and response: Identify, analyze, and develop the company’s response to public policy issues affecting strategic business priorities.
- Operations and resource management: Lead department operations, budget planning, long-range planning, and resource management.
- Cross-functional partnership: Partner with U.S. Federal Public Policy & Government Affairs and Global Policy teams; align priorities with therapeutic franchise and subject matter experts.
- Executive counsel and stakeholder engagement: Brief, advise, and support executive leadership on external policy engagements.
- Policy alignment and advocacy: Ensure state advocacy aligns with company positions and develop new policies with leadership and stakeholders.
- External representation: Represent the company with trade/business/advocacy organizations and alliance boards/working groups.
- Compliance oversight: Ensure state advocacy complies with company policy and applicable state and federal laws.
- People development and vendor management: Support team development and manage external consultants/projects.
Education
- Required: BA/BS
Required Experience and Skills
- At least 15 years in state government affairs and policy.
- Extensive biopharmaceutical policy knowledge; experience leading proactive state initiatives.
- Strong stakeholder engagement; proven leadership in matrixed organizations.
- Exceptional written/verbal communication for executive briefing and messaging.
- Ability to navigate complex, fast-moving policy environments; strong ethics, professionalism, and political judgment.
- Strategy and policy leadership: Lead the U.S. strategy for key state policy issues affecting the company and the biopharmaceutical industry.
- Team leadership and execution: Direct the team’s strategy and execution on state legislative and policy issues; oversee executive directors for lobbying, policy, and alliance development.
- Issue analysis and response: Identify, analyze, and develop the company’s response to public policy issues affecting strategic business priorities.
- Operations and resource management: Lead department operations, budget planning, long-range planning, and resource management.
- Cross-functional partnership: Partner with U.S. Federal Public Policy & Government Affairs and Global Policy teams; align priorities with therapeutic franchise and subject matter experts.
- Executive counsel and stakeholder engagement: Brief, advise, and support executive leadership on external policy engagements.
- Policy alignment and advocacy: Ensure state advocacy aligns with company positions and develop new policies with leadership and stakeholders.
- External representation: Represent the company with trade/business/advocacy organizations and alliance boards/working groups.
- Compliance oversight: Ensure state advocacy complies with company policy and applicable state and federal laws.
- People development and vendor management: Support team development and manage external consultants/projects.
Education
- Required: BA/BS
Required Experience and Skills
- At least 15 years in state government affairs and policy.
- Extensive biopharmaceutical policy knowledge; experience leading proactive state initiatives.
- Strong stakeholder engagement; proven leadership in matrixed organizations.
- Exceptional written/verbal communication for executive briefing and messaging.
- Ability to navigate complex, fast-moving policy environments; strong ethics, professionalism, and political judgment.