Senior Director Government Affairs

The Senior Director, Government Affairs will coordinate Aramark’s engagement with federal, state and local governments across all of our operating markets and lines of business. Aramark engages with all levels of government on a variety of issues affecting all 11 US lines of business. We seek and hold significant contracts with the federal government and many state and local governments, and we also operate businesses that are regulated by all levels of government. This role sits at the center of how we protect and grow our business; monitoring policy, influencing legislation, and ensuring the right relationships are in place before decisions get made that affect our people, our contracts, and our operations. 

This is a high-visibility position that requires a deep understanding of government operations, policy formulation, and legislative processes. The right person has done this before at scale; in a large, complex organization. And brings the network, instincts, and credibility to represent Aramark effectively at the federal, state, and local levels. Supporting internal stakeholders and collaborating across functions and lines of business will be a crucial aspect of this job. Aramark has hundreds of government touchpoints and dozens of employees who directly engage with government in some capacity. The successful candidate will be able to quickly map this network, collaborate across functions and lines of business, and help set and drive a cohesive government affairs strategy that addresses the needs of disparate stakeholders. 

Key focus areas include stakeholder and policy engagement representing Aramark with government leaders and agencies while monitoring and advocating on legislation that affects our business and overseeing the work of outside government relations professionals, executive advising, ensuring leadership is informed and prepared to navigate the political and regulatory environment with confidence and clarity. 

Job Responsibilities

• Develop and support Aramark's federal, state and local government affairs strategy, including direct lobbying and oversight of external lobbyists and consultants in priority markets. 
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders and colleagues with a role in Aramark’s government relationships across our lines of business and corporate functions. 
• Monitor legislation and regulatory activity across our operating markets; flagging risks early, identifying opportunities, and developing responses that protect the business. 
• Represent Aramark with key government leaders, agencies, third-party groups, and industry associations; maintaining a visible and credible presence in the markets that matter most. 
• Develop and maintain trusted relationships with governors, state legislators, city and county officials, and regulatory agency leaders across party lines and geographies. 
• Partner with HR and Legal on labor and workforce policy issues and represent Aramark's position in legislative settings. 
• Support growth by assessing the government affairs landscape in target markets, identifying incentive opportunities, and navigating licensing, permitting, and zoning for new and existing locations. 
• Counsel senior leadership on political and regulatory matters, translating complex policy issues into clear, actionable guidance that supports business decision-making. 
• Ensure all lobbying and political activity fully complies with applicable registration, disclosure, ethics, and reporting requirements. 

Qualifications

Required Experience

• 5-10 years of experience in government affairs, public affairs, or legislative/regulatory affairs with meaningful time at a large, complex organization. 
• Significant federal lobbying experience 
• Hands-on experience managing state and/or local lobbying across multiple jurisdictions. 
• A proven relationship-builder with elected officials, government staff, and regulators. 
• Ability to connect the dots between external policy activity and internal business operations; understanding what legislative changes mean for a company like Aramark. 
• Strong communicator; written, verbal, and in the room. 
• Able and willing to travel 60-70% of the time. 

Preferred Experience

• Experience in hospitality, food service, facilities management, or another large-scale service business. 
• A J.D. or background in labor, employment, or regulatory law. 
• Prior experience inside federal, state or local government. 
• Existing network of external government affairs professionals across states and municipalities. 

Location

Washington, DC or Philadelphia, PA

Benefits

COMPENSATION: The hourly rate or salary range for this position is $126,000 to $231,000. If both numbers are the same, that is the amount that Aramark expects to offer. This is Aramark’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation for this position as of the time of posting.

BENEFITS: Aramark offers comprehensive benefit programs and services for eligible employees including medical, dental, vision, and work/life resources. Additional benefits may include retirement savings plans like 401(k) and paid days off such as parental leave and disability coverage. Benefits vary by location and are subject to any legal requirements or limitations, employee eligibility status, and where the employee lives and/or works. For more information