Vice President

Job Description

Western Digital is seeking a Vice President of Government Affairs and Policy to build an impactful government relations program and team to advance the company’s public policy agenda and represent the company’s interests on government policy at the federal, state and local level.  Based in Washington, D.C., this is an opportunity to establish, grow and lead the company’s presence in Washington, D.C. and a global team. The Vice President will develop and execute strategies to build Western Digital’s visibility among government and public policy stakeholders, promote its public policy priorities, and shape public dialogue on critical business and technology issues in the data storage industry.  A successful candidate will have proven management, leadership and communication skills, as well as strong, high-level relationships with policymakers and officials in Washington, D.C. The position will report to the Vice President, Government Affairs, Securities and Corporate Governance.

 Responsibilities

• Lead and grow a corporate government relations function and team
• Build Western Digital’s presence in Washington, D.C. to develop its brand in the policy and political spheres as a thought leader on issues impacting the company and industry
• Develop, execute, and promote government relations strategies, outreach and advocacy capabilities in Washington, D.C. and in those countries or jurisdictions where the company has strategic interests
• Assist in the development and adoption of legislation and regulations in line with company and industry interests
• Establish trusted relationships with key business partners across the company to help identify and inform advocacy priorities and objectives
• Establish, leverage and maintain relationships with government officials, industry groups, public policy organizations, think tanks, and other stakeholders to support Western Digital’s business objectives
• Work cross functionally across all aspects of the business to understand and identify legislative, regulatory and policy risks and opportunities to the business and execute strategies to manage those risks and capitalize on potential opportunities
• Develop expertise on a wide variety of legislative, regulatory and policy issues impacting Western Digital’s business and timely advise senior executives on such developments and impacts
• Facilitate senior executives’ preparation for meetings with government and industry stakeholders and attend such meetings, as necessary
• Identify key hearings, conferences and industry organizations and contribute to Western Digital’s informed and active participation to establish the company as a thought leader in policy debates affecting the company’s business and interests
• Prepare various policy materials for internal and external use with stakeholders, including position statements, reports, updates, briefing packages and talking points
• Manage correspondence with government officials and policy stakeholders to ensure it is consistent with Western Digital’s positions on key issues
• In close cooperation with legal counsel and the Ethics & Compliance team, identify and create policies and procedures related to government interaction and political activities to create awareness of requirements and support compliance
• Manage lobbyists, consultants and the government affairs budget

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in law, government, public policy or related field

• 15+ years of experience in government affairs, including experience in a multinational corporate government affairs department
• Congressional, agency and/or White House experience preferred, with strong bipartisan House and Senate relationships with leadership and committees
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with legislators, regulators, agencies and other government leaders
• Significant knowledge and understanding of federal legislative and regulatory processes, legislative and executive policymaking processes, and policy developments impacting the data storage industry
• Proven ability to set the direction and strategy for a government affairs function and to develop and execute strategy and innovative solutions
• Demonstrated ability to incorporate public policy with business strategy and propose practical business solutions, including creating opportunities to advance corporate objectives and grow revenue
• Experience working for a technology company or experience in the data storage industry, particularly in the policy area, is preferred
• Demonstrated experience building and managing a high-performance and collaborative team
• Detail-oriented, self-initiating, well-organized and capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously and independently
• Strong project management skills necessary to lead cross-functional projects and drive them to completion effectively and timely
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to understand and translate complex and potentially technical concepts into simple, but effective statements for internal and external stakeholders
• Committed to growth mindset and continuous improvement
• Understanding of compliance laws regulating political activities
• Excellent oral, written communication and presentation skills with the demonstrated ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the company, including senior executives and the Board of Directors and ability to influence/persuade external stakeholders
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability in managing functional objectives, staff, and internal and external stakeholders