State Government Affairs Director - Field Based (TX, TN, AR, LA, OK)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
August 06, 2026
On-site
Tennessee, United States
Corporate Functions
General Summary:
- The State Government Affairs Director supports the company’s state government affairs strategy across marketing, communications, policy, and medical affairs within a designated region. Leads grassroots campaigns across disease areas. Field-based position; incumbent resides in TX, TN, AR, LA, or OK.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop, coordinate, and lead state/regional public policy efforts.
- Create and lead home state initiatives.
- Collaborate with communications, policy, medical affairs, and marketing to align state public policy goals with company objectives and patient needs.
- Analyze and monitor legislation, regulations, and political activity impacting the company.
- Build and maintain relationships with government officials, community leaders, advocacy groups, external organizations, and stakeholders.
- Facilitate advocacy coalitions for public policy goals, including rare disease awareness and cystic fibrosis policy.
- Drive health equity awareness campaigns tied to disease areas.
- Develop written analyses, testimony, and background materials as needed.
- Leverage relationships and build partnerships with community organizations and coalitions.
- Integrate public relations objectives with state/regional policy strategy and identify opportunities to increase awareness of rare disease and disease burden.
- Manage contract lobbyists and ensure compliance with state lobbyist registration, reporting, and political contribution laws.
- Identify and pursue additional opportunities to advance business objectives.
- Field travel required 40–50%.
Knowledge and Skills:
- Ability to build and sustain relationships with legislative, administrative, and community leaders.
- Significant knowledge of state legislative and regulatory systems.
- Experience driving health equity awareness.
- Strategic planning, communication, and presentation skills.
- Teamwork and ability to interact and influence all business levels.
- Detail-oriented, self-initiating, well-organized; manage multiple projects independently.
- Creative, innovative problem-solving.
- Strong understanding of the legal/regulatory environment and integrity.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Typically requires 10 years of experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
- The State Government Affairs Director supports the company’s state government affairs strategy across marketing, communications, policy, and medical affairs within a designated region. Leads grassroots campaigns across disease areas. Field-based position; incumbent resides in TX, TN, AR, LA, or OK.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop, coordinate, and lead state/regional public policy efforts.
- Create and lead home state initiatives.
- Collaborate with communications, policy, medical affairs, and marketing to align state public policy goals with company objectives and patient needs.
- Analyze and monitor legislation, regulations, and political activity impacting the company.
- Build and maintain relationships with government officials, community leaders, advocacy groups, external organizations, and stakeholders.
- Facilitate advocacy coalitions for public policy goals, including rare disease awareness and cystic fibrosis policy.
- Drive health equity awareness campaigns tied to disease areas.
- Develop written analyses, testimony, and background materials as needed.
- Leverage relationships and build partnerships with community organizations and coalitions.
- Integrate public relations objectives with state/regional policy strategy and identify opportunities to increase awareness of rare disease and disease burden.
- Manage contract lobbyists and ensure compliance with state lobbyist registration, reporting, and political contribution laws.
- Identify and pursue additional opportunities to advance business objectives.
- Field travel required 40–50%.
Knowledge and Skills:
- Ability to build and sustain relationships with legislative, administrative, and community leaders.
- Significant knowledge of state legislative and regulatory systems.
- Experience driving health equity awareness.
- Strategic planning, communication, and presentation skills.
- Teamwork and ability to interact and influence all business levels.
- Detail-oriented, self-initiating, well-organized; manage multiple projects independently.
- Creative, innovative problem-solving.
- Strong understanding of the legal/regulatory environment and integrity.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Typically requires 10 years of experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience).