Associate Director, State Government Relations

University of Maryland•College Park, MD

9d•$106,800 - $128,160•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director for State Government Relations works under the direction of the Director of State and Local Government Relations to advocate for the University of Maryland’s priorities with the Maryland General Assembly, the Governor’s Office, state agencies, and other state governmental stakeholders. This position serves as a primary day-to-day liaison between the University and state legislators, legislative staff, executive branch officials, and agency staff. The Associate Director supports the full range of state government relations activities, including legislative monitoring and analysis, advocacy strategy, testimony and policy material development, relationship-building, budget and regulatory tracking, and coordination of state government requests involving University leadership, faculty, staff, students, and administrative units. The Associate Director plays a central role in the University’s annual legislative session strategy and maintains year-round engagement with state government to advance University priorities, identify opportunities for collaboration, anticipate risks, and shape policy outcomes. As appropriate, this position may represent the University before the General Assembly, state agencies, external coalitions, and stakeholder groups. This role works closely with other members of the Office of Government Relations, including colleagues responsible for strategic initiatives, community engagement, federal relations, local government relations, and government communications, to ensure coordinated and consistent engagement across all levels of government.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
Five (5) years of professional experience in legislative affairs working directly with lawmakers on policy or budget matters.
Knowledge of state and local government structures, legislative processes, public policy development, and governmental relations practices.
Knowledge of legislative affairs strategies, advocacy principles, and approaches for engaging with elected officials, government agencies, and other governmental stakeholders.
Knowledge of higher education issues, institutional priorities, and policies impacting public universities.
Skill in monitoring, analyzing, and summarizing legislative proposals, regulations, and public policy issues affecting organizational priorities.
Skill in developing written communications, legislative briefings, reports, presentations, and other materials for internal and external audiences.
Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with elected officials, legislative staff, government agencies, and community stakeholders.
Ability to interpret complex legislative and policy information and evaluate potential impacts on institutional programs and priorities.
Ability to coordinate government relations activities, including legislative tracking, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy efforts.
Ability to communicate effectively and professionally while representing institutional interests with diverse audiences.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in political science, public policy, public administration, communications, law, higher education administration, or a related field.
Direct experience working in the Maryland General Assembly, the Governor’s Office, a Maryland state agency, a legislative committee office, a public university system, or a government relations office.
Existing relationships with members, staff, or leadership of the Maryland General Assembly, the Governor’s Office, Maryland executive branch agencies, or statewide policy organizations.
Experience in higher education, a research institution, public university, nonprofit, association, or public-sector government relations environment.
Familiarity with state higher education policy, including operating budget, capital budget, University System of Maryland governance, research funding, financial aid, workforce development, and public university issues.
Experience drafting testimony, preparing witnesses, supporting amendment negotiations, and developing legislative advocacy strategies.
Experience coordinating legislative visits, advocacy days, campus briefings, stakeholder convenings, or grassroots/alumni advocacy programs.
Familiarity with legislative tracking systems, policy databases, lobbying compliance practices, or government relations CRM tools.

Responsibilities

Advocate for the University of Maryland’s priorities with the Maryland General Assembly, the Governor’s Office, state agencies, and other state governmental stakeholders.
Serve as a primary day-to-day liaison between the University and state legislators, legislative staff, executive branch officials, and agency staff.
Support legislative monitoring and analysis.
Develop advocacy strategies.
Develop testimony and policy materials.
Build relationships with governmental stakeholders.
Track budgets and regulations.
Coordinate state government requests involving University leadership, faculty, staff, students, and administrative units.
Play a central role in the University’s annual legislative session strategy.
Maintain year-round engagement with state government to advance University priorities, identify opportunities for collaboration, anticipate risks, and shape policy outcomes.
Represent the University before the General Assembly, state agencies, external coalitions, and stakeholder groups.
Work closely with other members of the Office of Government Relations to ensure coordinated and consistent engagement across all levels of government.