Senior Manager, Government Relations

The Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA), an international trade association representing the interests of the batch, custom, and specialty chemical industry, is seeking a dynamic Senior Manager, Government Relations.

This position plays a critical role in advancing SOCMA’s strategic advocacy agenda by representing the specialty chemical industry in federal legislative and regulatory arenas. This individual serves as an advocate for SOCMA member priorities, cultivating relationships with congressional offices, federal agencies, coalitions, and industry stakeholders. The role requires the ability to operate independently and confidently in external settings, including representation of SOCMA at high-stakes meetings and events.

The Senior Manager of Government Relations reports to the Vice President, Legal and Government Relations, and works closely with cross-departmental teams.

This role ensures member issues are proactively addressed through policy engagement, supports regulatory and legislative analysis, and develops communications that advance SOCMA’s voice on trade, TSCA, environmental justice, R&D tax credits, and chemical security. The Manager also provides individual support to SOCMA member companies primarily in the regulatory arena.

Essential Job Functions

Policy Development & Communication

• Track and analyze federal legislative and regulatory developments affecting SOCMA members and the specialty chemical industry.
• Draft comment letters, testimonies, regulatory filings, internal briefings, and policy summaries.
• Develop content for policy-related member alerts, newsletters, and digital platforms in coordination with the communications team.
• Monitor rulemakings and guidance from agencies such as the EPA, OSHA, and USTR; translate implications into actionable updates for members.

Advocacy & Representation

• Represent SOCMA at agency meetings, congressional briefings, coalition sessions, and other external engagements — often independently.
• Establish and maintain relationships with relevant federal agency staff, industry peers, and trade association partners.
• Participate in coalitions and working groups focused on shared regulatory and legislative issues.
• Support coordination of SOCMA’s input into policymaking processes through public comments and industry collaboration.

Member Support & Regulatory Guidance

• Serve as a resource to member companies by helping interpret and apply complex federal regulatory requirements.
• Respond to individual member inquiries on rule implementation, compliance timelines, and technical requirements, particularly around TSCA and related EPA actions.
• Translate policy developments into practical impacts for the batch, specialty, and custom chemical sectors.
• Assist with the development of member-facing tools and materials to facilitate understanding of regulatory obligations.

Organizational Support

• Maintain accurate documentation of meetings, agency actions, and member engagement.
• Support planning and execution of government affairs-related events, including fly-ins, webinars, and stakeholder roundtables.
• Collaborate with other SOCMA departments to integrate government relations into broader organizational initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of five years of experience in public policy, regulatory affairs, or government relations (e.g., Capitol Hill, regulatory agency, trade association, or chemical industry).
• Strong working knowledge of federal regulatory processes, particularly as they apply to chemical manufacturing.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to explain complex regulatory issues clearly.
• Strong analytical and research capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage relationships and represent an organization professionally in external settings.
• Self-starter with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, public Policy, government, or public administration, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of five years of Government Affairs or Public Policy experience.
• General computer and Microsoft Office Suite proficiency.

REQUIREMENTS:

• This position involves sedentary work approximately 40% of the time.
• This position requires speaking on the telephone or via a virtual meeting platform approximately 60% of the time.
• Ability to travel, as needed.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Virginia civil rights law, it is the policy of SOCMA to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause undue hardship.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements via LinkedIn or submit them directly to HR@socma.org.