Director Government Affairs – Mid-Atlantic/Great Lakes Region

## Job Id: R0000441552

**Pay Range:** $179,000.00 – $322,000.00

Pay is based on several factors which vary based on position. These include labor markets and in some instances may include education, work experience, and certifications. In addition to your pay, Target cares about and invests in you as a team member, so that you can take care of yourself and your family.

Target offers eligible team members and their dependents comprehensive health benefits and programs, which may include medical, vision, dental, life insurance and more. Other benefits for eligible team members include 401(k), employee discount, short‑term disability, long‑term disability, paid sick leave, paid national holidays, and paid vacation.

Find competitive benefits from financial and education to well‑being and beyond at **[https://corporate.target.com/careers/benefits]**.

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## Job Title: Director, State Government Affairs – Mid‑Atlantic/Great Lakes Region
**Classification:** Exempt
**Date:** June 2026

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## About Us

Working at Target means helping all families discover the joy of everyday life. We bring that vision to life through our values and culture.

To match the signature style and passion of Target’s distinctive and beloved retail brand, Target Legal Affairs is a dynamic and deeply knowledgeable team of legal pros with expertise across government affairs, policy, risk management, regulatory compliance, ethics, and employee and labor relations.

This team advocates for Target and its business plans in communities across the nation and works across the company to provide cohesive guidance. We focus on defining, investigating, anticipating, and mitigating risk in all its forms. We oversee and ensure correct, consistent, and authorized use of Target’s signature Bullseye logo and other trademarked material. We help protect Target and its subsidiaries by applying our understanding of the laws that govern stores, distribution centers, and corporate locations.

You’ll enjoy working autonomously with a healthy work‑life balance. Your passion for learning the business and building relationships with senior leaders and key partners will be essential in navigating the fast‑paced retail landscape.

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## Position Summary

As **Director, State Government Affairs**, you will lead Target’s engagement with state policymakers and key stakeholders across the Mid‑Atlantic and Great Lakes region. Serving as Target’s primary representative before state elected officials, you will advocate for the company’s public policy priorities and provide strategic counsel to internal partners on issues affecting operations, growth, reputation, and guests.

You will build and maintain relationships with lawmakers, regulators, trade associations, coalitions, and other external stakeholders. You will represent Target in industry groups, lead advocacy strategies, and partner with senior leaders to advance the company’s interests in a dynamic political environment.

Success requires strong influence and relationship‑building skills, sound judgment, and the ability to navigate complex policy, reputational, and business considerations.

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## Key Responsibilities

– **Strategic Relationships** — Maintain and deepen relationships with high‑ranking state elected officials, staff, and agencies in MI, IN, OH, PA, DE, MD, VA, WV, KY, and Washington, D.C. Territory assignments may change.
– **Advocacy** — Advocate with governors, attorneys general, legislators, and other officials on policies affecting Target’s growth and competitiveness.
– **Intelligence Gathering** — Establish and maintain a strategy to identify emerging trends and support business decisions.
– **Business Expert Engagement** — Prepare and leverage internal experts to advocate on Target’s behalf.
– **Trade Association Management**
– Attend industry events to build and maintain relationships.
– Maintain communication channels to gather intelligence and provide feedback on legislation.
– Oversee budgets for memberships and sponsorships.
– **Contract Lobbyist Oversight** — Oversee Target’s use of contract lobbyists in the region.
– **Grassroots Collaboration** — Partner with Grassroots Sr. Manager on calls to action, GOTV, tours, and other activations.
– **Internal Partnerships** — Build relationships with business leaders to understand priorities and provide timely policy updates.
– **Influence & Alignment** — Influence without authority across diverse stakeholders.
– **Policy Expertise** — Develop expertise on issues such as privacy, data security, taxes, alcohol expansion, supply chain, store operations, financial services, energy, and product safety.
– **Cross‑Functional Representation** — Represent Government Affairs on internal teams.
– **Corporate Collaboration** — Collaborate with Corporate Affairs, Real Estate, Assets Protection & Corporate Security, Enterprise Sustainability, Stores, and Supply Chain.
– **Conference Engagement** — Enhance Target’s presence at conferences and build relationships with officials and peers.
– **Confidential Information Management** — Protect and appropriately leverage highly confidential information.

*Job duties may change at any time due to business needs.*

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## About You

– Bachelor’s Degree
– 6–10 years of experience in business or related field
– Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills
– Solid decision‑making ability and independent action
– Ability to conceptualize and manage research and analysis on priority policy issues
– Ability to apply retail knowledge to public policy analysis
– Ability to analyze and react to political trends at state and national levels
– Strong oral and written communication skills
– Proven ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership
– Ability to build strong internal and external relationships
– Ability to travel as needed
– Demonstrated ability to manage conflict and perform in high‑stress environments

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## Desired Requirements

– Advanced degree in a related field (may substitute for some experience)
– Previous retail industry experience
– Previous experience and/or political relationships in the geographic territory
– Previous experience with policy analysis relevant to retail

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## Benefits Eligibility

Please paste this URL into your browser to learn about benefits eligibility for this role:
**[https://tgt.biz/BenefitsForYou_F]**

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## Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

In compliance with state and federal laws, Target will make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the application or interview process, please contact:

**[email protected]**

Non‑accommodation‑related requests (e.g., application follow‑ups or technical issues) will not be addressed through this channel.

Apply here