Director, Government and Community Relations
About The Position
The Director, Government & Community Relations serves as a strategic leader responsible for advancing and protecting the company's business interests through effective government engagement, public policy advocacy, and stakeholder influence. This role leads government and community relations strategy at select local, state, federal, and international levels. The Director provides strategic leadership on advocacy, stakeholder engagement, government affairs, and public policy issues that impact the company's operations, growth, and long-term business objectives. The Director identifies and manages political, legislative, regulatory, and community risks and opportunities; develops engagement and influence strategies; and serves as a trusted advisor to executives and resort leaders on matters involving government decision-making, public policy, and civic stakeholders. The role ensures the company maintains a coordinated, strategic approach to protecting and advancing its business interests across key state, federal and international jurisdictions.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, or a closely related field
- 8-10 years of experience in government affairs, community relations, public affairs, public policy, legislative affairs, or a closely adjacent function
- Demonstrated experience influencing policy outcomes and managing complex stakeholder environments.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information into clear, concise briefings and reports for senior leadership audiences
- Ability to represent the company before government officials, public agencies, and community stakeholders.
- Strong political judgment and discretion.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); working familiarity with CRM platforms, project management tools, or issue-tracking systems
- Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive political, regulatory, and community-facing information with discretion and professionalism
- Willingness to travel to the company’s various resorts, including some overnight travel
- Must have a passion for the resort communities in which we operate and the company mission of providing the “experience of a lifetime”
Nice To Haves
- Strong understanding of federal, state and local government processes.
- Experience with public lands, tourism, hospitality, recreation, infrastructure, transportation, housing, or land-use issues.
- Experience managing lobbyists, consultants, and advocacy coalitions.
- Executive presence and crisis-management experience.
Responsibilities
- Develop and own the government affairs strategy across select local, state, federal, and applicable international jurisdictions — defining enterprise policy positions, advocacy priorities, and annual priority plans; ensure all public-facing positions are centrally approved and consistently communicated.
- Monitor, analyze, and translate legislative and regulatory developments across all relevant jurisdictions into timely briefings, risk assessments, and actionable recommendations for executive leadership; manage external lobbyists and government affairs consultants at the state, federal, and international levels.
- Lead direct advocacy and stakeholder engagement with state and federal elected officials, agencies, and legislative staff — executing issue-specific advocacy plans including coalition building, testimony, public comment, and tracking of support, opposition, and decision timelines; liaise with state ski associations, and international partners where Vail Resorts does not lead directly.
- Design and own the local government strategy across select resorts — including stakeholder mapping, credibility-building frameworks, and government affairs plans for top community objectives.
- Develop and maintain playbooks, tools, and frameworks that enable resort teams to manage routine local government relationships, council engagement, and elected official meetings independently.
- Provide executive and cross-functional support — develop briefings, talking points, and stakeholder prep for senior leadership; lead cross-functional coordination; deliver leadership briefings on priority issues, risk maps, and stakeholder activity.
Benefits
- Ski/Mountain Perks! Free passes for employees, employee discounted lift tickets for friends and family AND free ski lessons
- MORE employee discounts on lodging, food, gear, and mountain shuttles
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- Employee Assistance Program
- Excellent training and professional development
- Health Insurance; Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, and Vision Insurance plans (for eligible seasonal employees after working 500 hours)
- Free ski passes for dependents
- Critical Illness and Accident plans
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
