Job Description
Director State Government Affairs will be responsible for developing and implementing the company’s state/regional government affairs and public policy strategy. This position will work closely with several functional areas, including patient advocacy, communications, policy, patient advocacy, medical affairs, and commercial, to lead the company’s public policy efforts and advance our company’s goals. Field-based position. Incumbent must reside in the region (PA, OH, IN, KY, DE, NJ)
Key Responsibilities:
• Developing, coordinating, and leading the company’s state/regional public policy efforts;
• Working collaboratively with communications, patient advocacy, 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;
• Analyzing and monitoring legislation, regulations, and political activity relating to issues that may impact Vertex;
Drives strategy and creates plans of actions to impact policy change;
• Developing and maintaining high-level relationships with government officials, community leaders, advocacy groups, external organizations, and stakeholders to achieve Vertex goals;
• Collaborating with and facilitating advocacy coalitions for specific public policy goals, including rare disease awareness and Vertex's commercial and pipeline disease area policy issues;
• Leads complex cross-functional initiatives that have impact across the team
• Developing as necessary written analyses, testimony and background materials in support of Vertex objectives;
• Leveraging 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, integrating 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 Vertex's commercial and pipeline disease areas;
• Managing 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;
• Fulfilling other duties/projects as assigned;
• Exemplifying Vertex’s core values in fulfilling these job duties.
• Field Travel required 40-50% (Incumbent must reside in the region (PA, OH, IN, KY, DE, NJ)
Minimum Qualifications
• Minimum of seven to ten years current and relevant experience in state government affairs, state government or at a major trade association with significant direct lobbying experience;
• 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;
• Demonstrated outstanding strategic planning, communication and presentation skills;
• Bachelor’s degree required (advanced degree preferred) in science, law, government or public policy;
• Pharmaceutical or healthcare sector experience strongly preferred;
• A high level of energy and passion toward patients, science and public health;
• 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;
• A desire to work in the corporate culture of a highly innovative company aimed at redefining health and transforming lives with new medicines.
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Pay Range:
$199,500 - $299,200
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 [email protected]
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Vertex Pharmaceuticals and has not been reviewed or approved by Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
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Parental & Family Support — Policies provide 12 weeks of 100% paid bonding leave for all U.S. parents with additional fully paid time for birth parents. Family-forming supports include adoption and surrogacy assistance, fertility options like IVF and egg cryopreservation, breast‑milk shipping, subsidized childcare, backup care, and a DCFSA match.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off includes roughly four weeks of vacation, 13 holidays, sick time, and two companywide shutdowns (summer and year‑end). Some roles also include flexible or unlimited time off and paid volunteer time.
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Retirement Support — Programs include a 401(k) plan with employer contributions and an employee stock purchase plan. Filings describe employer contributions occurring in company stock, supporting long‑term ownership.
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What We Do
Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious and life-threatening diseases. We discovered and developed the first medicines to treat the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis (CF), a rare, life-threatening genetic disease. In addition to clinical development programs in CF, Vertex has more than a dozen ongoing research programs focused on the underlying mechanisms of other serious diseases. Founded in 1989 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, our corporate headquarters is now located in Boston’s Innovation District, and our international headquarters is in London, United Kingdom. We currently employ approximately 3,500 people in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia and Latin America with nearly two-thirds of our staff dedicated to research and development. Vertex is consistently recognized as one of the industry’s top places to work by Science Magazine, The Boston Globe, Boston Business Journal and the San Diego Business Journal. Our research and medicines have also received esteemed recognitions, including the Robert J. Beall Therapeutics Development Award, the French Prix Galien and the British Pharmacological Society awards.
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