Government Affairs Lead

Cognizant North America
life insurance, parental leave, paid time off, paid holidays, 401(k)
United States, D.C., Washington
Apr 22, 2025
The Government Affairs Senior Director will be a key representative of the government affairs team for Cognizant, a Fortune 200 digital engineering and technology company. The Senior Director will assist the VP of Government Affairs by implementing strategic objectives, representing Cognizant in federal government engagement, and monitoring and reporting on legislation and regulations. In this role, you will lead relationship management with government officials, ensure Legal team is compliant with policy updates. Responsibilities: Execute a strategy to successfully represent Cognizant in important policy matters, including participation in lobbying on legislative and regulatory policy in key areas before government officials Represent the company by attending policy and fundraising events Support the activities of the Government Affairs function in building the Cognizant brand among stakeholders in Washington, DC and in key states and municipalities across the US. Represent Cognizant in trade associations and partnerships across a broad group of officials, partners, customers, etc.; play leadership role in associations and build coalitions with similarly situated interest groups and companies. Identify and communicate legislative issues and trends that impact the company, including preparing memoranda and briefing materials Support the strategic activities of Cognizant's Political Action Committee Develop and demonstrate substantial knowledge of Cognizant business and operations and be prepared to provide regular updates and participate in briefings with internal Cognizant leaders Experience: Bachelor's degree and at least 8 years of experience in government or public-sector public policy; legal, or corporate government affairs Experience working with government or corporate executives; ability to translate complex information into an easily understandable narrative Ability to maintain and leverage of a broad network of government policy makers Understanding of political and legislative issues and processes Previous experience in IT services industry preferred Proven experience in maintaining project schedules, documentation, communications and meeting deadlines Results and metrics oriented A collaborative team member is a requirement Our strength is built on our ability to work together. Our diverse backgrounds offer different perspectives and new ways of thinking. It encourages lively discussions, inspires thought leadership, and helps us build better solutions for people. We want someone who thrives in this setting and is inspired to craft meaningful solutions through true collaboration. If you're comfortable with ambiguity, excited by change, and excel through autonomy, we'd love to hear from you. Why choose cognizant It takes a lot to succeed in today's fast-paced market, and Cognizant Technology Solutions has become a leader in the industry. We love big ideas and even bigger dreams. We stand out because we put human experiences at the core. We help clients engage customers by envisioning and building creative products and services. But we don't stop there. We develop go-to-market strategies and invent entirely new business models, ensuring that every company we work with walks away with both inspiration and a plan. Everything we do at Cognizant we do with passion-for our clients, our communities, and our organization. It's the defining attribute that we look for in our people. Salary and Other Compensation: Applications will be accepted until May 20, 2025. The annual salary for this position is between $160,650 - $255,000 depending on the experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate. This position is also eligible for Cognizant's discretionary annual incentive program and stock awards, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant's applicable plans. Benefits: Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: * Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance * Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off * 401(k) plan and contributions * Long-term/Short-term Disability * Paid Parental Leave * Employee Stock Purchase Plan Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.