EATON

Director, State & Local Gov't Affairs

EATON • $165K — $242K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Minimum 10 years' experience as a lobbyist or in a corporate government affairs role.
  • Understanding of state government impacts on business operations.
  • Strong knowledge of legislative and regulatory processes, preferably with utility regulatory experience.
  • Excellent relationship-building and communication skills.
  • Proven ability to influence senior executives and align diverse stakeholders around complex policy issues.

Responsibilities

  • Identify and manage key state/local public affairs issues impacting sales and costs.
  • Develop and execute strategies to engage with state and local officials.
  • Align Eaton's government engagement strategy across business units and functions.
  • Create policy and advocacy solutions for complex business challenges.
  • Manage external consultants and trade associations to advance Eaton's objectives.
  • Lead the 'Key Contact Program' connecting Eaton leaders with elected officials.
  • Develop grassroots lobbying strategies to engage employees on critical issues.
  • Communicate and align internal stakeholder groups on government affairs priorities.

Benefits

  • Health and Welfare benefits
  • Retirement benefits
  • Paid and unpaid time away from work
Full Job Description
Eaton's Public Affairs organization is seeking a dynamic Directror, State & Local Gov't Affairs. This role can be based at a major Eaton hub or can be fully remote. Will include travel.

What you'll do:

Job Summary:

The Director, State & Local Gov't Affairs leads and directs Eaton's state and local government affairs strategy, developing and executing proactive engagement with government officials, monitoring regulatory and policy developments, and driving legislative and regulatory advocacy initiatives across Eaton's U.S. operations. Serves as a trusted advisor to senior Eaton executives and aligns diverse stakeholder groups - including functional teams, plant management, business unit leaders, and subject matter experts - to represent the enterprise with senior-level external stakeholders. Develops innovative policy and advocacy solutions to complex business issues and manages external consulting firms and relevant trade associations to advance Eaton's government affairs objectives across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring all engagement activities align with Eaton ethics, compliance, and anti-corruption requirements. Partners with the VP, Government Affairs, Americas and Manager, Government Affairs, Americas on significant issues as needed.

Key Eaton outcomes: Drive electrical sector market development and sales growth by influencing key policy and regulatory decisions that promote investment in utility and data center infrastructure and advance code adoption. Support Eaton's U.S. capacity investment considerations by working with state and local economic development agencies. Mitigates enterprise risks by monitoring and engaging on policies related to tax, human resources, and environment, health, and sustainability.

Job Responsibilities:

  • Proactively identifies, prioritizes and manages key state/local public affairs issues (Key issues are those in which legislation or government regulation can impact sales or cost, including utility regulations and infrastructure, data center build-out, electrical code adoption, tax policy, and economic development programs).
  • Develops and executes strategy for engagement with state and local officials, building and maintaining working relationships that impact Eaton's operations, customers, and markets.
  • Develops and executes Eaton's state and local government engagement strategy across business units and functions, ensuring alignment and timely escalation when needed.
  • Creates innovative policy and advocacy solutions to complex business issues, translating legislative and regulatory developments into actionable strategies that protect and advance Eaton's interests.
  • Manages and leverages external consulting firms and trade associations to support government affairs objectives; ensures scope, deliverables, and reporting align with Eaton priorities.
  • Leads Eaton's "Key Contact Program," connecting senior Eaton leaders with their elected officials.
  • Develops and executes Eaton's "grassroots" lobbying strategy, including the manner in which we engage our employees on key issues.
  • Communicates effectively with internal Eaton stakeholders across all business and functional levels, aligning diverse stakeholder groups around shared government affairs priorities.
  • Partners with the VP, Government Affairs - Americas and Manager, Government Affairs - Americas on managing significant issues as needed.
  • Ensures compliance and integrity in all government engagement activities, including adherence to ethics, compliance, and anti-corruption requirements; escalates concerns as appropriate.


Qualifications:

Education level required:
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.


Years and area of experience required:
  • Minimum ten (10) years experience as a lobbyist and/or key staffer of statewide elected official, state legislator, trade association, or corporate government affairs role.


Preferred Qualifications:
  • Understanding of how state governments can affect business operations.
  • Keen understanding of legislative and regulatory processes, utility regulatory experience is a plus.
  • Interest in and understanding of Eaton's businesses, and the ability to function as a "bridge" between the regulatory/legislative arena and Eaton's business environment.
  • Outstanding relationship building and communications skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to influence senior executives and align diverse, cross-functional stakeholder groups around complex policy and advocacy priorities.
  • Ability to anticipate emerging issues and develop strategies to respond to them.


Additional Information:

All positions may require participation in video and in-person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job-related competencies, and all candidates' privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws.

At Eaton, we strive to provide compensation and benefits that attract, engage, and retain the best talent. This includes competitive pay and a variety of benefit programs for eligible employees. The expected annual salary range for this role is $165,000 to $242,000 a year. This role is also eligible for a variable incentive program. Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

The application window for this position is anticipated to close on October 13, 2026.

We know that good benefit programs are important to employees and their families. Eaton provides various Health and Welfare benefits as well as Retirement benefits, and several programs that provide for paid and unpaid time away from work. Click here for more detail: Eaton Benefits Overview. Please note that specific programs and options available to an employee may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

About EATON

Eaton Corporation plc is a multinational power management company with 2020 sales of $17.9 billion, founded in the US. Eaton provides energy-efficient solutions that help customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical power more efficiently, safely, and sustainably. Eaton operates through three main business segments: Electrical Products, Electrical Systems and Services, and Hydraulics. The Electrical Products segment designs, manufactures, markets, and sells electrical components, such as circuit breakers, switches, and electrical protection and control devices. The Electrical Systems and Services segment offers electrical power distribution and assemblies, as well as engineering services and automation and control solutions. The Hydraulics segment provides products such as pumps, motors, valves, cylinders, and filtration products. Eaton has a global presence with operations in North America, Europe, Asia, and other regions.
Learn more about EATON
Size
85,947 employees
Market Cap
$62.2 billion
Industry
Net Income
$1.4 billion
Founded
2009
5 Year Trend
-0.1%
Revenue
$17.8 billion
NASDAQ

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