Director of Government Relations

The Director of Government Relations leads Youth Guidance’s government relations and public policy strategy, with primary responsibility for advancing and sustaining public funding and government partnerships in Illinois and Chicago. The Director builds strong relationships with elected officials, government leaders, and other key stakeholders at the state, city, county, and federal levels to advance the organization’s mission, strengthen public-sector partnerships, and secure and sustain public investment in Youth Guidance programs. Reporting to the Chief External Affairs Officer, the Director serves as a senior external representative and works closely with organizational leadership, program teams, government funding staff, and external lobbyists to identify opportunities, navigate policy and funding developments, and build champions for Youth Guidance’s work. We are seeking an energetic, entrepreneurial, and highly relational leader with a strong bias toward action who can operate strategically in a challenging funding environment and is motivated by turning relationships and policy opportunities into measurable results. The role is primarily focused on Illinois and Chicago and will also provide strategic government relations counsel and support in other Youth Guidance markets as needed. Essential Duties/Responsibilities Lead government relations strategy. Develop and execute a proactive government relations and public policy strategy aligned with Youth Guidance's strategic priorities, programmatic goals, and public funding needs. Build and steward government relationships. Develop strong relationships with elected officials, government agency leaders and staff, and other influential public-sector stakeholders, building champions for Youth Guidance and its programs. Advance and protect public investment. Own government relations efforts that support renewing ambitious public revenue funding and partner with the Director of Government Funding & Partnerships, Finance, Program leadership, and external lobbyists to identify, pursue, protect, and grow public funding opportunities. Monitor and influence the policy environment. Track relevant legislative, budget, regulatory, and policy developments; assess implications for Youth Guidance; and develop strategies to advance organizational priorities and respond to emerging opportunities or risks. Lead advocacy and external engagement. Develop and execute advocacy strategies, including policymaker engagement, site visits, coalition participation, targeted communications, and other activities that strengthen Youth Guidance's influence and visibility with public-sector audiences. Serve as a senior organizational representative. Represent Youth Guidance with elected officials, government agencies, coalitions, community partners, and other external stakeholders, effectively communicating the organization's impact, priorities, and policy perspective. Engage organizational and volunteer leadership. Keep the Chief External Affairs Officer and other senior leaders informed of government relations priorities, opportunities, risks, and progress, and strategically engage Board and volunteer leaders in advocacy and relationship-building efforts. Collaborate across External Affairs and the organization. Work closely with Development, Marketing & Communications, Programs, Finance, Evaluation, and other teams to ensure government relations strategy is integrated with broader organizational priorities and external messaging. Provide strategic government relations counsel and support in other Youth Guidance markets as needed, helping local leaders assess opportunities, navigate government relationships, and advance organizational priorities. Perform other duties as assigned.