Director Government Relations - Animal Health

Job Description

Director Federal Public Policy & Government Relations - Animal Health

About our company Animal Health:

Our company Animal Health is a business offering products, technology solutions, and services for all animal species, including beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, poultry, aquaculture, horses, and companion animals.

Role Overview:

The Director, Federal Public Policy & Government Relations leads the company’s engagement with federal policymakers on behalf of the our company Animal Health North American business. The role spans three core areas: Congressional engagement, technology policy, and trade policy.

Congressional Engagement:

The Director manages company policy issues at the Congressional, agency and administration level, including engagement in the federal legislative process and work with stakeholders through direct relationships, coalitions, and trade associations. Issue areas may include, but are not limited to:

• Animal health.
• One Health and zoonoses.
• Animal welfare.
• Animal traceability.
• Biotechnology.
• Precision agriculture.
• Animal monitoring.
• Veterinary telehealth.

Technology Policy:

The Director leads policy engagement across North America on issues related to the company’s technology business. Working closely with internal technology business leaders, the Director develops and executes policy strategies that support the adoption of animal identification, traceability, monitoring, and data-driven solutions. The role also engages government officials, coalitions, and trade associations to position the company as a trusted voice on animal health technology.

Trade Policy:

The Director coordinates the development and execution of public policy work on trade issues affecting the North American business, working closely with our company’s internal team. This includes building and maintaining relationships with trade staff at relevant federal agencies, D.C.-based embassies, and international bodies.

Key Responsibilities.

Federal Strategy and Advocacy

• Lead federal relationships across the entire our company Animal Health North American business.
• Develop and lead the strategy for engagement with Congress, relevant federal agencies (USDA and FDA) and the administration, collaborating with internal teams to ensure the company speaks with a unified voice in meetings with federal government officials.
• Leverage relationships and networks to advance science- and evidence-based policies that affect the business and deliver value for customers.

Trade:

• Coordinate with internal team on trade strategy related to issues affecting the North American business.
• Engage federal agencies, D.C.-based embassies, customer groups, and other stakeholders to keep the company’s perspective, and that of the industry, at the forefront.

Stakeholder and Industry Engagement:

• Build collaborative relationships with stakeholders, including D.C.-based trade associations, professional societies, customers, and policy thought leaders.
• Coordinate with the North America Animal Health public policy team on contributions to, and activities of, domestic and international animal health trade associations.
• Directly manage hired consultants for federal policy.

Internal Collaboration and Communications:

• Collaborate continuously with Animal Health North American business leaders and other internal teams to understand policy needs and opportunities that align with business strategies from a federal perspective.
• Coordinate with state and federal government affairs functions across the broader our company enterprise.
• Prepare and support communications for audiences at every level, including peers, colleagues, customers, management, and senior executives (e.g., executive briefings).
• Manage other related projects effectively and efficiently, including supporting other team members as appropriate.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least six years of experience in a relevant position within the federal government or at a corporation, trade association, or non-profit organization that develops policy and lobbies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (e.g., master’s, J.D., or DVM).
• Experience with the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, or the House or Senate Agriculture Committees.
• Experience with trade issues, including work with the Office of the United States Trade Representative, United States Department of Commerce and foreign embassies.

Skills and Attributes:

• Excellent relationship-building, networking, and interpersonal skills.
• Political advocacy and lobbying experience.
• Strong experience in policy development, political communications, and messaging.
• Demonstrated familiarity with the Congressional process and key regulatory processes.
• Strong strategic thinking, with awareness of how the broader economic and public policy landscape affects business priorities.
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven capacity for leadership and teamwork.
• Experience collaborating with a group of internal and external stakeholders.
• Passion for animal health and well-being.
• A consistent record of high ethical standards.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Animal Health Care, Communication Coordination, Compliance Support, EU Policy Making, Healthcare Policies, Multilateral Organizations, Noncommunicable Diseases, Patient Advocacy, Personal Initiative, Policy Development, Political Forums, Regulatory Development, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

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The primary location for this posting is:

USA - District of Columbia - Washington DC (Pennsylvania Ave)

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$190,800.00 - $300,300.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs. The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

11/13/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.