Assistant Vice Chancellor, Government Relations and Advocacy

University of Illinois Chicago•Chicago, IL

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to serve as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Government Relations and Advocacy. This role reports to the Chancellor and acts as UIC’s senior government relations officer, responsible for leading the university’s advocacy strategy at the federal, state, county, and municipal levels. The position works closely with the University of Illinois System Office of External Relations and Communications to advance legislative, regulatory, budget, and policy priorities that support UIC’s mission, strategic goals, academic enterprise, research portfolio, and its role as Chicago's public research university and the state's academic health center. The Assistant Vice Chancellor will also act as a trusted advisor to the Chancellor and senior leadership on government relations, public policy, political strategy, and stakeholder engagement, aiming to strengthen support for UIC among elected officials, government agencies, civic leaders, community partners, and other external stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in government relations, public policy, legislative affairs, advocacy, public administration, higher education, healthcare, or a similarly complex environment.
Demonstrated experience developing and executing government relations, legislative, regulatory, budget, appropriations, or advocacy strategies that advance organizational priorities.
Demonstrated experience serving as a strategic advisor to executive-level leadership on government relations, public policy, political strategy, external affairs, or matters of significant organizational impact.
Demonstrated experience working with elected officials, government agencies, legislative staff, community leaders, healthcare organizations, advocacy groups, and other external stakeholders, including building relationships and coalitions to advance organizational priorities.
Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and local legislative, regulatory, budget, and appropriations processes, including the ability to assess risks, identify opportunities, and develop effective advocacy strategies.
Experience leading, managing, or overseeing government relations, advocacy, public policy, external affairs, or related functions, including supervision of staff, consultants, or external partners.
Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, analytical, organizational, and strategic planning skills, including the ability to communicate complex issues, build consensus, exercise sound judgment and discretion, and develop actionable recommendations for senior leaders.

Nice To Haves

Experience in government relations or advocacy within higher education, academic medicine, healthcare, research, public health, or a public university system.
Experience working with or within a president’s, chancellor’s, governor’s, mayor’s, legislative, congressional, or senior executive office.
Experience leading a government relations, public policy, advocacy, or external affairs team.
Experience with state budget and appropriations processes, capital funding, healthcare policy, research funding, or public higher education funding.
Familiarity with Illinois government, City of Chicago government, Cook County government, federal policy processes, and the public higher education landscape.
Demonstrated success building coalitions and advancing priorities across complex organizations with multiple stakeholders.
Experience coordinating government relations activities across an academic, healthcare, research, and community engagement enterprise.

Responsibilities

Serve as UIC’s senior government relations officer and principal advisor to the Chancellor on federal, state, county, and municipal government relations, advocacy, public policy, legislative strategy, and external stakeholder engagement.
Lead the development and implementation of UIC’s government relations and advocacy agenda in coordination with the University of Illinois System Office of External Relations and Communications, ensuring alignment with System priorities and institutional goals.
Provide strategic leadership and oversight for government relations and advocacy activities across UIC, including UI Health, and provide professional direction and oversight to the Office of Government Relations and Advocacy.
Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with elected officials, government agencies, policymaker staff, civic leaders, community partners, healthcare stakeholders, higher education advocates, and other external constituencies important to UIC’s mission.
Lead UIC’s state, federal, county, and city government relations strategies and develop annual legislative and advocacy priorities in consultation with university and System leadership.
Advise senior leadership on political, legislative, regulatory, budgetary, and public policy developments; monitor activity and proactively identify risks, opportunities, emerging issues, and policy trends affecting UIC and UI Health.
Lead advocacy efforts related to budget and appropriations priorities and coordinate institutional responses to legislative, regulatory, and policy matters by developing clear positions, recommendations, and advocacy strategies.
Represent UIC in local, state, and national coalitions, associations, work groups, and civic forums, and coordinate visits, briefings, testimony, tours, and other engagement opportunities involving government and external stakeholders.
Prepare or oversee briefing materials, talking points, policy summaries, testimony, correspondence, legislative analyses, and advocacy materials for the Chancellor, senior leadership, and other university representatives.
Perform other related duties and special assignments as requested by the Chancellor or designee.