Head, State Government Affairs

Head, State Government Affairs

The Head of State Government Affairs (SGA) is responsible for development and execution of state policy and legislative strategies for the U.S. Commercial business operation.  This person will be a strong people leader with a demonstrated history of executing on vision and coaching an inspired team.  This individual will have strong skills in analyzing, understanding, and translating complex legislative, regulatory and policy issues to advise on pending legislation, regulations, changes in key state government policy and other government affairs matters pertinent to GSK, and will fully appreciate the relationship between enterprise needs and state policy.  The Head of State Government Affairs is an integral member of the U.S. Commercial Communications and Government Affairs (US CGA) leadership team.

The position will design strategy with a focus on proactive planning, communication, advocacy, and execution of state government affairs strategy that advances GSK / U.S. Commercial enterprise objectives. This position will also work strategically to defeat or mitigate actions at the state level that could negatively affect GSK’s business or the patients that we support.  The Head of SGA will work collaboratively alongside US CGA LT to provide resource recommendations, help grow and leverage the GSK Political Action Committee, communicate advocacy positions, and optimize consultants.

This individual is expected to participate comprehensively in GSK’s state policy agenda, particularly in developing strategic goals. This position will focus on planning, communicating, advocating, and executing a proactive strategy as it relates to state legislation and policy, and fully recognizes the enterprise implications.

This incumbent will proactively collaborate with internal partners on all aspects of state, alliance, and policy goals and will work closely with market access, medical, business unit, and legal colleagues, among others.  This individual will demonstrate an ability to build sustaining, long-term strategic relationships and effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders to deliver optimal value through strategy, alignment, and execution. 

The role’s responsibilities include:

• Lead a team of state lobbyists who Influence state legislation and regulation affecting GSK’s business interests across the enterprise and in the following disease areas: Oncology, Vaccines, Specialty, Respiratory and HIV.
• Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of existing state policies affecting GSK across the U.S., including product access and reimbursement, sales and marketing restrictions, and Public Health initiatives. 
• Rallies the team around the objective of engaging in legislative coalition-building and performing other functions designed to help ensure a legislative and regulatory environment that recognizes and rewards the value and importance of innovative medicines.
• Ensures the team is influencing industry trade associations to effectively include GSK’s priorities.
• Responsible for identifying and establishing cross U.S. Commercial annual legislative and policy objectives in coordination with US CGA leadership.
• Identifies and educates internal GSK stakeholders and, as necessary, creates cross-functional working groups to keep all apprised of the status of the issues as they evolve, to assure that advocacy remains informed by current business strategy.
• Facilitates cross-functional internal stakeholder teams at the enterprise level on SGA policy objectives
• Collaborates, where appropriate, with Market Access Account Executives and Field Sales staff to implement a seamless cross U.S. Commercial state strategy that promote GSK’s brands and/or issues and/or relationships in the states of identified regions.
• Strategically manages the activities of contract lobbyists or other consultants as required.
• Ensures the state team is proactively establishing local alliances with key advocacy groups, business associations or other groups as appropriate to further GSK’s priorities.  Assure transparency and vales-based mechanisms for funding, strategy, and relationship development.
• Participate with matrix teams and task forces, both with GSK business units and with external organizations, to advocate GSK priorities.
• Work with other US CGA colleagues to coordinate efforts and assure consistency in messaging.
• Provides input for memos, educational materials, and presentations, as necessary, for senior leadership
• Represent the GSK Employees Political Action Committee (PAC).

As a leader you will be accountable for your direct reports.

• Set clear direction for your team aligned with organizational objectives.
• Reprioritize work, as needed, while acting with a sense of urgency. Enable others to do their job well by communicating information and making decisions in a clear, timely manner.
• Develop key performance metrics to ensure they are consistent with the overall plans for the function and that these metrics promote cohesive and integrated planning within the Policy team, across GAPPA and U.S. Commercial.
• Directs the preparation and management of the operating budget, focusing on driving value, improving quality, enhancing efficiency, and applying good stewardship to operating costs.
• Achieve results with and through others.
• Establishes and maintains effective communication within the team and across CGA and U.S. Commercial.
• Provide direct reports with appropriate coaching, mentoring and development.
• Demonstrate effective working relationships both within and outside of the team.  Actively lead across the business matrix through partnership and collaboration. 

Why You?

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• 10+years of experience in government affairs including working in state government, legislature and/or lobbying those entities.
• Experience in developing working relationships with diverse individuals and groups
• Demonstrated ability to work with numerous internal and external stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in general business, pharmacy, retail, pharmacy benefit management, insurance, or healthcare issues
• Multi-state experience in healthcare industry, experience with state Medicaid and health insurance programs
• Ability to handle several complex and difficult projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Proven, effective oral and written communication skills and interpersonal skills necessary to interact with a variety of Company management, retained counsel, legislators and other elected/appointed officials, regulators, staff of trade associations and other key stakeholders.
• Ability to manage contract lobbyists.
• Pre-existing relationships with state level legislators and influencers
• The preferred location is Washington, DC or Philadelphia, PA

#LI-GSK

The US annual base salary for new hires in this position ranges from $201,750 to $336,250. The US salary ranges take into account a number of factors including work location within the US market, the candidate’s skills, experience, education level and the market rate for the role. In addition, this position offers an annual bonus and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program which is dependent on the level of the role. Available benefits include health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and paid caregiver/parental and medical leave. If salary ranges are not displayed in the job posting for a specific country, the relevant compensation will be discussed during the recruitment process.

Please visit  GSK US Benefits Summary to learn more about the comprehensive benefits program GSK offers US employees.

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. We aim to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade, as a successful, growing company where people can thrive. We get ahead of disease by preventing and treating it with innovation in specialty medicines and vaccines. We focus on four therapeutic areas: respiratory, immunology and inflammation; oncology; HIV; and infectious diseases – to impact health at scale.

People and patients around the world count on the medicines and vaccines we make, so we’re committed to creating an environment where our people can thrive and focus on what matters most. Our culture of being ambitious for patients, accountable for impact and doing the right thing is the foundation for how, together, we deliver for patients, shareholders and our people.

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