Position Summary

The Manager, Government Affairs reports to Vice President of Government Affairs to support and advance Novolex’s regional and state-level public policy goals across the Midwest or Eastern United States. This role is responsible for monitoring and analyzing legislative and regulatory developments, developing, and executing communications and advocacy strategies, managing stakeholder engagement initiatives, and supporting compliance planning related to enacted legislation and regulations. The manager serves as a critical link between policymakers, regulators, industry stakeholders, and internal business functions. The Manager identifies emerging policy risks and opportunities, communicates potential business impacts to leadership, and helps ensure the organization is prepared to respond to changing legislative and regulatory environments. The successful candidate works collaboratively across the organization to capture stakeholder perspectives, develop company positions on policy issues and legislation, and represent those positions before policymakers and regulators. 

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze state legislative and regulatory activity using tracking platforms.
• Track packaging, plastics, fiber, recycling, EPR, recycled content, sustainability, environmental and trade policy developments across assigned region
• Evaluate proposed legislation and regulations toidentify and communicate business impacts, risks, opportunities, and compliance considerations. 
• Advise business leaders to help develop and/or execute policy positions, advocacy strategies, issue campaigns, and stakeholder engagement plans.
• Prepare legislative summaries, policy analyses, executive briefings, testimony, comment letters, and advocacy materials.
• Coordinate efforts with contract lobbyists, communications consultants, trade associations, coalition partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Build relationships with legislators, regulators, agency personnel, industry associations, sustainability organizations, and thought leaders.
• Capture and represent internal stakeholder perspectives andfacilitate development of company positions on policy issues, legislation, and specific bill provisions. 
• Communicate legislative and regulatory risks to internal and external business stakeholders and ensure leadership awareness of emerging developments.
• Map compliance pathways for enacted legislation and advise business leaders regarding implementation requirements and regulatory obligations.
• Support communications and engagement with government agencies regarding reporting, rulemaking, compliance, and implementation activities.

Key Qualifications 

• Bachelor degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Government, Communications, Business, or related field.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in government affairs, public policy, public affairs, communications, regulatory affairs, legislative affairs, or stakeholder advocacy or 3+ years of deep experience focused on packaging policy, sustainability, recycling, EPR, environmental policy, manufacturing policy, or related issue advocacy campaigns.
• Possesses the confidence, gravitas, and professional credibility necessary to influence decision-makers and effectively represent the company in meetings with elected officials, regulatory agencies, industry leaders, coalition partners, and senior executives
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to synthesize complex policy issues into business-focused recommendations.
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment and manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to travel as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of plastics and/or fiber packaging, recycling systems, circular economy initiatives, and sustainability policy.
• Experience working with packaging industry associations, coalitions, and external thought leaders.
• Experience supporting regulatory compliance implementation after legislative enactment.
• Experience interacting with elected officials, legislative staff, and regulatory agencies.
• Experience with lobbying disclosure filings and government affairs compliance requirements.
• Experience managing contract lobbyists and communications consultants.

Technical Skills

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).
• Legislative tracking platforms including Quorum, FiscalNote, State Net, or similar systems.
• Policy research, reporting, executive presentation development, and stakeholder management tools.

Compensation:

A reasonable estimate of the current range is $100,000 - 115,000 + bonus + benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. At Novolex, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

The benefits for this role include 401(k) plan with company match, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending and health savings accounts, paid vacation, and sick days, paid parental leave, paid holidays and wellness program.