State Government & Community Relations Director (Midwest 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.

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.

Competencies:

Organizational Impact:

• Responsible for implementing initiatives and projects established by university or department leadership; establishes strategic, operational plans for department, function, or office with short to mid-term impact on results.

Problem Solving & Decision Making:

• Leverages a systems-thinking approach for improving processes and systems using significant conceptualizing, reasoning, and interpretation. Solutions are novel and unique and draw upon the expertise and best practices.
• Problems and issues are often complex, requiring broad-based consideration of variables affecting multiple university departments or specialties. Scrutinizes and interprets situations to seek an understanding of the root cause.

Communication & Influence:

• Collaborates cross-functionally and typically has responsibilities for communicating with parties external to the university.
• Works to influence others to accept practices, concepts, and approaches.
• Requires the ability to communicate and influence senior executive leadership regarding matters of strategic importance to WGU. Frequently conducts briefings to senior leaders both within and outside their area.

Leadership & Talent Management:

• Responsible for providing guidance, coaching, and training to other employees across the university with domain-specific expertise. Provides direction to project team members, including feedback on performance.
• Demonstrates the WGU leadership principles and cultural beliefs in all aspects of service to students, employees, and partners of WGU.

Job Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 5+ years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree, or 3+ years and a master’s degree, including 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.
• Demonstrated expertise in defining performance metrics for external partnerships.

Physical Requirements:

• This is an in-office position in Chicago, IL.
• Schedule flexibility to include some evenings and weekends.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 40% of the time.
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Salary Range:

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Pay Range: $119,400.00 – $185,100.00

WGU will accept applications for this position until 12:00 AM ET, 09/30/2024.

How to apply: apply online

Full-time Regular Positions (FT classification, standard working hours = 40)

This is a full-time, regular position that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

The University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.