External Affairs Manager

Position:
External Affairs Manager, North America

Location/Department:
Richmond Headquarters/External Affairs

Status:
Full-Time/Salaried Exempt

Reports To:
Vice President, External Affairs

Our Company

Universal is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, and is the leading global leaf tobacco supplier. Tobacco sourcing and processing has been the Company's principal focus since its founding in 1918. The largest portion of the Company's business involves procuring and processing flue-cured, burley, and dark air-cured leaf tobacco for manufacturers of consumer tobacco products. Over the past few years, Universal has expanded its business through a series of acquisitions to develop a plant-based ingredients business segment to support the food and beverage markets which will provide future growth opportunities for Universal. We are now a global business-to-business agri-products supplier to consumer product manufacturers, that sources and processes leaf tobacco and plant-based ingredients. Through our plant-based ingredients platform, we provide a variety of value-added manufacturing processes to produce high-quality, specialty vegetable- and fruit-based ingredients as well as botanical extracts and flavorings for human and pet food end markets.

Universal conducts business in more than 30 countries on five continents and employs over 25,000 permanent and seasonal workers. Domestically, Universal employs over 1,000 permanent and seasonal workers, and its revenues ending March 31, 2023, were $2.6 billion.

For more information on Universal, visit our website at

Summary

As an External Affairs Manager at Universal, you will define and advocate policy priorities across local, state, and federal levels in North and Central America; build and maintain relationships with government officials, regulators, industry leaders, and stakeholders; represent Universal in industry forums and associations; collaborate internally and externally to assess legislative and regulatory impacts and craft responses; develop effective public communication platforms; and identify, analyze, and address public issues relevant to Universal's interests.

What You'll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

• Define, communicate, and advocate Universal's policy priorities on a local, state, and federal level for those countries in which Universal operates in North and Central America.
• Establish and maintain relationships with elected and non-elected government officials, regulatory policy makers, key industry opinion leaders, and other stakeholders to articulate and advance Universal's objectives.
• Represent Universal's interests in industry consultations, trade associations, conferences, and seminars.
• Collaborate with representatives from within Universal's regional management/external affairs teams as well as with external sources to analyze/assess implications of legislative and regulatory policies, and to develop appropriate responses.
• Develop and implement seamless public communication platforms.
• Identify and analyze public issues with potential interest to Universal; recommend and facilitate implementation of strategies to address these issues.
• Manage the day-to-day activities of the Political Action Committee (PAC).

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Law, Public Relations, or related field.
• 5 or more years of relevant experience in government relations.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret business implications of legislation and regulations and understanding across a broad range of complex issues.
• Thorough understanding of US federal regulatory, legislative, and political processes and how to develop/implement strategies to advance public policy objectives.
• Strong, demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written) that include the ability to make clear, persuasive submissions to government/senior officials, growers, and trade associations and the ability to communicate effectively with senior executives.
• Ability to work with minimal direction, particularly in areas of specialization.
• Ability to operate under pressure and within tight time frames.
• Ability to multi-task in order to simultaneously manage diverse subjects and tasks.
• Ability to travel for at least 12 weeks per year.
• Must act with integrity and confidentiality.

Preferred Requirements

• Advanced degree (MBA, JD, etc.) preferred.
• PAC administrative experience preferred.
• Experience with labor unions and related issues preferred.
• Fluency in Spanish preferred.
• Agricultural background preferred.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of market-competitive total rewards that include 401(k) match, pension, merit increases, paid holidays, medical, dental, life, vision, short and long-term disability benefits, and tuition assistance to name a few.

EOE M/F/Disabled/Vet Employer

All applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.