Vice President of Government Affairs

Role Overview

• Develop and lead the overall government affairs strategy – Create, implement, and continually refine a comprehensive advocacy plan aligned with the association’s business goals, mission, and strategic priorities; anticipate political/policy risks and opportunities; advise senior leadership (e.g., CEO) on government-related matters.
• Build and maintain key relationships – Establish and cultivate strong, bipartisan relationships with elected officials (governors, state legislators and regulators), their staff, administration/regulatory officials, agencies, trade associations, coalitions, and other stakeholders/influencers.
• Monitor, track, and analyze legislation and regulations – Proactively track federal/state/local legislative, regulatory, and political developments; analyze potential impacts on the association; identify emerging trends/issues; prepare summaries, impact assessments, position papers, and briefings for internal leaders and members.
• Advocate for the association’s positions – Manage and coordinate with contract lobbyists/consultants; represent the association before lawmakers, regulators, and agencies; develop and advance policy priorities; draft/prepare testimony, talking points, letters, comments, advocacy materials, and responses; lobby directly or coordinate grassroots/grasstops efforts.
• Lead advocacy execution and engagement – Drive coalition-building, stakeholder outreach, and mobilization (e.g., member fly-ins, briefings, campaigns); coordinate with internal teams (legal, Board, committees) to align policy positions, messaging, and strategies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in policy management, political science or another related field, or a combination of education and experience in a related field
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in advocacy and policy development, experience working with federal and state governments a plus
• Proven demonstration of developing advocacy plans
• Demonstrated success advancing legislative or regulatory priorities at the federal and/or state levels
• Proven ability to operate effectively in complex, high profile political environments
• Experience supervising third party firms and consultants
• Ability to communicate effectively to multiple levels in the association, including executive leadership
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders internally and externally
• High degree of organization and attention to detail
• Experience working in the outdoors, recreation, sports, and/or sustainability sectors a plus
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs., as needed
• Must be able to sit, walk, or stand for long durations of time

Benefits

• paid vacation and sick days
• paid Volunteer Day
• health insurance (employer pays the majority of premium for individual coverage)
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• life insurance
• retirement plan match
• additional voluntary benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• professional development support