Head of Government Affairs
Location: Princeton Junction
Posted on: June 23, 2025
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Job Description:
Sun is a leading specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to
improving patient outcomes through innovative and high-quality
products. Our commitment to excellence and our focus on patient
care drive our mission to transform healthcare and deliver value to
our stakeholders. At Sun Pharma we believe our people are an
invaluable asset. Our culturally diverse workforce is one of our
biggest strengths, along with the rich experience they bring across
varied skill-sets. We are proud that our global workforce is bound
by our common values: Humility. Integrity. Passion. Innovation. Job
Summary: The Vice President, Government Sales & Government Affairs
will lead the strategic direction, growth, and execution of the
company’s government sales and contracting efforts, with a
dedicated focus on the generic pharmaceutical industry. This
individual will be responsible for establishing and expanding the
company’s footprint in federal, state, and local government
markets, including key agencies such as the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD), Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), and other public health and procurement
bodies. A critical aspect of this role is the integration of
government affairs, lobbying, and advocacy strategy to support
favorable policy environments that facilitate market access and
procurement. Experience working with DARPA (Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency) and strong existing contacts within DARPA
will be essential for success in this position, particularly to
support research collaboration, innovation funding opportunities,
and procurement strategy for novel and generic therapies.
Responsibilities: Develop and execute the government sales and
contracting strategy for generic pharmaceuticals, aligned with
public sector purchasing trends and procurement vehicles (e.g.,
FSS, GSA Schedules). Identify and secure large-scale government
contracts, including proposal development, pricing negotiations,
and ongoing contract management with agencies such as the VA, DoD,
CMS, and state Medicaid programs. Build and maintain high-impact
relationships with government buyers, contracting officers, and
healthcare procurement executives. Collaborate closely with
regulatory, compliance, and legal teams to navigate the
complexities of federal and state pharmaceutical contracting rules
and regulations. Serve as the companys senior executive liaison for
all lobbying and advocacy initiatives—develop and implement
strategies to advance the company’s government policy priorities.
Lead proactive policy engagement efforts with legislators,
regulatory bodies, and industry coalitions to shape legislation and
rules affecting the government purchase and reimbursement of
generics. Monitor and influence relevant legislation, regulations,
and agency initiatives impacting pricing, access, and procurement
of generic pharmaceuticals. Represent the company in public forums
including Congressional hearings, industry coalitions, and policy
roundtables. Work cross-functionally with commercial, medical, and
market access teams to develop value propositions tailored for the
government sector. Partner with external lobbyists and policy
consultants to execute advocacy strategies as needed. Administer
the company’s Political Action Committee (PAC), coordinating
fundraising and internal engagement. Lead, mentor, and scale a
high-performance team focused on government sales and policy
execution. Provide senior leadership with regular updates and
insights on trends in government healthcare purchasing, legislative
developments, and contracting opportunities. Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Policy, Health Economics, or
a related field; MBA, MPA, or JD preferred 15 years of experience
in government sales, business development, or policy in the
pharmaceutical industry, ideally with a strong background in
generic drug contracting Proven success in securing and managing
federal and state pharmaceutical contracts, including pricing,
compliance, and lifecycle management In-depth understanding of
government procurement processes, drug pricing policy, public payer
dynamics, and reimbursement mechanisms Minimum 5 years experience
in government affairs, including direct experience with lobbying,
coalition-building, advocacy strategy, and legislative analysis
Experience working with DARPA and established relationships with
DARPA program managers or contacts in related defense innovation
programs Strong relationships with key government stakeholders,
including legislative staff, executive agencies, and policy
influencers Deep knowledge of CMS, VA, DoD, and Medicaid policies
relevant to generic pharmaceuticals Ability to register as a
federal and/or state lobbyist (if applicable) Experience managing
or advising PACs, advocacy efforts, and third-party lobbying firms
High emotional intelligence, with the ability to build trust across
commercial, legal, and policy teams Strong leadership,
communication, and negotiation skills with a track record of
successful team building Actual base compensation may vary based on
a number of factors, including but not limited to geographical
location and experience. In addition, this position is part of the
Annual Performance Bonus Plan, and may be eligible for the Long
Term Incentive Plan. Employees are eligible to participate in
Company employee benefit programs which include medical, dental and
vision coverage; life insurance; disability insurance; 401(k)
savings plan; flexible spending accounts; and the employee
assistance program. Employees also receive various paid time off
benefits, including vacation time and sick time. The compensation
and benefits described above are subject to the terms and
conditions of any governing plans, policies, practices, agreements,
or other materials or documents as in effect from time to time,
including but not limited to terms and conditions regarding
eligibility. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position”
and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well
as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any
time, including for reasons related to individual performance,
Company, or individual department/team performance, and market
factors.
Keywords: , Trenton , Head of Government Affairs, Executive , Princeton Junction, New Jersey
