Director, State Regulatory Affairs

Who We Are

JuneShine Brands was built by people who believe you shouldn't have to choose between living well and working hard. Our founders met through a shared love of surfing, the outdoors, and chasing experiences worth having. That spirit still runs through everything we do.

We are a company with a purpose beyond profit. Every brand we build exists for a reason. We believe the next generation of consumers will choose brands that reflect their values, and we intend to build exactly those brands.

We hire exceptional people and get out of their way. Flexible hours, no micromanagement, and trust as the default - we take cues from Yvon Chouinard's Let My People Go Surfing, a book we give every new hire on day one. What we ask in return is simple: own your work, deliver with excellence, and never let flexibility come at someone else's expense.

We value people who are hungry and humble, who take ownership without being asked, who move fast without cutting corners, and who make everyone around them better. If that sounds like you, we'd love to meet you.

This is the role that shapes hemp beverage policy before it's written into law. As Director, State Regulatory Affairs, you'll report to the CEO and own government affairs and advocacy for Willie's across every priority state - as we open new markets and turn regulatory ambiguity into a competitive advantage.

Lead Government Affairs & Advocacy: 

Shape policy outcomes: Proactively influence state and federal hemp beverage regulations before they're finalized - focusing on packaging standards, DTC frameworks, and market access Drive advocacy campaigns: Represent Willie's in state-level advocacy, industry coalitions, trade associations, and regulatory working groups Build strategic relationships: Cultivate relationships with state regulators, policymakers, legislative staff, and key stakeholders Develop policy positions: Create regulatory comments, white papers, testimony, and advocacy materials that influence outcomes in priority markets Monitor and analyze: Track legislative and regulatory developments across priority states and advice leadership on strategic response - anticipating shifts, not just reporting them Maintain industry presence: actively participate in trade associations, industry events, and coalitions to stay ahead of political and commercial trends Serve as internal expert on state hemp beverage frameworks across active and expansion markets Guide market prioritization and entry strategies based on regulatory feasibility and advocacy opportunities Partner with product, marketing, legal, and sales teams to integrate regulatory insight into go-to-market strategy and commercial decisions Provide strategic direction to the compliance function to ensure execution aligns with markets you're opening Other duties and areas of coverage may be assigned at the manager's discretion, consistent with the scope and level of this role Perform other related duties, responsibilities, and special projects as assigned based on business needs and organizational priorities

21 years of age or older at the time of application 5-8 years of government affairs or regulatory advocacy experience in hemp, cannabis, alcohol or highly regulated CPG Ability to travel 1-2 times per month Strong understanding of state hemp beverage policy landscape and emerging regulatory trends, including market access and packaging considerations Proven track record of influencing state-level regulations or legislation across multiple states Experience partnering with executive leadership to inform strategic and commercial decisions Comfortable making strategic recommendations and pushing back with hard truths when needed Ability and willingness to travel up to 35% of the time , which may vary based on business demands

Existing relationships with state regulators, legislators, or industry advocacy organizations (NCIA, HIA, NBWA, WSWA, DISCUS, Beer Institute) Experience working at or with alcohol or hemp trade associations Experience with industry coalitions on multi-state policy campaigns JD or formal legal/policy training Familiarity with FDA, TTB, USDA, or state beverage control agencies Background building government affairs functions in high-growth companies

 

 

You must reside in the United States to be considered for this position.

 

 

This role supports multiple beverage brands within the JuneShine Brands portfolio, including alcohol and hemp-derived THC beverages.

All Juneshine Brands products are intended for adults 21+.