Senior Manager, U.S. State & Local Government Affairs - West Region at SAP San Francisco, CA

Overview

SAP America is seeking a strategic and dynamic Senior Manager to lead state and local government affairs across California and 17 Western U.S. states. This role, reporting to the Vice President, Head of U.S. Government Affairs, is pivotal in aligning public policy initiatives with SAP America’s business objectives, particularly within the State, Local, and Education (SLED) Public Services. The ideal candidate will serve as a trusted advisor to state public policymakers and government IT professionals, enabling sales opportunities, fostering relationships with government officials and advocating for policies that support innovation and digital transformation.

• Develop and implement comprehensive government affairs strategies to advance SAP’s interests at the state and local governmental levels within the U.S. Western region.
• Monitor, analyze, and influence legislative and regulatory developments impacting SAP America’s operations, including areas such as IT modernization, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, privacy, cloud computing, sustainability, taxation, procurement, and supply chain management, among other issues.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with key state and local government officials, including governors, legislators, mayors, and regulators, to advocate for SAP’s policy positions and business objectives.
• Work closely with SAP’s SLED Public Services teams to identify potential sales pipeline opportunities and support the adoption of SAP solutions within public sector entities.
• Oversee and coordinate activities of external consultants and lobbyists in select jurisdictions to ensure alignment with SAP’s strategic goals.
• Ensure all lobbying activities comply with relevant state and local laws, including registration and reporting requirements, and adhere to SAP’s Code of Business Conduct.
• Represent SAP at industry conferences, trade associations, and public forums to promote the company’s role as a leader in technology solutions for the public sector.
• Prepare briefing materials, policy analyses, and presentations for SAP’s executive leadership to inform decision‑making and strategic planning.

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, public policy, law, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7-10 years in government affairs, public policy, business support, sales, consulting or related roles, with a focus on state and local government relations.
• Deep understanding of legislative, regulatory and government procurement processes at the state and local levels, particularly within the Western U.S. region.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and analytical skills. An ability to navigate complex political environments and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
• This position requires the successful candidate to register as a lobbyist in accordance with the State of California and other U.S. state and local jurisdictions as required by law.
• Based in Sacramento, California, or the broader San Francisco Bay Area, with the ability to travel throughout state capitals located in the Western U.S. States as needed.
• Established network of relationships with state and local government officials within state and local jurisdictions throughout the U.S. Western region.
• Experience in the technology sector, particularly with enterprise software solutions.
• Proven track record of successfully influencing public policy to achieve business objectives.
• Strong ethical standards and adherence to compliance regulations.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic team environment.
• High level of self‑motivation and customer focus, with an acute understanding of business drivers and principles.

SAP believes the value of pay transparency contributes towards an honest and supportive culture and is a significant step towards demonstrating SAP’s commitment to pay equity. SAP provides the annualized compensation range inclusive of base salary and variable incentive target for the career level applicable to the posted role. The targeted combined range for this position is 168, (USD)
USD. The actual amount to be offered to the successful candidate will be within that range, dependent upon the key aspects of each case which may include education, skills, experience, scope of the role, location, etc. as determined through the selection process. Any SAP variable incentive includes a targeted dollar amount and any actual payout amount is dependent on company and personal performance.

Please reference this link for a summary of SAP benefits and eligibility requirements: SAP North America Benefits.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their age, race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, etc), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or disability, in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local legal requirements.