Government Affairs Manager - Water - North America

About the role

This role is ideal for a strategic, externally oriented professional who can navigate complex policy and regulatory environments and help translate scientific innovation into broader market access and public health impact. In this role, you will develop and execute government affairs strategies that support the use and adoption of our water microbiology testing solutions across North America.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute government affairs strategies that support the use and adoption of our water microbiology testing solutions across North America, with primary emphasis on the U.S. market and compliance testing.
• Monitor, assess, and respond to legislative, regulatory, and policy developments that may affect product approvals, method acceptance, customer adoption, and public and environmental health.
• Build and sustain effective relationships with regulators, industry associations, key opinion leaders, researchers, utilities, laboratories, consultants, and other stakeholders that influence the water testing landscape.
• Participate actively in standards development organizations and related forums to support our customers and ensure our methods are accurately represented and appropriately included.
• Provide subject matter expertise and support to the North American commercial teams.
• Develop regulatory comments, policy positions, customer-facing guidance, and method adoption resources to help customers implement our testing methods within various regulatory and accreditation environments.
• Contribute to field trial, validation, and evidence-generation efforts, in partnership with R&D, to support standards and regulatory acceptance.
• Partner cross-functionally with Sales, R&D, Marketing, Product Management, Technical and Customer Support and our Compliance function from new product development through the lifecycle of our products.
• Lead government affairs initiatives that increase the adoption and use of high-quality water microbiology testing solutions for drinking water, wastewater, and other environmental applications.
• Build a network of exceptionally strong external stakeholder relationships, monitor and respond to regulatory, legislative and policy developments, lead initiatives to secure product approvals and recognitions, contribute to standard activities, and work across internal teams to support favorable regulatory outcomes and long-term business growth.

Requirements

A 3-5 year track record of success in government affairs, public policy, regulatory affairs, environmental policy, or a related field. Experience building relationships and engaging effectively with government agencies, standards bodies, and external stakeholders or similar actors on highly technical topics. Strategic thinking, planning skills and resourcefulness to achieve results on multi-year initiatives. Excellent communication skills and the ability to distill complex issues clearly and persuasively in writing, presentations, and stakeholder conversations to a broad range of stakeholders. Ability to build consensus across scientific, regulatory, commercial, and public stakeholders. A collaborative, customer-focused approach and comfort working across functions and with people who bring different perspectives and styles. Experience related to water microbiology, water quality, environmental testing, public health, microbiology, or biology is strongly preferred. Familiarity with regulatory approvals, standards development, or method acceptance pathways preferred. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience required; advanced degree preferred. French language or other second language capability is a plus. Willingness to travel as needed approximately 20-25%.

Qualifications

Candidates who significantly exceed the qualifications described below may be able to take on this position at a Senior Manager level.

Skills

Strategic thinking, relationship building, regulatory affairs, public policy, environmental policy, technical writing, collaboration, customer focus, regulatory approvals, standards development, method acceptance pathways.

Benefits

• Competitive salary between $132K - $142K based on experience
• Annual cash bonus
• Health / Dental / Vision Benefits
• Day-one 5% matching 401k
• Hybrid onsite in Scarborough, ME, 8x per month
• Schedule determined by Manager
• On-the-job training and career advancement opportunities
• Additional benefits including but not limited to financial support, pet insurance, mental health resources, volunteer paid days off, employee stock program, foundation donation matching, and much more