Vice President of Advocacy and Economic Development

### About the Job

**Position**
Vice President, Advocacy & Economic Development

**Reporting Relationship**
President & CEO

**Status**
Full-time, exempt

### Overview

The Downtown Seattle Association’s (DSA) mission is to create a healthy, vibrant downtown for the city of Seattle. For over 60 years, DSA has provided vision and leadership on the critical issues and opportunities facing Seattle’s urban core, including economic competitiveness, transportation and mobility, housing, and the quality of downtown Seattle’s public realm. As a member-based organization, a core activity of DSA is to advance economic competitiveness issues and advocacy for downtown businesses, nonprofits, and residents. DSA works closely with city and county leaders, neighborhood organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies to advocate for more affordable housing, better transportation options, and making downtown Seattle attractive and accessible to businesses, workers, residents, and visitors.

The VP of Advocacy & Economic Development for DSA plays a central, executive leadership role to lead this work for the organization. This position reports to the President & CEO.

### General Summary

The VP of Advocacy & Economic Development has the overall responsibility of managing the organizational strategy and leading advocacy efforts and economic development initiatives.

### Essential Duties and Tasks

– Lead a team to develop and manage all activities related to economic development, government affairs, and public policy initiatives.
– Drive the process to develop DSA’s legislative agendas by engaging with members, the board of directors, and business leadership.
– Develop and execute strategies and related activities to ensure DSA’s public affairs agenda and legislative priorities are accomplished.
– Work closely with the DSA board of directors to establish the organization’s position on numerous, emergent public policy issues and ballot measures.
– Represent DSA and DSA’s membership during legislative hearings and testify as appropriate.
– Drive the content of DSA policy and advocacy programming and events.
– Lead the public affairs and economic development team and ensure their work and activities align with DSA’s mission and agenda.
– Develop and maintain strong working relations with elected officials, senior public agency staff, media, and other policymakers.
– Develop and maintain strong working relationships with other downtown groups whose interests are aligned with and/or overlap with DSA’s own public policy concerns, including with local chambers, economic development groups, transportation advocates, retail and hospitality associations, developers, social service and affordable housing providers, and arts and culture organizations.
– Participate as a key member of DSA’s Senior Leadership Team with influence in shaping overall strategic planning, budgeting, direction, and work program for the organization.

### Minimum Qualifications

– Five (5) years working in public policy, government relations, or economic development.
– Demonstrated leadership skills exhibited in the public policy arena.
– Familiarity with city and county government structures and legislative and political processes.
– Familiarity with similar state and federal political processes is also desired.
– Experience with grassroots advocacy, community organizing, and lobbying.
– Ability to exercise strategic judgment and diplomacy in a wide variety of public situations and high-profile issues.
– Ability to work with a variety of constituencies including business leaders, public officials, and community representatives.
– Extensive experience and knowledge of community issues.
– Strong written and oral communication skills.
– Strong collaboration and consensus-building skills.
– Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills.
– Well-developed presentation and facilitation skills.
– Ability to effectively represent DSA, its mission, and values.

### Specialized Skills

Experience with the following types of software and/or Windows-based applications is preferred: word processing, databases, internet, email.

### Physical Requirements

**Work Environment**
Work in an office setting.

**Physical Demands**
Standing, walking, bending, crouching. Must be able to lift 25 pounds.

### Characteristics

– Reflect the Downtown Seattle Association’s core values of Collaboration, Perseverance, Innovation, Excellence, and Integrity.
– Deep commitment to equity and social justice with an understanding of the role that racism, ableism, sexism, and other forms of bias and oppression play in perpetuating inequity.
– Commitment to a growth mindset, collaborative leadership, and a learning-based philosophy.
– Humility, sense of humor, comfort with ambiguity, and servant leadership.
– Ability to weave and work within all DSA mission areas associated with creating a healthy, vibrant downtown.
– Willingness and comfort to engage with evolving and shifting portfolio of job duties.

### Employment Details

DSA is committed to internal and market equity. The salary range for this position is $129,792 – $214,136 (grade level 34). Salary is determined based on internal and market equity, internal and market data/salary ranges, and the applicant’s job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. We will hire at the beginning to mid-range of the salary range to allow future salary growth based on an employee’s performance, professional development, and increases in responsibilities and duties.

Downtown Seattle Association provides a comprehensive benefits package including but not restricted to:
– Medical/Dental/Vision Coverage
– PTO/Personal Holidays
– Paid FMLA
– Life Insurance
– LTD
– ORCA Card
– Flexible Spending Account
– Employer-Matched 401(k) Contribution with up to 5% Match
– First Choice EAP
– Corporate Discounts

### To Apply

This position is open until filled; however, applicants applying by August 15th will receive priority. Please send a resume and cover letter to Monica Rankin, Director of HR, with your name and the position you are applying for in the subject line to [[email protected]].

We recognize the value of the DSA and our affiliate organizations and programs reflecting the diversity of the community we serve and are intentionally and actively seeking out applications from a variety of backgrounds, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC).

Downtown Seattle Association is an equal-opportunity employer. All employees and potential employees will be recruited, selected, trained, promoted, and, if necessary, disciplined without regard to sex, race, religion, creed, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political ideology or activity, disability, honorably discharged veteran, or military status. All applicants are carefully screened, and full consideration is given to their training, education, skills, aptitudes, experience, and previous work record. In addition, DSA does not discriminate based on genetic information in its employment-related policies and practices, including coverage under its health benefits program.