Associate Vice Chancellor-Government Affairs and Civic Engagement

About the Role

The Associate Vice Chancellor-Government Affairs and Civic Engagement reports to the Vice Chancellor for Legislative and Community Affairs and is responsible for enhancing the District’s relationships with government officials at all levels and maintaining positive community relations. This role collaborates with senior executive leadership to advance legislative issues beneficial to City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) and fosters working relationships with elected officials, government agencies, and industry experts. The position also oversees Civic Engagement initiatives and the Timuel Black Scholarship & Fellowship program.

Responsibilities

Government Affairs

• Leads and manages CCC’s governmental relations functions, including strategy/policy development and government advocacy activities in collaboration with the Vice Chancellor for Legislative & Community Affairs.
• Coordinates with college presidents and senior leadership to implement strategies that increase state and local government awareness of CCC’s programs, planned initiatives, and institutional needs.
• Researches higher education and public policy issues; analyzes and monitors proposed legislative and regulatory actions impacting CCC’s programs and funding; communicates legislative matters to senior leadership.
• Implements strategies to engage external and internal stakeholders in supporting CCC’s legislative agenda; develops and disseminates key messages to public/elected officials and key stakeholders.
• Provides operational support for stakeholder engagement efforts, including organizing meetings with elected officials and relevant community groups.
• Drafts position papers, reports, fact sheets, and other informational materials to communicate CCC’s views on proposed legislation, enacted laws, and government regulations.
• Prepares a quarterly legislative data impact report for local and state legislative officials in collaboration with the decision support department.
• May travel to Springfield, Illinois, and/or Washington, D.C., for legislative sessions.

Civic Engagement

• Works collaboratively with key stakeholders to develop strategies and provide opportunities for student involvement in civic engagement activities, such as individual volunteerism, collective engagement, and electoral participation.
• Cultivates community partnerships to give students opportunities for community involvement, leadership development, and civic responsibility, fostering awareness of societal issues.

Timuel Black Scholarship Program

• Provides management oversight of the Timuel Black Scholarship & Fellowship (TBSF) Program.
• Supports the Director-Civic Programs in working with CCC Foundation and district leadership to implement fundraising plans for the program’s long-term sustainability.
• Monitors fund distribution for scholarships to students identified as emerging community leaders and for leadership development workshops centered on Chicago history and activism.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Government Relations, Public Affairs, Political Science, or a related field OR a Juris Doctor from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school.
• Five years of government and/or public affairs or public policy development or advocacy work experience, preferably for a higher education institution or not-for-profit organization.
• Work experience in higher education public policy development highly desirable.
• Knowledge and understanding of CCC’s mission, goals, and strategic initiatives.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal legislative and executive processes.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills and excellent verbal and written communication experience.
• Skill in analyzing and interpreting legislation and policy documents.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively advocate for institutional needs to elected and appointed officials, stakeholders, and the public.
• Ability to exercise tact and diplomacy in handling sensitive situations.
• Ability to work effectively within a culturally diverse environment.
• Ability to develop and maintain partnerships with business, industry, and the community.
• Must be able to travel to Springfield and/or Washington, D.C.
• Must be able to work some evenings and weekends.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).

Benefits

• Excellent health and welfare benefit package and long-term savings and investment programs, including 403(b) & 457(b) Investment Plans and a pension plan with the State University Retirement System (SURS) Plan.
• Generous vacation, holiday, personal, and sick days.
• Tuition reimbursement.

Pay

Salary Range: $122,579 - $130,000. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as other factors such as internal equity.

Schedule

Chicago residency is required for all full-time employees within 6 months of hire.