State Government Affairs Director - Field Based (TX, TN, AR, LA, OK)

Job Description

General Summary:

The State Government Affairs Director is responsible for supporting the company’s state government affairs strategy across several functional areas, including marketing, communications, policy, and medical affairs within their designated region. This role will help lead the company’s ongoing efforts to build and sustain meaningful relationships and collaborations to support the needs of patients and advance our company’s goals. This role will be responsible for grassroots campaigns execution across disease areas. Field-based position. Incumbent resides in the region (TX, TN, AR, LA, OK)

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develops, coordinates, and leads the company’s state/regional public policy efforts.
• Collaboratively creates and leads home state initiatives.
• Works collaboratively with communications, policy, medical affairs, and marketing departments to ensure that state public policy goals are aligned to meet company objectives and most effectively serve the needs of patients.
• Analyzes and monitors legislation, regulations, and political activity relating to issues that may impact Vertex.
• Develops and maintains high-level relationships with government officials, community leaders, advocacy groups, external organizations, and stakeholders to achieve Vertex goals.
• Collaborates with and facilitating advocacy coalitions for specific public policy goals, including rare disease awareness and cystic fibrosis policy issues.
• Drives health equity awareness campaigns to support disease awareness around Vertex's pipeline disease areas.
• Develops written analyses, testimony and background materials in support of Vertex objectives, as necessary
• Leverages pre-existing relationships as well as facilitating partnerships with additional community-based organizations and coalitions to reach public policy and company goals.
• In partnership with cross-functional partners, integrates Vertex’s public relations objectives with the state/regional public policy strategy and identifying additional opportunities to increase rare disease awareness and disease burden awareness, especially around cystic fibrosis and Vertex's pipeline disease areas.
• Manages contract lobbyists and overseeing compliance with state laws for lobbyist registration, reporting and political contributions.
• Identifying and pursuing additional opportunities to advance our company’s business objectives.

• Field Travel required 40-50%

Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with members of the legislature, administration and other government and community leaders.
• Significant knowledge of state legislative and regulatory systems.
• Experience and skills to help drive health equity awareness.
• Demonstrated outstanding strategic planning, communication and presentation skills.
• Proven teamwork and collaboration skills, with a demonstrated ability to interact and influence all levels of business.
• • Detail-oriented, self-initiating, well-organized and capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously and independently.
• • Demonstrated ability to think outside the box and develop innovative solutions.
• • Strong understanding of the legal and regulatory environment along with demonstrated integrity on the job.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree required
• Typically requires 10 years of experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience

Pay Range:

$207,000 - $310,600

Disclosure Statement:

The range provided is based on what we believe is a reasonable estimate for the base salary pay range for this job at the time of posting. This role is eligible for an annual bonus and annual equity awards. Some roles may also be eligible for overtime pay, in accordance with federal and state requirements. Actual base salary pay will be based on a number of factors, including skills, competencies, experience, and other job-related factors permitted by law.

At Vertex, our Total Rewards offerings also include inclusive market-leading benefits to meet our employees wherever they are in their career, financial, family and wellbeing journey while providing flexibility and resources to support their growth and aspirations.  From medical, dental and vision benefits to generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter), educational assistance programs including student loan repayment, a generous commuting subsidy, matching charitable donations, 401(k) and so much more.

Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation.

Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at ApplicationAssistance@vrtx.com