Director of Government Relations

Texas State Technical College • Austin, TX

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Government Relations serves as a key external-facing representative for Texas State Technical College, advancing the institution's legislative priorities through relationship-building, policy analysis, and strategic engagement. This role cultivates and maintains relationships with elected officials, policy staff, state agencies, industry associations, and government relations consultants across the Texas Legislature, Governor's Office, and broader policy landscape. The Director monitors legislative and regulatory activity, supports the development of legislative language, and collaborates with internal stakeholders to ensure government relations efforts remain informed, proactive, and responsive to the institution's priorities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Five years of experience in stakeholder engagement, including building and maintaining relationships with elected officials, business partners, policy staff, or agency representatives.
• Four years of experience in government relations, public policy, legislative affairs, and the Texas Legislature.
• Three years of experience in Texas policy analysis, legislative tracking, or drafting legislative language and reports.
• Knowledge and working experience of the legislative processes at the state and federal level.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in higher education or workforce development policy is strongly preferred.
• Established network of contacts within the Texas Legislature, state agencies, and relevant industry associations.
• Experience with legislative tracking software (e.g., USLege, Telicon) and CRM platforms for stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with policy staff in the Governor's Office, Texas House, and Texas Senate, as well as with state agencies, industry associations, and government relations consultants.
• Serve as a point of contact for elected officials, agency representatives, and external partners, facilitating ongoing engagement to advance TSTC's legislative priorities and institutional visibility.
• Engage with stakeholders to identify and understand their policy needs and goals, ensuring TSTC's government relations efforts remain informed, relevant, and responsive.
• Review and evaluate proposed legislation and existing government code to assess potential impacts on TSTC.
• Gather and analyze qualitative and quantitative data to produce reports and recommendations that inform institutional decision-making and support the Government Relations team's legislative strategy.
• Monitor and track the progress of legislation, rulemaking, and agency activity related to TSTC's mission and priorities.
• Attend and monitor House and Senate committee meetings to track legislative activity relevant to TSTC.
• Coordinate staff-to-staff interactions with legislative offices and ensure timely communication of legislative developments to internal stakeholders.
• Identify emerging policy issues during legislative interim periods and contribute to the development of proactive strategies to address them.
• Participate in strategic planning for both legislative session and interim activities for the Government Relations team.
• During legislative sessions, coordinate with the Government Relations team to support communications efforts at the Capitol, including Legislative Staff Briefings, TSTC Week, and related engagements.
• Collaborate with internal TSTC partners to plan and execute campus site visits, government relations events, legislative luncheons, and other engagement activities that strengthen relationships with elected officials and agency representatives.
• Assist in the ongoing development and operation of TSTC's legislative program.
• Develop and maintain a working knowledge of TSTC's programs, priorities, workforce mission, and institutional landscape to effectively represent the institution in external government relations settings.
• Collaborate with internal departments and campus leadership to stay informed of institutional needs, emerging issues, and strategic goals that may be impacted by legislative or regulatory activity.

Benefits

• TSTC will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the position.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director