State Government & Community Relations Director (Northeast Region)

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

This position is in-office in Baltimore, MD

Job Profile Summary:

Reporting to the regional vice president (RVP) as part of the regional leadership team and serving as the regional liaison to the Office of the President and WGU’s Government Relations, the State Government & Community Relations Director (“the director”) engages with university staff and stakeholders to manage and execute a regional strategy that advances WGU’s mission and goals. Primarily through building and maintaining relationships with elected officials, political appointees, education and workforce leaders, and community-based organizations (CBOs), the director nurtures internal and local/state/regional external relationships benefitting WGU, its students, and alumni.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the regional leadership team, grow brand awareness through measured, strategic activities, including non-profit organizational presentations and event participation, creating policy and thought leadership engagement opportunities.
• In collaboration with the regional leadership team and Strategic Partnerships Managers (SPMs), identify prospective organizational partners serving diverse and historically underrepresented populations in higher education. Under the RVP’s direction, formalize high-value partnerships to increase the reach and impact of WGU’s mission.
• In collaboration with regional leaders and the Office of Advancement, identify local opportunities to secure privately funded donations and grants that support WGU’s mission.
• Participate on behalf of WGU as a representative to relevant nonpartisan, non-profit organizations and policy bodies, such as legislative, governor, and lieutenant governor associations, economic development groups, and related public-private partnership efforts.

Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:

• The director will have experience as an operational leader and a strong record of achieving aggressive goals while operating in a cross-functional capacity. The director adeptly navigates external environments that may impact the university and its operations. The director effectively engages university partners and is probing, open-minded, and solution-oriented.
• The director will be comfortable with ambiguity, willing to experiment and make decisions with less-than-perfect information, and able to articulate WGU’s purpose, mission, vision, and goals and motivate others to achieve those goals.
• The director will be a clear, effective communicator, exhibiting exceptional and persuasive communication skills, oral and written, in addressing external and internal audiences while successfully balancing the appropriate levels of decorum and respect for office holders when asserting the positions of the University, necessary to advance student opportunity.
• The director will exercise great judgment and strong political acumen, deal effectively with paradox, exhibit good instincts, be willing to make tough calls and be adaptable and collaborative in all decisions.

Job Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 5+ years of professional experience with a bachelor's degree, or 3+ years and a master's degree. Professional experience should include government relations, directing legislative work and community partnerships.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree.
• 5 + years of experience managing successful multi-state lobbying initiatives.
• Experience in higher education and academic operations.
• Experience working in a matrixed environment and organization.