Executive Director of PARC Center, Chief Government Affairs Officer

Job Summary

The Executive Director for the Policy, Advocacy, and Research in Counseling (PARC) Center and Chief Government Affairs Officer for NBCC and Affiliates provides strategic and operational oversight of advocacy, state and federal policy development, and legislative engagement. In consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, the CGAO designs and manages a robust research agenda informing advocacy for the advancement of equitable access to counseling through workforce development, training, and support for counselors and mental health professionals. The CGAO coordinates and supervises PARC Center public relations activities. This role includes supervising government affairs staff; collaborating with various internal departments, including, but not limited to, communications and technology, as well as coordinating with external government affairs contractors.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Represents counselors before Congress and the administration.
• Supports efforts to promote counselors before state legislatures and agencies.
• Supports corporate and strategic priorities of NBCC.
• Works collaboratively with the CEO to articulate a cohesive advocacy agenda built upon strong research and designed to engage the professional community.
• Oversees state and federal legislative and regulatory affairs; represents NBCC before government and private policymakers.
• Identifies and coordinates necessary research efforts to inform policy development, advocacy, and legislative initiatives.
• Collaborates with the CEO to provide strategic guidance and tactical decision-making for organization leadership.
• Supervises government affairs team members and oversees the coordination and facilitation of grassroots advocacy efforts.
• Coordinates all government and legislative affairs–related contractors, contributors, and subject matter experts.
• Directs ongoing monitoring and analysis of proposed legislation, emerging issues, and trends to determine the potential impact on the organization.
• Devises, executes, and measures the organization’s policy and advocacy efforts, effectiveness, and impact.
• Supervises, coaches, and collaborates with policy staff to ensure team success, as well as support the team’s ongoing professional development and growth.
• Develops and oversees the annual budget for the Government Affairs Department.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Communication – Ability to listen to others, process information, and communicate effectively in oral and written formats, including knowledge of the structure and content of the English language.
• Initiative – Independently develops creative solutions that will improve or enhance products and services, avoid problems, or develop entrepreneurial opportunities. Plans for upcoming problems or opportunities and takes appropriate action.
• Leadership – Ability to encourage, instill trust, provide direction, and delegate responsibility. Willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. Ability to cultivate individual talent and successfully motivate others. Demonstrates support for innovation and changes needed to improve organizational effectiveness.
• Prioritization – Ability to prioritize, organize, and accomplish work in a timely manner. Ability to proactively manage and prioritize projects and activities with firm deadlines. Ability to work effectively in a team setting and independently on concurrent processes and projects to meet established goals, deadlines, and quality standards.
• Problem Solving/Analysis – Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Ability to see an issue and use objective analysis and evaluation in order to form a judgment.

Required Education/Experience

• Master’s degree or higher in public policy, public administration, health care administration, or related field required.
• 5 years’ related experience and/or training, with 2 or more years in a senior role.

Preferred Education/Experience

• Counseling or mental health degree or related professional experience, such as advocacy or government affairs engagement for mental health profession preferred.
• Management/supervision of staff preferred.
• Coordination of Hill Day or constituent-engagement advocacy events.
• Position based out of Washington, DC, preferred.

Equipment/Programs Used

• Knowledge of word processing software and internet software.
• Ability to navigate and access public records online.
• Ability to use legal and advocacy software.

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. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Work Location

• Fully remote

Travel Requirements

• Up to 10% travel

Essential Physical Demands

• Communicate with others verbally, including the ability to talk or hear, and understand and distinguish speech and/or other sounds.
• Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers such as simple grasping, keyboarding, or fine manipulation.
• Interact with coworkers on digital platforms.
• Moving self in different positions such as twisting, crawling, or kneeling to accomplish tasks in various environments, including tight and confined spaces.
• Reaching above, below, or at waist level.
• Ability to use hands, including hand–eye coordination.
• Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting.
• Light work that includes moving objects up to 20 pounds.

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