Green Card Government Affairs Manager Jobs
Government Affairs Manager roles qualify for EB-2 or EB-3 green card sponsorship when employers file PERM labor certification with the DOL, documenting that no qualified U.S. worker is available. Most positions require a bachelor's or master's degree in public policy, political science, or a related field, making them strong fits for advanced-degree sponsorship candidates.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Our U.S. State Policy and Government Affairs team works with state, local, and federal stakeholders across the country. We address legislative and regulatory issues that advance and protect innovation in medicines, vaccines, and animal health while helping improve and safeguard patient access to care.
The Associate Vice President (AVP), State Policy and Government Affairs, leads a team responsible for state policy, government affairs and alliance development. This team represents the company in interactions with executive, legislative, and regulatory bodies at the state and local levels.
In this role, the AVP supports business objectives by shaping a policy environment that encourages innovation and reduces barriers to access. The AVP also serves as a trusted subject matter expert, building relationships with government officials, advocacy organizations, and trade associations to address a rapidly evolving policy landscape.
Key Responsibilities:
- Strategy and policy leadership: Lead the U.S. strategy for key state policy issues affecting the company and the biopharmaceutical industry, including policy priorities across products, therapeutic areas, and above-brand issues.
- Team leadership and execution: Direct the team’s strategy and execution on state legislative and policy issues across U.S. divisions and operations, including human health and animal health, and oversee the executive directors responsible for lobbying, policy, and alliance development.
- Issue analysis and response: Identify, analyze, and develop the company’s response to public policy issues that affect strategic business priorities.
- Operations and resource management: Lead department operations, budget planning, long-range planning, and resource management and development.
- Cross-functional partnership: Partner with U.S. Federal Public Policy & Government Affairs and Global Policy teams on issues that require coordination across state, federal, and global levels. Work across divisions with therapeutic franchise, policy, and subject matter experts to align priorities and strategy.
- Executive counsel and stakeholder engagement: As a member of the Global Policy & Public Affairs leadership team and the U.S. Country Council leadership team, brief, advise, and support executive leadership on external policy engagements.
- Policy alignment and advocacy: Ensure state advocacy strategies align with existing company positions, and work with leadership and stakeholders to develop and align on new policies.
- External representation: Represent the company with trade, business, and advocacy organizations, as well as corporate alliance boards and working groups at the regional and national levels, including PhRMA and BIO.
- Compliance oversight: Ensure all state advocacy conducted by the team complies with company policy and applicable state and federal laws.
- People development and vendor management: Support the professional development, growth, and well-being of team members, and manage external consultants and projects.
Education
- Required: BA/BS
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
- At least 15 years of experience in state government affairs and policy.
- Extensive knowledge of policy issues affecting the biopharmaceutical industry.
- Experience leading successful proactive state policy initiatives and navigating state legislative policy process.
- Strong internal and external stakeholder engagement experience.
- Demonstrated ability to lead high-performing teams and influence across complex, matrixed organizations.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level briefing and message development.
- Proven ability to navigate complex, fast-moving policy environments.
- Strong ethics, professionalism, and political judgment.
REQUIRED SKILLS
Biopharmaceutical Industry, Biopharmaceutical Industry, Biopharmaceuticals, Biopharmaceutics, Business Decisions, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Ethics, EU Policy Making, Executive Leadership, Franchise Leadership, Global Policy, Health Care Advocacy, Legislative Policy, Legislative Relations, Long Term Planning, Media Communications, Multilateral Organizations, Policy Development, Political Forums, Professional Development, Public Speaking, Regulatory Training, Stakeholder Engagement, State Government, 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:
EEOC Know Your Rights
EEOC GINA Supplement
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.
Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts
COMPENSATION
- Salary range: $310,900.00 - $489,400.00
This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this 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.
You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.
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
Employee Status:
Regular
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Job Posting End Date:
08/14/2026*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.
Requisition ID: R409692
INTRODUCTION
Our U.S. State Policy and Government Affairs team works with state, local, and federal stakeholders across the country. We address legislative and regulatory issues that advance and protect innovation in medicines, vaccines, and animal health while helping improve and safeguard patient access to care.
The Associate Vice President (AVP), State Policy and Government Affairs, leads a team responsible for state policy, government affairs and alliance development. This team represents the company in interactions with executive, legislative, and regulatory bodies at the state and local levels.
In this role, the AVP supports business objectives by shaping a policy environment that encourages innovation and reduces barriers to access. The AVP also serves as a trusted subject matter expert, building relationships with government officials, advocacy organizations, and trade associations to address a rapidly evolving policy landscape.
Key Responsibilities:
- Strategy and policy leadership: Lead the U.S. strategy for key state policy issues affecting the company and the biopharmaceutical industry, including policy priorities across products, therapeutic areas, and above-brand issues.
- Team leadership and execution: Direct the team’s strategy and execution on state legislative and policy issues across U.S. divisions and operations, including human health and animal health, and oversee the executive directors responsible for lobbying, policy, and alliance development.
- Issue analysis and response: Identify, analyze, and develop the company’s response to public policy issues that affect strategic business priorities.
- Operations and resource management: Lead department operations, budget planning, long-range planning, and resource management and development.
- Cross-functional partnership: Partner with U.S. Federal Public Policy & Government Affairs and Global Policy teams on issues that require coordination across state, federal, and global levels. Work across divisions with therapeutic franchise, policy, and subject matter experts to align priorities and strategy.
- Executive counsel and stakeholder engagement: As a member of the Global Policy & Public Affairs leadership team and the U.S. Country Council leadership team, brief, advise, and support executive leadership on external policy engagements.
- Policy alignment and advocacy: Ensure state advocacy strategies align with existing company positions, and work with leadership and stakeholders to develop and align on new policies.
- External representation: Represent the company with trade, business, and advocacy organizations, as well as corporate alliance boards and working groups at the regional and national levels, including PhRMA and BIO.
- Compliance oversight: Ensure all state advocacy conducted by the team complies with company policy and applicable state and federal laws.
- People development and vendor management: Support the professional development, growth, and well-being of team members, and manage external consultants and projects.
Education
- Required: BA/BS
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
- At least 15 years of experience in state government affairs and policy.
- Extensive knowledge of policy issues affecting the biopharmaceutical industry.
- Experience leading successful proactive state policy initiatives and navigating state legislative policy process.
- Strong internal and external stakeholder engagement experience.
- Demonstrated ability to lead high-performing teams and influence across complex, matrixed organizations.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level briefing and message development.
- Proven ability to navigate complex, fast-moving policy environments.
- Strong ethics, professionalism, and political judgment.
REQUIRED SKILLS
Biopharmaceutical Industry, Biopharmaceutical Industry, Biopharmaceuticals, Biopharmaceutics, Business Decisions, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Ethics, EU Policy Making, Executive Leadership, Franchise Leadership, Global Policy, Health Care Advocacy, Legislative Policy, Legislative Relations, Long Term Planning, Media Communications, Multilateral Organizations, Policy Development, Political Forums, Professional Development, Public Speaking, Regulatory Training, Stakeholder Engagement, State Government, 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:
EEOC Know Your Rights
EEOC GINA Supplement
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.
Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts
COMPENSATION
- Salary range: $310,900.00 - $489,400.00
This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this 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.
You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.
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
Employee Status:
Regular
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Job Posting End Date:
08/14/2026*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.
Requisition ID: R409692
See all 45+ Green Card Government Affairs Manager Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Green Card Sponsorship as a Government Affairs Manager
Match your degree to the role classification
PERM filings for Government Affairs Manager roles typically specify a bachelor's or master's in public policy, political science, or law. If your degree is in a different field, prepare a credential evaluation showing how your coursework aligns with the DOL job description.
Target employers with established government relations functions
Trade associations, healthcare systems, energy companies, and financial institutions maintain in-house government affairs teams and file PERM regularly. These employers already understand the sponsorship process and won't need you to explain why it's worth pursuing.
Search for open green card positions using Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate filters Government Affairs Manager listings by employers with active green card sponsorship history, saving you from applying to roles where sponsorship is an afterthought. Use it to focus your search on employers who have already run PERM filings.
Clarify EB-2 versus EB-3 eligibility before negotiating
If the role requires only a bachelor's degree, it likely falls under EB-3. If the employer specifies a master's or you can document advanced credentials, EB-2 may apply and shortens your wait time significantly for most nationalities.
Understand how PERM recruitment shapes your timeline
Before USCIS can adjudicate your I-140, your employer must run DOL-mandated recruitment and receive PERM certification. That process alone typically takes six to eighteen months, so negotiate your start date and offer terms with this built-in lag in mind.
Document your policy expertise with verifiable evidence
PERM job descriptions for Government Affairs Manager roles often cite specific skills like legislative tracking, regulatory comment drafting, or coalition building. Gather signed offer letters, performance reviews, and project documentation that maps directly to those listed duties before your employer files.
Green Card Government Affairs Manager: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Government Affairs Manager roles typically qualify for EB-2 or EB-3 sponsorship?
It depends on how the employer structures the job requirements. If the role requires a master's degree or you hold one and it's directly relevant, EB-2 may apply. Roles requiring only a bachelor's degree typically fall under EB-3. Some employers file under both categories simultaneously to preserve flexibility if your situation changes during the multi-year PERM process.
How does green card sponsorship differ from H-1B sponsorship for this role?
Green card sponsorship through PERM and I-140 is a permanent immigration benefit with no annual lottery or cap concerns at the EB-3 level for most nationalities. H-1B visa sponsorship is temporary, subject to an annual lottery, and must be renewed. PERM takes longer to initiate but leads to lawful permanent residency, not a visa that expires and requires employer renewal.
What does the PERM labor certification process require from a Government Affairs Manager applicant?
PERM is primarily the employer's obligation. Your employer advertises the position, documents that no qualified U.S. worker applied, and submits a labor certification application to the DOL. Your role is to provide accurate employment history, education credentials, and any documentation that supports the job description. Discrepancies between your background and the filed job duties are a common cause of PERM denials.
How can I find Government Affairs Manager jobs where the employer will sponsor a green card?
Migrate Mate surfaces Government Affairs Manager listings filtered by employers with green card sponsorship history, so you're not guessing from a generic job description. Many employers are willing to sponsor but don't advertise it prominently, and filtering by actual PERM filing history is the most reliable signal that an employer will follow through.
Can my nationality affect how long I wait for a green card in this category?
Yes. Applicants born in India or China face significantly longer priority date backlogs in both EB-2 and EB-3 due to per-country caps. Most other nationalities move through the EB-3 skilled worker category with wait times measured in months rather than years. USCIS publishes a monthly Visa Bulletin that shows current priority dates by country and preference category.