Manager, State Government and External Affairs

Job Description
Manager, State Government and External Affairs

Takeda Pharmaceutical

Cambridge, MA

The Manager, State Government and External Affairs (SGEA) is responsible for identifying, advocating for and working on Takeda’s corporate interests for all TPUSA departments and other Takeda operations within the state of Massachusetts. Reporting into the Director, State Government and External Affairs in Massachusetts, this position will help represent Takeda with state elected officials, regulatory agencies and other key decision makers in the state.

The Manager, SGEA is responsible for supporting and sustaining patient, business, strategic healthcare alliances that benefit mutual interests to enable appropriate access to innovative biopharmaceuticals with a focus on Takeda’s products. This role will also participate in internal and external cross-functional project teams and provide support for Takeda’s state government and external affairs efforts.

• Supports lobbying efforts for the state of Massachusetts.
• Assists in executing and coordinating state government and external affairs positions and strategies on legislative, policy and regulatory issues impacting Takeda.
• Assists in executing and coordinating state government and external affairs and Public Affairs events and meetings as well as third party events and meetings. This includes meeting logistics and preparation of briefing materials.
• Assists in executing advocacy strategies to shape state legislative activity. This includes direct lobbying and engagement of third-party groups and coalitions.
• Represents Takeda in matters of state and local legislation, regulations, or rules that have an impact on the company driving favorable resolutions to those matters.
• Works with the Massachusetts Director of SGEA to assess opportunities and threats to Takeda’s interests and contributes to the development of strategies to address them. This includes lobbying, 3rd party advocacy, policy development, and media engagement on legislative or policy goals.
• Assists in the implementation of external engagement strategy aligned to R&D, CSR, State Government Affairs, DEI, US CSR, Health Equity, Corporate Communications and broader Takeda strategies.
• Collaborates with the above functions as well as Communications to coordinate and identify opportunities to generate positive visibility in the community and on matters impacting our policy priorities, and reputation.
• Develops close working relationships with key internal business stakeholders to leverage state advocacy strategies.
• Partners with Advocacy & Policy team to understand commercial objectives to develop creative legislative, regulatory, policy, and political solutions tailored to the position’s geography to drive business objectives.
• Engages with key trade association task forces and coalitions and supports trade association action on key issues of importance to Takeda. Works with Federal Government Affairs to manage the intersection of state and national politics, policy, lawmakers, and associations.
• Cultivates and maintains relationships with state legislators and staff, state executive branch officials, and local officials to anticipate action and execute USPA strategies.
• Develop relationships with key 3rd party advocates and engages them in support of issues, policies, and legislative and regulatory action.
• Works with outside consultants and legal counsel within the state to help set objectives, define missions and ensure execution in support of state legislative strategies.
• Ensures rigorous compliance to all legally required registrations for the corporation, staff and outside counsel within Massachusetts.

Required:

• Bachelor's degree
• 3+ years of government affairs and/or legislative experience
• Solid understanding of public affairs, public administration, political engagement, and advocacy
• Ability to navigate through complex public policy environments
• Strong communication skills and professional presence to support effective engagement with stakeholders, including the ability to engage and advance sensitive topics
• Demonstrates strong…