Job Description

We help the world run better
At SAP, we keep it simple: you bring your best to us, and we'll bring out the best in you. We're builders touching over 20 industries and 80% of global commerce, and we need your unique talents to help shape what's next. The work is challenging – but it matters. You'll find a place where you can be yourself, prioritize your wellbeing, and truly belong. What's in it for you? Constant learning, skill growth, great benefits, and a team that wants you to grow and succeed. 

About Government Affairs

SAP Government Affairs is SAP’s single point of contact for all interactions with government entities to drive business development and mitigate policy and regulatory risk. We engage with government officials, regulators, legislative bodies, and business associations at the regional, national and international level. We advocate for SAP’s specific interests, monitor and mitigate policy and regulatory developments and identify opportunities, contributing to market shaping and business opportunity creation. 

About the Position

Overview

SAP America is seeking a strategic and dynamic Senior Manager to lead state and local government affairs across California and 17 Western U.S. states. This role, reporting to the Vice President, Head of U.S. Government Affairs, is pivotal in aligning public policy initiatives with SAP America’s business objectives, particularly within the State, Local, and Education (SLED) Public Services. The ideal candidate will serve as a trusted advisor to state public policymakers and government IT professionals, enabling sales opportunities, fostering relationships with government officials and advocating for policies that support innovation and digital transformation.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive government affairs strategies to advance SAP’s interests at the state and local governmental levels within the U.S. Western region.

• Monitor, analyze, and influence legislative and regulatory developments impacting SAP America’s operations, including areas such as IT modernization, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, privacy, cloud computing, sustainability, taxation, procurement, and supply chain management, among other issues.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with key state and local government officials, including governors, legislators, mayors, and regulators, to advocate for SAP’s policy positions and business objectives.
• Work closely with SAP’s SLED Public Services teams to identify potential sales pipeline opportunities and support the adoption of SAP solutions within public sector entities.
• Oversee and coordinate activities of external consultants and lobbyists in select jurisdictions to ensure alignment with SAP’s strategic goals.
• Ensure all lobbying activities comply with relevant state and local laws, including registration and reporting requirements, and adhere to SAP’s Code of Business Conduct.
• Represent SAP at industry conferences, trade associations, and public forums to promote the company’s role as a leader in technology solutions for the public sector.
• Prepare briefing materials, policy analyses, and presentations for SAP’s executive leadership to inform decision-making and strategic planning.

About You

We are looking for an individual that will make a difference. This might be you if you meet the following criteria:

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, public policy, law, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7-10 years in government affairs, public policy, business support, sales, consulting or related roles, with a focus on state and local government relations.
• Deep understanding of legislative, regulatory and government procurement processes at the state and local levels, particularly within the Western U.S. region.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and analytical skills.  An ability to navigate complex political environments and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
• This position requires the successful candidate to register as a lobbyist in accordance with the State of California and other U.S. state and local jurisdictions as required by law.
• Based in Sacramento, California, or the broader San Francisco Bay Area, with the ability to travel throughout state capitals located in the Western U.S. States as needed.

• Established network of relationships with state and local government officials within state and local jurisdictions throughout the U.S. Western region.
• Experience in the technology sector, particularly with enterprise software solutions.
• Proven track record of successfully influencing public policy to achieve business objectives.
• Strong ethical standards and adherence to compliance regulations.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic team environment.
• High level of self-motivation and customer focus, with an acute understanding of business drivers and principles.

Bring out your best
SAP innovations help more than four hundred thousand customers worldwide work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively. Originally known for leadership in enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, SAP has evolved to become a market leader in end-to-end business application software and related services for database, analytics, intelligent technologies, and experience management. As a cloud company with two hundred million users and more than one hundred thousand employees worldwide, we are purpose-driven and future-focused, with a highly collaborative team ethic and commitment to personal development. Whether connecting global industries, people, or platforms, we help ensure every challenge gets the solution it deserves. At SAP, you can bring out your best.  

We win with inclusion
SAP’s culture of inclusion, focus on health and well-being, and flexible working models help ensure that everyone – regardless of background – feels included and can run at their best. At SAP, we believe we are made stronger by the unique capabilities and qualities that each person brings to our company, and we invest in our employees to inspire confidence and help everyone realize their full potential. We ultimately believe in unleashing all talent and creating a better world.

SAP is committed to the values of Equal Employment Opportunity and provides accessibility accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with SAP and are in need of accommodation or special assistance to navigate our website or to complete your application, please send an e-mail with your request to Recruiting Operations Team: Careers@sap.com.

For SAP employees: Only permanent roles are eligible for the SAP Employee Referral Program , according to the eligibility rules set in the SAP Referral Policy. Specific conditions may apply for roles in Vocational Training.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their age, race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, et al), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or disability.

Compensation Range Transparency : SAP believes the value of pay transparency contributes towards an honest and supportive culture and is a significant step toward demonstrating SAP’s commitment to pay equity. SAP provides the annualized compensation range inclusive of base salary and variable incentive target for the career level applicable to the posted role. The targeted combined range for this position is 142,500 - 327100(USD) USD. The actual amount to be offered to the successful candidate will be within that range, dependent upon the key aspects of each case which may include education, skills, experience, scope of the role, location, etc. as determined through the selection process. Any SAP variable incentive includes a targeted dollar amount and any actual payout amount is dependent on company and personal performance. Please reference this link for a summary of SAP benefits and eligibility requirements:

AI Usage in the Recruitment Process

For information on the responsible use of AI in our recruitment process, please refer to our .

Please note that any violation of these guidelines may result in disqualification from the hiring process.

Requisition ID: 436461  | Work Area: Communication  | Expected Travel: 0 - 10%  | Career Status: Professional  | Employment Type: Regular Full Time   | Additional Locations:  #LI-Hybrid

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Local area, Worldwide, Flexible hours,

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