Director, State Government Affairs (Sacramento, California based)

At Bristol Myers Squibb, our employees often ask, “Who are you working for?”—a question that fuels collaboration, accountability, and urgency in our work. Our purpose-driven culture inspires us to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines to prevail over serious diseases. We offer uniquely interesting and meaningful work, opportunities for growth, and a supportive environment that values inclusion, wellbeing, flexibility, and comprehensive benefits. This is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it.

Position Summary

The Director, State Government Affairs - California is accountable for shaping state health care policy to support patient access, affordability and innovation, while advancing BMS enterprise, commercial and USPGA priorities. The Director will serve as the primary BMS representative to the California Legislature, the Governor's Office, state agencies and relevant third-party organizations, with additional responsibility for Hawaii. The role will develop and execute comprehensive advocacy and government affairs strategies; build trusted relationships with policymakers and external stakeholders; assess legislative, regulatory, access and payment developments; and position BMS as a credible resource on policies affecting patients, the innovative biopharmaceutical industry and BMS operations in California.

Reporting to the West Regional Lead, the Director will establish state legislative and policy objectives in coordination with USPGA leadership and key corporate functions. Success requires strong California political and policy acumen, disciplined execution, cross-functional collaboration, executive presence and the ability to translate complex issues into clear strategies and messages for internal and external audiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute California and Hawaii government affairs and advocacy strategies aligned with BMS enterprise, business and USPGA priorities.
• Influence state legislative, regulatory, access and payment policy by educating and engaging legislators, the Governor's Office, state agencies and other key decisionmakers on patient affordability and access.
• Build and sustain policy champions and trusted relationships across California government, including legislative leadership, relevant policy committees, regulatory and legal agencies and the Department of Health Care Services and Department of Managed Health Care.
• Position BMS as a credible resource for California policymakers by translating complex policy topics into clear messages and solutions.
• Assess the potential impact of proposed California and Hawaii legislation, regulations, ballot initiatives and administrative actions on patients and the BMS portfolio; recommend and guide lobbying, coalition and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Partner closely with internal policy, legal, market access, medical, commercial, corporate affairs, communications, alliance development, local government affairs and site leadership teams to ensure coordinated analysis, decision-making and execution.
• Identify and secure high-value opportunities for BMS executive engagement with California policymakers, administration officials, business leaders, patient advocates and other strategic partners.
• Represent BMS externally in high-profile settings, including legislative and regulatory proceedings, government meetings, industry forums, trade associations, business organizations and stakeholder coalitions.
• Provide government affairs support for BMS facilities, investments, workforce and economic-development interests in California, coordinating with site, local government affairs and corporate affairs partners as issues and opportunities arise.
• Analyze state Medicaid and other access and payment policies, including Medi-Cal legislation, regulations, budget actions, rules and guidance, in partnership with relevant cross-functional experts.
• Manage external consultants and contract lobbyists, ensuring clear objectives, effective performance, coordinated execution and compliance with applicable lobbying, ethics and campaign-finance requirements.
• Manage assigned budgets, political contributions and memberships with strong operational discipline, appropriate controls and alignment to strategic priorities.
• Demonstrate a patient-first mindset, sound judgment and strict adherence to BMS values and compliance expectations.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in lobbying, advocacy, California state government service, health care policy, the biopharmaceutical industry or a closely related private-sector or association role.

• Demonstrated knowledge of California state government, legislative and regulatory processes, health care politics and Medi-Cal policy, supported by established relationships with California policymakers, administration officials, health care stakeholders, trade associations, coalitions or other relevant external partners; experience in Hawaii is beneficial but not required.

• Proven track record of successful advocacy and developing and executing strategies that influence legislation, regulation or public policy, with a broad understanding of challenges affecting the innovative biopharmaceutical industry, including patient access, affordability, reimbursement and the operating environment for life sciences companies.

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in law, public policy, public administration, business, health policy or a related discipline preferred.

• Excellent written, verbal, presentation and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex technical and policy information and provide confident, practical strategic counsel to senior leaders.

• Strong political acumen and executive presence and the ability to balance long-term relationship development with decisive action on immediate legislative, regulatory and business priorities.

• Proven ability to collaborate across functions, build consensus and maintain effective internal and external relationships, including experience leading through influence with trade associations, patient and provider organizations, business groups and large coalitions.

• Excellent organizational, project-management and prioritization skills, with consistent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities, budgets, external consultants and operational requirements in a deadline-driven environment.

• Ability to work effectively with colleagues across different locations and time zones and to travel as required. The role requires flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends, as needed, to support legislative activity, stakeholder engagements, and other time-sensitive business priorities.

• Contribute to a high-performing USPGA culture grounded in BMS values, enterprise thinking, a patient-first approach and a commitment to meaningful and sustainable policy change.

• LI-Remote

• We hire for skills and capabilities, not just credentials – if this role excites you, but doesn’t perfectly match your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway.

• Compensation Overview:

• Field - United States - US: 206,210 - 249,878

• The starting pay range listed above is for full-time employees (FTE). You may also be eligible for additional discretionary incentive cash and stock opportunities. We determine starting pay thoughtfully – carefully considering the nature of the role, required skills, work location, schedule and the knowledge and experience you bring. Final compensation is guided by pay equity principles and applicable employment laws. Compensation programs are reviewed on an ongoing basis and may be adjusted over time to reflect evolving market factors, and individual, team or Company performance.

• Benefits:

• Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect, you may be eligible to participate in our comprehensive benefit plans – including wellbeing support, retirement and financial protection benefits, and insurance offerings (medical, dental, vision, life and disability).

• U.S.-based exempt employees are eligible for Flexible Time Off (FTO), which provides paid time off without a set accrual limit, subject to manager approval, along with 11 paid company holidays each year.

• Non-exempt employees, RayzeBio employees, and employees located in Puerto Rico receive 160 hours of paid vacation annually for new hires (subject to manager approval), 11 paid company holidays, and 3 optional holidays.

• Depending on eligibility, employees may also have access to additional time-off benefits, including paid sick leave, up to two paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, and leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, or military needs. Eligible employees also enjoy an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

• U.S.-based job seekers can explore full benefit offerings at https://careers.bms.com/benefits

• How We Work

• Where you work matters – because collaboration, innovation and patient impact happen in many settings. Our roles are structured across four work models: site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design. The model assigned to this role is based on its core responsibilities. Learn more at https://careers.bms.com/ways-of-working.

• Supporting People with Disabilities

• BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to [email protected]. Visit careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.

• Candidate Rights

• BMS will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area.

• For roles based in Los Angeles County only: If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County if hired for this position, please visit this page for important additional information: https://careers.bms.com/california-residents/

• Data Protection

• We will never request payments, financial information, or social security numbers during our application or recruitment process. Learn more about protecting yourself at https://careers.bms.com/fraud-protection.

• Any data processed in connection with role applications will be treated in accordance with applicable data privacy policies and regulations.

• If this posting is missing required information required by local law or incorrect, contact BMS at with the Job Title and Requisition number. Do not send application-related inquiries to this email. To check your application status, please login to your Candidate Home Account.

• R1607705 : Director, State Government Affairs (Sacramento, California based)