Sr Manager, State Government Affairs – Remote Hybrid within Central Region

Job description

Manage government affairs activities for an assigned group of states in alignment with broader state and federal advocacy strategies. Serve as a state lobbyist in priority states, including drafting and negotiating bill language, supporting sponsor engagement, delivering or coordinating testimony, and assisting with committee and floor strategy. Develop and maintain bipartisan relationships with state legislators, executive branch staff, and committee members; support engagement plans and relationship‑tracking efforts.

Act as a policy subject‑matter resource in one or more KHC‑relevant areas; assist in preparing position statements, regulatory comments, briefing materials, and executive talking points. Represent KHC in state rulemaking processes and select external stakeholder or industry forums. Participate in building and maintaining coalitions with other companies, trade associations, chambers of commerce, and aligned organizations to advance shared policy goals.

Monitor state legislative, regulatory, and ballot activity; summarize developments and provide timely updates with recommended next steps. Support the management of outside consultants and contract lobbyists, including coordination of work plans, budgets, and compliance requirements. Partner cross‑functionally with Legal, Regulatory, R&D, Supply Chain, ESG, Commercial, HR, and Communications teams to support issue management and state‑level response efforts.

• Bachelor's degree required
• Strong understanding of state legislative and regulatory processes, including lobbying and ethics compliance Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate policy developments into business‑relevant insights
• Solid project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and workstreams Sound judgment, high integrity, and discretion when handling confidential or sensitive matters Willingness to travel as needed Advanced degree (JD, MA, MBA, or similar) Experience in a corporate or trade association government affairs function Prior experience working in or with state government (legislative staff, executive branch, or state agency) 6-8 years of experience in state government, public policy, or state lobbying
• Demonstrated experience supporting or executing legislative or regulatory strategies, including drafting materials and engaging policymakers Exposure to at least one or two policy areas relevant to KHC (e.g., food policy, packaging, agriculture, environmental policy, tax, workforce/labor) Experience working with external consultants or coalition partners preferred
• Familiarity with state policy organizations such as NCSL, CSG, or NGA is a plus