Director, State Government Affairs – Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

About the role

The Director, State Government Affairs – Northeast and Mid-Atlantic will facilitate DCC’s legislative advocacy efforts across key states and markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic U.S. They will work with DCC’s State Government Affairs Team and DCC members to identify, organize, and build consensus around key policy issues and positions and facilitate development and execution of DCC’s legislative strategy across multiple states.

Responsibilities

• Lead DCC’s advocacy efforts before state and local policymakers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
• Lead industry advocacy on-the-ground in assigned state capitols during legislative sessions, including meeting in-person with state lawmakers, testifying at hearings, and coordinating engagement among members and stakeholders.
• Engage with DCC members to identify and prioritize issues and engagements.
• Research, identify, and track current and emerging policy issues across multiple states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
• Support Executive Vice President of State Policy and Government Affairs with engaging DCC members to determine industry position, priorities, and risks.
• Support Executive Vice President of State Policy and Government Affairs in implementing annual policy strategy.
• Synthesize member input and manage work streams to facilitate a strong industry voice on policy matters in designated states and venues.
• Coordinate regular briefings and report to members on issues in designated markets.
• Manage and develop strategy related to DCC state and local Political Action Committees.
• Draft position statements and external-facing documents, prepare slide decks and talking points for internal and external meetings, and manage briefings for members, partners, and external stakeholders.
• Build and organize policy-focused coalitions with key stakeholders.
• Organize and run DCC policy-focused meetings, work groups, and initiatives, including meeting agenda development and execution.

Qualifications

• Experience in state policy advocacy, including working directly with state legislatures in one or more Northeastern or Mid-Atlantic states.
• Experience managing third-party lobbying consultants to accomplish organizational objectives.
• Ability to work closely, in a bipartisan fashion, with state legislators and their senior staff, as well as policymakers in the executive branch of state governments.
• Ability to draft legislative comments, provide testimony, and represent DCC with state-level policymakers.
• Strong strategic, analytical, and communication skills (oral and written).
• Experience in and an understanding of politics, advocacy, and the legislative process, and the ability to quickly learn numerous policy issues.
• A member-services mindset and an aptitude for building and maintaining relationships.
• The ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team and capable of balancing multiple projects and/or policy issues at a time.
• Attention to detail.