Director of Government Affairs

About the role

The Director of Government Affairs will be the lead advocate for effectively and concisely communicating needs and impacts to legislators and other policy makers. Help identify organizational needs, potential state legislative or executive funding sources for programming and projects to address those needs and cultivate stakeholder champions for those projects. Director also performs stewardship function to communicate to sponsors and allies that funding has been invested in a timely manner and produced results.

Responsibilities

• Communicate with the UF/IFAS client network to facilitate needs assessment and support for statewide teaching, Extension, and research programs.
• Articulate the benefits and impacts of UF/IFAS initiatives/projects.
• Lobby directly for support of UF/IFAS projects, programs, and counter against policies, proposals, and bills harmful to the interests of UF and IFAS.
• Deliver messages in multiple ways, from hallway or “lobby” conversations to formal presentations to carefully developing persuasive printed and digital summary materials in collaboration with UF/IFAS Communications.
• Ensure compliance with university, state, and federal regulations.
• Develop and maintain relationships with legislators, legislative staff and stakeholders.
• Coordinate with colleagues who bring complementary relationships to legislative efforts, avoiding duplication of efforts and confusion about IFAS priorities.
• Arrange legislative visits in Tallahassee, district-based legislative visits and opportunities across the state to interface with stakeholders and allies to engage their support for the UF/IFAS legislative agenda.
• Work directly with both the SVP and the SVP’s chief of staff in arranging legislative visits in Tallahassee, district-based legislative visits and opportunities across the state to interface with stakeholders and allies to engage their support for the UF/IFAS legislative agenda.
• Drive will be required for this role.
• Coordinate with chief of staff to integrate SVP into legislative efforts.
• Coordinate with lobbying teams representing other agricultural organizations in Tallahassee.
• Attend industry events, visits to IFAS faculty, staff, facilities, and programs statewide, necessitating overnight travel.
• Serve as an advisor to the Senior Vice President.
• Directly and proactively advise the SVP, including warnings of drawbacks and possible negative consequences of SVP proposals.
• Draft communications that include briefings with SVP and UF government relations.
• Participate in SVP cabinet meetings and UF/IFAS Administrative Council meetings.
• Participate in legislative huddles with SVP and UF VP and sometimes UF AVP of Government Relations.
• Respond to legislative inquiries and major stakeholders with timely updated information and identification and recruitment of faculty experts to testify, as needed.
• Coordinate and communicate with in-house team based in UF government relations office in Tallahassee.
• Coordinate with federal government relations team and prepare CARET delegates for DC visits with briefing books and Zoom/phone briefings and debriefings.
• Supervise Legislative Associate.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in appropriate area and six years of relevant experience or a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area and eight years of relevant experience.
• A degree or experience related to government relations.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Knowledge of Florida and federal legislative processes.
• Experience in preparing presentations.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in appropriate area and six years of relevant experience or a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area and eight years of relevant experience.

Skills

• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of Florida and federal legislative processes.
• Experience in preparing presentations.

Benefits

• Health Assessment Required: No

Pay

Expected Salary Commensurate; education and experience

Schedule

Driving will be required for this role.