Government Affairs Manager Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Government Affairs Manager roles attract H-1B visa sponsorship from trade associations, lobbying firms, and large corporations with public policy teams. Most employers require a degree in political science, public policy, or law, and USCIS classifies the role as a specialty occupation. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
Find Government Affairs Manager JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 76+ Government Affairs Manager jobs
See all 76+ Government Affairs Manager Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Government Affairs Manager roles.
Get Access To All JobsCompany Description
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
The Specialist, Government Affairs Operations, plays a central role in advancing the operational effectiveness of the Government Affairs (GA) function. The Specialist utilizes the financial and compliance business applications, maintains data integrity, and monitors system performance to ensure reliability and accessibility across the global team. Drawing on specialized technical and business knowledge, the Specialist drives the identification and implementation of financial and compliance system enhancements that improve productivity and support of compliance objectives. Beyond systems management, this role leads cross-functional coordination efforts — spanning financial analysis, contracting, regulatory reporting, communications, and project management — to align Government Affairs priorities with enterprise planning cycles and deliver high-quality results for internal and external stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- Ensure compliance with applicable Corporate and Divisional policies and procedures governing Government Affairs financial, contracting, and lobbying activities.
- Consult with functional stakeholders to develop a comprehensive understanding of business needs supported by financial and compliance systems; assess how changing business requirements affect system design, workflows, and outputs.
- Develops detailed business user requirements, system documentation, workflow procedures, and data models; communicates project plans, timelines, and trade-offs while ensuring stakeholders understand deliverables and final outcomes.
- Review and route requested system changes; develop detailed specifications for implementation and communicate system updates, enhancements, and issues to management and affected teams.
- Maintain current and accurate system documentation; coordinate and perform testing of system modifications; provide systems expertise and support training materials and educational tools for Government Affairs users.
- Produce reports, data visualizations, and analyses from enterprise systems and databases to support management decision-making, ad hoc requests, project analysis, and compliance verification.
- Ensures audit data is accurately captured in all applicable systems; executes system control practices and purchasing procedures for the Global Government Affairs team.
- Accountable to the purchasing customer and purchasing management for the control and administration of purchasing systems. Systems implemented must meet projected timelines and customer expectations. The incumbent supports various mainframe, stand-alone applications, and Government Affairs interfaced systems that impact the overall purchasing process.
- Contracting/Accounts Payable — Coordinates across GA to support the initial compliance and financial review of all third-party vendor contracts; manages department invoices and accounts payable submissions; develops and maintains funding request tracking for ACRs, shopping carts/POs, Vendor Master Data (DSP), and CDA/NDA submissions.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree in Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Experience in financial and compliance systems development, implementation, and operations within large-scale enterprise environments.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with well-developed verbal and written communication abilities.
- Proven ability to lead and facilitate meetings with both business customers and technical team members.
- Deliverables-focused and detail-oriented, with strong organizational discipline.
- Exceptional collaboration and teamwork skills.
- Strong customer focus with a track record of delivering high-quality outcomes for internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience coordinating cross-functional compliance initiatives across legal, compliance, commercial, and Government Affairs stakeholders.
- Strong synthesis, analytical, and executive communication skills.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, SharePoint), Canva, and experience leveraging generative AI tools for research, analysis, and strategic communications.
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize competing timelines, exercise sound judgment, and operate effectively in fast-paced, high-visibility environments.
Travel: 5–10% (U.S.; occasional international)
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
- The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
- This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive programs. Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html
Company Description
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
The Specialist, Government Affairs Operations, plays a central role in advancing the operational effectiveness of the Government Affairs (GA) function. The Specialist utilizes the financial and compliance business applications, maintains data integrity, and monitors system performance to ensure reliability and accessibility across the global team. Drawing on specialized technical and business knowledge, the Specialist drives the identification and implementation of financial and compliance system enhancements that improve productivity and support of compliance objectives. Beyond systems management, this role leads cross-functional coordination efforts — spanning financial analysis, contracting, regulatory reporting, communications, and project management — to align Government Affairs priorities with enterprise planning cycles and deliver high-quality results for internal and external stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- Ensure compliance with applicable Corporate and Divisional policies and procedures governing Government Affairs financial, contracting, and lobbying activities.
- Consult with functional stakeholders to develop a comprehensive understanding of business needs supported by financial and compliance systems; assess how changing business requirements affect system design, workflows, and outputs.
- Develops detailed business user requirements, system documentation, workflow procedures, and data models; communicates project plans, timelines, and trade-offs while ensuring stakeholders understand deliverables and final outcomes.
- Review and route requested system changes; develop detailed specifications for implementation and communicate system updates, enhancements, and issues to management and affected teams.
- Maintain current and accurate system documentation; coordinate and perform testing of system modifications; provide systems expertise and support training materials and educational tools for Government Affairs users.
- Produce reports, data visualizations, and analyses from enterprise systems and databases to support management decision-making, ad hoc requests, project analysis, and compliance verification.
- Ensures audit data is accurately captured in all applicable systems; executes system control practices and purchasing procedures for the Global Government Affairs team.
- Accountable to the purchasing customer and purchasing management for the control and administration of purchasing systems. Systems implemented must meet projected timelines and customer expectations. The incumbent supports various mainframe, stand-alone applications, and Government Affairs interfaced systems that impact the overall purchasing process.
- Contracting/Accounts Payable — Coordinates across GA to support the initial compliance and financial review of all third-party vendor contracts; manages department invoices and accounts payable submissions; develops and maintains funding request tracking for ACRs, shopping carts/POs, Vendor Master Data (DSP), and CDA/NDA submissions.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree in Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Experience in financial and compliance systems development, implementation, and operations within large-scale enterprise environments.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with well-developed verbal and written communication abilities.
- Proven ability to lead and facilitate meetings with both business customers and technical team members.
- Deliverables-focused and detail-oriented, with strong organizational discipline.
- Exceptional collaboration and teamwork skills.
- Strong customer focus with a track record of delivering high-quality outcomes for internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience coordinating cross-functional compliance initiatives across legal, compliance, commercial, and Government Affairs stakeholders.
- Strong synthesis, analytical, and executive communication skills.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, SharePoint), Canva, and experience leveraging generative AI tools for research, analysis, and strategic communications.
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize competing timelines, exercise sound judgment, and operate effectively in fast-paced, high-visibility environments.
Travel: 5–10% (U.S.; occasional international)
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
- The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
- This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive programs. Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html
See all 76+ Government Affairs Manager Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Government Affairs Manager roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Government Affairs Manager
Target employers with established government relations teams
Large corporations, industry associations, and consulting firms with dedicated government affairs divisions sponsor visas most consistently. These employers have immigration counsel on retainer and understand the H-1B process, making sponsorship decisions faster and less uncertain.
Align your degree with the policy function
USCIS expects a direct connection between your degree and the role. Political science, public policy, law, and international relations degrees map cleanly to government affairs work. An unrelated degree can create specialty occupation issues during adjudication, so address the connection explicitly.
Emphasize federal or state policy experience in your application
Employers sponsoring government affairs managers want demonstrated knowledge of legislative processes, regulatory frameworks, or agency rulemaking. Candidates with Capitol Hill experience, agency backgrounds, or policy internships are prioritized because they reduce employer onboarding time significantly.
Understand that lobbying registration limits certain visa holders
Registered lobbyists must comply with disclosure requirements that can complicate nonimmigrant status in some contexts. Clarify with your employer whether the role involves formal lobbying registration, as this affects how the position is structured and described in your visa petition.
Ask about the employer's existing immigration infrastructure early
Employers who have previously sponsored government affairs professionals have precedent on their side during USCIS adjudication. Ask during interviews whether the company has sponsored this role before, and whether they work with outside immigration counsel or handle petitions in-house.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified sponsoring employers
Not every government affairs job listing will state visa sponsorship upfront. Migrate Mate filters specifically for employers who have sponsored work visas, saving you from applying to roles where sponsorship was never on the table and helping you prioritize your outreach effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Government Affairs Manager role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, Government Affairs Manager generally qualifies as a specialty occupation when the role requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field such as political science, public policy, law, or international relations. USCIS scrutinizes the job description closely, so petitions that demonstrate the degree requirement is standard for the industry and genuinely necessary for the position have the strongest approval odds. Vague job descriptions that could apply to any generalist manager are more likely to receive a Request for Evidence.
Which types of employers most commonly sponsor government affairs managers?
The most active sponsors are large corporations with federal or state lobbying programs, trade associations, policy consulting firms, and defense contractors. Technology companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and financial institutions with active regulatory affairs teams also sponsor frequently. These employers typically have immigration infrastructure already in place. You can browse verified sponsoring employers for this role on Migrate Mate, which filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship history.
Does a law degree improve sponsorship prospects for this role?
A JD or LLM strengthens a government affairs petition because it maps directly to regulatory analysis, legislative drafting, and compliance work that defines senior policy roles. It also gives USCIS a clear degree-to-job connection, which reduces the risk of a specialty occupation challenge. That said, a JD is not required if your bachelor's degree is in a directly related policy field and the job description reflects that connection.
Can government affairs managers on H-1B change employers mid-visa period?
Yes. H-1B visa portability allows you to start working for a new employer once they file an H-1B transfer petition, without waiting for approval, as long as your prior H-1B was approved and you have maintained status. For government affairs roles, the new employer must file a fresh Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor and submit an H-1B amendment if the role's duties, location, or level changes materially from the original petition.
Is the O-1A visa a realistic alternative for experienced government affairs professionals?
It can be, for candidates with a documented record of extraordinary achievement in public policy, such as senior agency appointments, published policy work with measurable national impact, high-profile speaking roles, or awards recognized in the field. The O-1A has no annual cap and no lottery, which makes it attractive for applicants who missed the H-1B selection. However, it requires substantial evidence and is not appropriate for early- to mid-career professionals without a strong external record of distinction.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Government Affairs Manager jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.