Associate Director, US Government Affairs

Position:  Associate Director, US Government Affairs

Location:  Piscataway, NJ (Onsite)

Reporting to General Manager, US Site

The estimated salary range is $150,000 - $160,000 based on experience level.

Role Description:

The Associate Director, US Government Affairs is responsible for monitoring legislative and regulatory activities that might affect GenScript and ProBio at the federal, state and local levels of government.  Based on GenScript’s and ProBio’s policy priorities, the role will develop and gain approval for key message points which can be used by Government Affairs, senior leaders, and relevant external facing roles (e.g., commercial colleagues).  The role is also responsible for identifying key relationships to build at the federal, state and local levels of government and facilitate connecting these elected officials with key GenScript and ProBio leaders.  This role is expected to connect and inform many different people both internal and external to GenScript and ProBio.

Key Responsibilities:

• Policy Analysis & Advocacy: Analyzing proposed legislation and regulations, preparing briefing materials, and advocating for organizational positions before federal, state, or local officials.
• The role is expected to monitor legislative and regulatory activities using software tools like Meltwater and Google, as well as published information on government websites.
• The role is expected to seek advice and insights as appropriate from GenScript’s current partners in DC (federal) and NJ (state) levels.
• The role will highlight and escalate to senior leadership all critical time sensitive matters – including an executive summary and insights of why the matter is important, how likely it is to be enacted, and options to address the matter.
• When appropriate, work to hire external lobbyists to advocate for key positions for GenScript and/or ProBio.
• Relationship Management: Building and maintaining relationships with government officials, industry stakeholders, and community leaders to influence policy.
• With input from DC and NJ partners, identify key relationships to build and maintain. 
• Organize appropriate activities (e.g., tours and onsite/offsite meetings) to build and maintain relationships.
• Identify when key relationships need to be contacted for urgent matters to provide updates on GenScript and/or ProBio matters.
• Strategic Planning and Internal Coordination: Supporting the development of long-term government relations strategies to mitigate risk and identify policy opportunities.  Also align government affairs efforts with company goals by collaborating with legal, communications, and business teams.
• Facilitate the development of, and provide input to, the formulation of a corporate strategy in relationship to geopolitical changes and/or challenges.
• Develop, and as needed, activate a US Government Affairs Crisis Response Committee with the ability to respond accurately and quickly.
• Communications: Drafting position papers, advocacy materials, message points and internal updates.
• Lead and control the development of Government Affairs messages based on the specific issues being addressed with elected offices and regulatory agencies.  Coordinate with Corporate Communications on who in the organization needs to be aware of information and be available to answer questions as they arise.
• Prepare external-facing messages focused on U.S. supply chain resilience and highlighting that the continued success of GenScript and ProBio is good for the U.S. biotech ecosystem.
• Create key facts that illustrate the impact GenScript and ProBio are having on the larger biotech ecosystem and how disruptive it would be interrupt it.
• Leverage existing approved message points from Corporate Communications when meeting with key elected officials and their staffs. 
• Leverage learnings with key elected officials to update message points to ensure GenScript and ProBio can (1) describe succinctly what we do, (2) the impact we have in the biotech ecosystem, (3) respond to any concerns raised, or anticipated to be raised, by elected officials, and (4) prepare what we need from each elected official in anticipation of being asked this question from an elected official. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Communications, Marketing, International Relations, Political Sciences, Scientific disciplines, or related fields.
• Minimum of 5 years of government affairs experience with demonstrable measures of success or equivalent experience as a legislative assistant or political operations.
• Strong knowledge of the international media ecosystem, communication habits, and public opinion environment and where and how to find relevant information related to GenScript’s and ProBio’s government affairs situation.
• Experience in translating scientific/technical content for a broad range of audiences. Pharmaceutical/biotech or healthcare experience preferred.
• Excellent written/verbal communication and presentations skills in English, with professional proficiency in writing press releases, media pitches, and executive speeches
• Strong crisis management awareness and ability to respond quickly with effective solutions for overseas media issues.
• Effective stakeholder management and ability to work in a highly matrixed organization and across geographical boundaries.
• Global perspective, cultural agility, and cross-cultural communication skills, with flexibility to adapt to diverse market needs.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; must be able to influence and coordinate across all levels of a global organization.
• Proactive, adaptable, highly organized, and capable of leading multiple projects efficiently under pressure.

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