Director, State & Local Gov't Affairs

What you’ll do:

Job Summary:

The Director, State & Local Gov't Affairs leads and directs Eaton’s state and local government affairs strategy, developing and executing proactive engagement with government officials, monitoring regulatory and policy developments, and driving legislative and regulatory advocacy initiatives across Eaton’s U.S. operations. Serves as a trusted advisor to senior Eaton executives and aligns diverse stakeholder groups - including functional teams, plant management, business unit leaders, and subject matter experts - to represent the enterprise with senior-level external stakeholders. Develops innovative policy and advocacy solutions to complex business issues and manages external consulting firms and relevant trade associations to advance Eaton’s government affairs objectives across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring all engagement activities align with Eaton ethics, compliance, and anti‑corruption requirements. Partners with the VP, Government Affairs, Americas and Manager, Government Affairs, Americas on significant issues as needed.

Key Eaton outcomes: Drive electrical sector market development and sales growth by influencing key policy and regulatory decisions that promote investment in utility and data center infrastructure and advance code adoption. Support Eaton’s U.S. capacity investment considerations by working with state and local economic development agencies. Mitigates enterprise risks by monitoring and engaging on policies related to tax, human resources, and environment, health, and sustainability.

Job Responsibilities:

• Proactively identifies, prioritizes and manages key state/local public affairs issues (Key issues are those in which legislation or government regulation can impact sales or cost, including utility regulations and infrastructure, data center build-out, electrical code adoption, tax policy, and economic development programs).
• Develops and executes strategy for engagement with state and local officials, building and maintaining working relationships that impact Eaton’s operations, customers, and markets.
• Develops and executes Eaton’s state and local government engagement strategy across business units and functions, ensuring alignment and timely escalation when needed.
• Creates innovative policy and advocacy solutions to complex business issues, translating legislative and regulatory developments into actionable strategies that protect and advance Eaton’s interests.
• Manages and leverages external consulting firms and trade associations to support government affairs objectives; ensures scope, deliverables, and reporting align with Eaton priorities.
• Leads Eaton’s “Key Contact Program,” connecting senior Eaton leaders with their elected officials.
• Develops and executes Eaton’s “grassroots” lobbying strategy, including the manner in which we engage our employees on key issues.
• Communicates effectively with internal Eaton stakeholders across all business and functional levels, aligning diverse stakeholder groups around shared government affairs priorities.
• Partners with the VP, Government Affairs – Americas and Manager, Government Affairs – Americas on managing significant issues as needed.
• Ensures compliance and integrity in all government engagement activities, including adherence to ethics, compliance, and anti‑corruption requirements; escalates concerns as appropriate.

Qualifications:

Education level required:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Years and area of experience required:

• Minimum ten (10) years experience as a lobbyist and/or key staffer of statewide elected official, state legislator, trade association, or corporate government affairs role.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Understanding of how state governments can affect business operations.
• Keen understanding of legislative and regulatory processes, utility regulatory experience is a plus.
• Interest in and understanding of Eaton’s businesses, and the ability to function as a “bridge” between the regulatory/legislative arena and Eaton’s business environment.
• Outstanding relationship building and communications skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior executives and align diverse, cross-functional stakeholder groups around complex policy and advocacy priorities.
• Ability to anticipate emerging issues and develop strategies to respond to them.

Additional Information: