Director of State Government Affairs

About the Job

Responsibilities

VI seeks a Director of State Government Affairs to implement strategic legislative advocacy, policy research, and direct lobbying to advance the industry’s priority issues at the state level. The position reports to VI’s Vice President of Government Affairs. Candidates should have experience in state advocacy, public policy development, coalition building, leadership roles, and state legislative engagement. Location in the Washington, D.C. area (where VI is headquartered) is beneficial but not required. Candidates should be prepared to travel extensively to state capitals and industry meetings as necessary to perform the position’s functions.

Qualifications

• Relevant undergraduate degree.
• Five or more years of progressive experience as a state lobbyist or in a state government affairs capacity, interacting with or serving in positions in the executive, legislative, or regulatory government roles.
• Proven record of accomplishment in advancing important issues through state-level advocacy.
• Thorough understanding of the state legislative and regulatory process.
• Understanding of state lobbying regulations and ability to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Relevant experience with the chemical industry or chemicals policy is especially beneficial.
• Ability to interact and communicate with executives of VI member companies and downstream allies to help develop consensus on industry positions on state-level policy issues.
• Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment in the performance of assigned responsibilities.
• Highly motivated person, able to operate independently and make adept decisions within established VI policy parameters.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively within the U.S. (up to 50% during peak legislative sessions, including evenings and weekends), and to make travel arrangements independently.

Skills and Attributes

• Strong presence with excellent verbal, writing, and presentation skills.
• Willingness and ability to represent the industry before state legislators, regulators, and NGO representatives.
• Ability to build diverse bipartisan relationships and maintain those relationships by being a trusted and accurate source of VI and industry information and expertise.
• Ability to research and synthesize VI and downstream stakeholders’ technical and policy information.
• Ability to develop advocacy communication materials such as position briefs, policy white papers, letters, memos, talking points, and other advocacy tools as needed to support VI and industry policy positions.
• Team player able to work collegially and collaboratively with VI staff, consultants, and members.
• Ability to monitor, track, analyze, and prioritize legislative and regulatory introductions based on VI and industry policy positions.
• Ability to draft, deliver, and understand legislative and regulatory language and offer revisions that advance VI and industry policy positions.
• Ability to work with state-level chemical industry councils and other business trade associations to articulate and advance VI and industry policy positions.

Call  202.765.2200 for more information on how to apply.