Government Affairs Executive Director

Job Description

Summary: The Government Affairs Executive Director leads all major activities associated with government affairs and public affairs activities for selected states.  Reporting to the Vice President, Government Affairs, this high visibility role requires oversight of company interests through strategic and tactical management of a diversified team of contract lobbyists, consultants, and company functional areas of interest.

Essential Functions:   Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• Direct and manage strategy and tactics of a diversified team of state lobbyists and consultants in coordination with employees of company functional areas of interests;
• Oversee contract lobbyists and consultants supporting the Company;
• Cross-functional support of the company’s areas of interest impacted by government policies at the state legislative, administrative and regulatory levels;
• Enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences;
• In-depth knowledge and monitoring of proposed legislation to determine possible effects on company interests in selected states;
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with legislators and other public officials through participation in local, state and national events and meetings of legislative, administrative and policy organizations and campaigns;
• Manage consultants, advocacy initiatives, and projects to advance Company reputation and public affairs goals;
• Serve as a representative for the Company at conferences, meetings, forums, seminars, and other events;
• Build coalitions and expand relationships with key decision-makers, policymakers, and federal, state and local elected officials;
• Subject matter expert for press releases and messaging collateral in order to state the company’s views and to inform policymakers of impacts of proposed legislation considered desirable or undesirable;
• Author editorials and op-eds; actively engage in social media conversations, and serve as spokesperson for the Company in panels, conferences, and media.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position has no formal supervisory responsibilities.

Required Qualifications:   

• Seven (7) to Ten (10) years of successful leadership experience in lobbying, political campaigns, legislative affairs, and regulatory policy at the state level including extensive experience identifying and building relationships/working with key government leaders affecting legislation
• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Business Administration, Management or related discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience
• A keen interest/knowledge of education policy as it relates to affording parents educational options
• Strong interpersonal, influencing, negotiation and communication skills (written and verbal) along with considerable tact and diplomacy to effectively address all levels
• Exceptional personal and professional integrity
• Strong people management skills and open leadership style with ability to effectively lead/manage multiple projects
• Actively seeks out, participates in and accepts collaborative thinking and problem solving
• Extremely organized, ability to prioritize, self-directed, process-oriented and hands-on with the ability to dig into the details when necessary
• Strategic thinker able to position the organization for the future, conceptualize critical trends, identify changing market demands and implement tactically
• Creative, innovative and “out-of-the-box” thinking skills; systems thinker; Understands impacts of decisions on all aspects of the business
• Strong business acumen, intelligence and capacity
• Proactive, high energy, problem solving mentality, data driven with strong analytical and decision-making skills
• Strong work ethic, achievement oriented with a “failure is not an option” mentality
• High level of commitment to team and company values
• Professional appearance and presentation
• Ability to travel up to 50% or more of the time within assigned states
• Ability to clear required background check

Certificates and Licenses: None required.

Work Environment:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This position is remote and open to residents of the 50 states, D.C.   

Compensation &am