Goverment Affairs Advocate

Objective: SAP Global Communications is made up of four units: Investor Relations, Internal Communications, Product and Customer Communications, and Public Communications. These units conceive, develop, and create communications programs and activities that increase the visibility of SAP among key stakeholders; promote the corporate vision and direction as part of a unified approach to brand development; and advise the senior management and boards on a range of communication issues. All areas within Global Communications support SAP's business and marketing objectives. Public Communications is specifically tasked with the company's corporate public relations, executive communications, government relations, and corporate citizenship strategy development and execution. Corporate public relations' mission is to cultivate and develop relationships with the leading media channels; identify, evaluate and secure interview/comment opportunities for senior executives; and build a coordinated corporate global "presence" in the media. Executive communications seeks to identify and evaluate speaking opportunities for senior management; prepare and produce speeches and presentations; and oversee presentations and speaker training. Government Relations carries out SAP's advocacy and lobbying efforts in markets where it does business and with supra-national government organizations. Corporate citizenship directs and manages how the company engages society in general, especially in the areas of university education and governance. Position Responsibilities: - Assuming a position of highest responsibility as an integral part of the SAP Global Communications Public Services team, the individual filling this position will assist in carrying out SAP Government Relations' advocacy and lobbying efforts in each marketplace where SAP does business, and with national government organizations. - This position will be responsible for implementing the overall outreach strategy for SAP AG and SAP America at the state and local levels, as well as assisting with federal appropriations. - Specifically, this role will focus on developing and successfully executing strategies to further SAP's business development within the public services sector through effective lobbying, political outreach, and management of think tank and third-party relationships important to public officials involved in software and procurement policy. - This position will work closely with SAP's senior executive team and business units in developing overall strategy for selected policy and procurement issues at the federal, state, and local levels. - Immediate objectives would include developing dynamic strategies to strengthen SAP's position with Members of the congressional Appropriations and Armed Services committees, among others. - Because the new Advocate will immediately assume responsibility for existing accounts and be expected to generate new business – which will involve representing SAP's interests in meetings with policy makers and their staffs at all levels of government – extensive government experience is required. - Such experience will be needed to effectively advise SAP's senior executive team on matters of interest, and meaningfully and appropriately engage in the complex negotiations that accompany such matters. - Particular emphasis will be placed upon knowledge of the appropriations and procurement process, and especially business development acumen as shown through persuasion skills (strategic thinking, verbal and written communication, organizational, "people skills") and an outstanding reputation for working ethically and honestly in pressure situations where proactive thinking is a prerequisite to success. - An undergraduate degree and exemplary performance record are also required. Basic Qualifications: Demonstrated experience in government relations, including how states and municipalities make decisions. Demonstrated experience of budget and appropriations process as well as procurement and acquisition policy from both a state and federal government perspective. 8+ years experience with state legislative issues, 8+ years experience as a Congressional staffer, or in a public policy related position within the Administration or a combination thereof.

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