The Task At Hand:
Shape the rules. Unlock new markets. Drive the future of THC beverages.
JuneShine Brands is building an innovative social tonic platform, with Willie’s Remedy+ leading the next wave of THC beverages. As one of the fastest-growing brands in the category, we’re entering a critical growth phase where advocacy leadership and regulatory influence will define who wins.
As the Director of Government Affairs and Regulation, you'll lead our efforts to shape the hemp beverage regulatory landscape - building relationships with policymakers, advancing industry positions, and turning regulatory uncertainty into competitive advantage. This is a high impact, externally focused advocacy role reporting to the CFO and working closely with the CEO, Board and industry coalitions to unlock scalable growth.
This is a high-impact, externally facing role reporting to the CFO and working closely with the CEO, Board, and industry partners to advance advocacy efforts and unlock scalable growth.
If you thrive in ambiguity, enjoy shaping emerging policy, and have a track record of winning advocacy battles in hemp, cannabis, or alcohol - this role is for you.
Who You Are:
- Government affairs leader with proven experience influencing hemp, cannabis or alcohol regulations at the state level
- Strategic relationship builder with regulators, legislators and industry coalitions
- Deep understanding of hemp/cannabis beverage policy with a business-first, advocacy-driven mindset
- Entrepreneurial operator comfortable navigating political dynamics in fast-moving environments
What You'll Do:
- 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
- Enable Market Growth & Strategic Guidance:
- 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 GTM strategy and commercial decisions
- Provide strategic direction to the compliance function to ensure execution aligns with markets you're opening
Must Haves:
- 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
- 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 advising executive leadership and integrating regulatory insight into business strategy
- Experience partnering with executive leadership to inform strategic and commercial decisions
- Comfortable making strategic recommendations and pushing back with hard truths when needed
- Ability to support key markets (preference for CA, TX, or DC) and travel as needed
Nice to Haves:
- 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
Compensation, Perks + Benefits:
- Compensation:
- $150,000 - $160,000 per year
- The final offer will be based on several factors, including experience, skills, and overall expertise
- Equity Eligible
- Perks + Benefits:
- Unlimited Paid Time Off
- Healthcare coverage: up to 90% company contribution for employees and 25% for dependents
- Voluntary vision, dental, and accidental plans401(k) with up to 4% company match
- 12 weeks of paid Equal Parental Leave, $500 Baby Bonding Bucks, and a sustainable baby gift
- Booch, spirit, beer, and soft good perks
- And more!
Who We Are
Our Purpose: To make quality, purpose-driven beverages
Our Business: Our vision is to create the next-generation beverage platform, comprising distinct brands, each with its own ethos and purpose. Despite being a multi-billion dollar industry, it lacks options that cater to the next generation of drinkers who will demand more from their alcohol than a mere buzz. Disrupting this industry is a worthy, and massive opportunity.
Our Culture: Our core values are Quality, Transparency, and Team-First. We derive much of our management policy from a book we give you upon hiring, ‘Let My People Go Surfing', by Yvon Chouinard (founder, owner, Patagonia). Our policy is to allow workers flexible hours, provided the work gets done with no negative impact on others. Our ‘let my people go surfing’ policy demands that we hire very unique individuals; those with a combination of self-motivation, self-discipline, and energy.
JuneShine Brands is a purpose-driven organization composed of a diverse and dynamic group of individuals with varied backgrounds, passions, and beliefs. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone’s unique perspectives are valued. We seek to hire self-motivated, independent thinkers, who embrace challenging the status quo. Join us at JuneShine Brands where you’re encouraged to bring your authentic self to your craft every day. As a proud equal opportunity employer, we are dedicated to ensuring fairness and equity in our hiring practices.
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+.
