
Director, Trade Policy Lead & Trade Association Engagement
Working with Us
Challenging. Meaningful. Life-changing. Those aren’t words that are usually associated with a job. But working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department. From optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy, this is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. You’ll get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities uncommon in scale and scope, alongside high-achieving teams. Take your career farther than you thought possible.
Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue their goals, both at work and in their personal lives. Read more: careers.bms.com/working-with-us.
Position Summary
The Director, Trade Policy Lead & Trade Association Engagement, will lead BMS’ work in the international trade space and provide international government affairs coordination and alignment across major industry trade association engagement. The Director will work to drive BMS strategy and execution of advocacy efforts on priority issues and markets as the relate to international trade and policy issues impacting both U.S. and ex-U.S. markets. The Director will also work, in close coordination and alignment with other internal USGPGA teams, to ensure that BMS work related to international trade issues and markets is coordinated effectively with other BMS work at key trade associations, including but not limited to PhRMA and BIO.
The Director will help position BMS leaders to effectively shape international government affairs and policy decisions with key U.S. government stakeholders (i.e. USTR, Commerce) and to drive BMS strategy across multiple channels in trade association, committees, and planning forums. This role will work closely with the broader international and U.S. policy and government affairs teams to ensure alignment on key trade priorities and to effectively implement advocacy and engagement efforts to elevate BMS impact.
The successful candidate will also partner closely with a small team managing major industry trade association engagement GPGA to enable effective leadership and participation and ensure seamless integration of trade association international work and executive preparedness across the broader organization. A collaborative, cross-functional approach will be key to the Director’s success.
Key Responsibilities
- Build and strengthen BMS engagement across key U.S. government agencies related to international trade (i.e. USTR, Commerce, State, etc.).
- Lead strategies and plans to align international trade priorities across the BMS enterprise and effectively advocate with key stakeholders.
- Engage with key U.S. government stakeholders, as well as foreign government trade stakeholders, to impact and influence international trade discussions and negotiations to ensure BMS priority issues are captured and included in such dialogues.
- Create new opportunities for BMS senior leadership in the international trade space.
- Ensure international government affairs trade association activity reinforces corporate priorities.
- Track priorities and progress across trade association international workgroups and taskforces.
- Disseminate trade association international readouts to the broader organization as appropriate.
- Steer agenda development, materials preparation, and executive briefing support for trade association forums/events in coordination with broader team.
- Manage continuity and planning to ensure most appropriate positioning for company across trade association international activities.
- Identify emerging issues and potential risks; elevate appropriately.
- Partner closely with broader GPGA team to ensure functional alignment.
Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in public policy, political science, law, business, or related field preferred.
- 10+ years of experience in international government affairs, health policy, trade association leadership, or executive advisory roles.
- Strong understanding of international trade, intellectual property (IP) and market access issues.
- Demonstrated experience navigating complex governance or external engagement environments.
- Understanding of intersection of policy, international government affairs, IP and business priorities.
- Strong ability to drive consensus internally and ensure all voices are heard.
- Knowledge of structure of U.S. biopharmaceutical industry trade associations a plus.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to synthesize complex information for leadership.
- Strong judgment, discretion, and comfort operating in politically sensitive, high‑stakes settings.
- Collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively across a matrixed organization.
- Up to 25% International Travel Required
#LI-Hybrid
If you come across a role that intrigues you but doesn’t perfectly line up with your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway. You could be one step away from work that will transform your life and career.
Compensation Overview:
Washington DC - US: $206,210 - $249,878
The starting compensation range(s) for this role are listed above for a full-time employee (FTE) basis. Additional incentive cash and stock opportunities (based on eligibility) may be available. The starting pay rate takes into account characteristics of the job, such as required skills, where the job is performed, the employee’s work schedule, job-related knowledge, and experience. Final, individual compensation will be decided based on demonstrated experience.
Eligibility for specific benefits listed on our careers site may vary based on the job and location. For more on benefits, please visit https://careers.bms.com/life-at-bms/.
Benefit offerings are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans in effect at the time and may require enrollment. Our benefits include:
- Health Coverage: Medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care.
- Wellbeing Support: Programs such as BMS Well-Being Account, BMS Living Life Better, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).
- Financial Well-being and Protection: 401(k) plan, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accident insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection, personal liability protection, identity theft benefit, legal support, and survivor support.
Work-life benefits include:
Paid Time Off
- US Exempt Employees: flexible time off (unlimited, with manager approval, 11 paid national holidays (not applicable to employees in Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico or Rayzebio employees)
- Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico and Rayzebio Exempt, Non-Exempt, Hourly Employees: 160 hours annual paid vacation for new hires with manager approval, 11 national holidays, and 3 optional holidays
Based on eligibility*, additional time off for employees may include unlimited paid sick time, up to 2 paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military needs and an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas and New Years Day.
All global employees full and part-time who are actively employed at and paid directly by BMS at the end of the calendar year are eligible to take advantage of the Global Shutdown.
*Eligibility Disclosure: The summer hours program is for United States (U.S.) office-based employees due to the unique nature of their work. Summer hours are generally not available for field sales and manufacturing operations and may also be limited for the capability centers. Employees in remote-by-design or lab-based roles may be eligible for summer hours, depending on the nature of their work, and should discuss eligibility with their manager. Employees covered under a collective bargaining agreement should consult that document to determine if they are eligible. Contractors, leased workers and other service providers are not eligible to participate in the program.
Uniquely Interesting Work, Life-changing Careers
With a single vision as inspiring as “Transforming patients’ lives through science™ ”, every BMS employee plays an integral role in work that goes far beyond ordinary. Each of us is empowered to apply our individual talents and unique perspectives in a supportive culture, promoting global participation in clinical trials, while our shared values of passion, innovation, urgency, accountability, inclusion and integrity bring out the highest potential of each of our colleagues.
On-site Protocol
BMS has an occupancy structure that determines where an employee is required to conduct their work. This structure includes site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design jobs. The occupancy type that you are assigned is determined by the nature and responsibilities of your role:
Site-essential roles require 100% of shifts onsite at your assigned facility. Site-by-design roles may be eligible for a hybrid work model with at least 50% onsite at your assigned facility. For these roles, onsite presence is considered an essential job function and is critical to collaboration, innovation, productivity, and a positive Company culture. For field-based and remote-by-design roles the ability to physically travel to visit customers, patients or business partners and to attend meetings on behalf of BMS as directed is an essential job function.
Supporting People with Disabilities
BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to adastaffingsupport@bms.com. Visit careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.
Candidate Rights
BMS will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area.
If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County if hired for this position, please visit this page for important additional information: https://careers.bms.com/california-residents/
Data Protection
We will never request payments, financial information, or social security numbers during our application or recruitment process. Learn more about protecting yourself at https://careers.bms.com/fraud-protection.
Any data processed in connection with role applications will be treated in accordance with applicable data privacy policies and regulations.
If you believe that the job posting is missing information required by local law or incorrect in any way, please contact BMS at TAEnablement@bms.com. Please provide the Job Title and Requisition number so we can review. Communications related to your application should not be sent to this email and you will not receive a response. Inquiries related to the status of your application should be directed to Chat with Ripley.
R1601450 : Director, Trade Policy Lead & Trade Association EngagementSalary range
- $206,210 - $249,878 per year
