Government Relations Manager (WMS BAND 2)

State of Washington•Thurston County – Olympia, WA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Government Relations Manager reports to the Director of Executive Operations and manages the agency’s legislative and government relations program. This position is responsible for developing and executing the legislative agenda for the agency in collaboration with Chief of Staff, Director of Executive Operations, the Governor’s office, legislators, and federal officials in alignment with the agency’s mission. The incumbent coordinates and participates in lobbying efforts with the Chief of Staff and works in coordination with the Director of Executive Operations, to advance agency priorities and provide feedback to legislative, state and local stakeholders. This includes advising legislative strategy for DES initiatives and policy, developing and managing the development of agency request legislation, guiding agency legislation through the legislative process; leading the implementation of newly enacted legislation; and managing agency legislative reporting. This position is a primary point of contact with legislators, legislative staff and intergovernmental contacts. It requires the capacity to build, maintain and manage strong relationships with local, state and federal delegations at the legislative and executive branches with other stakeholders and lobbyists. The Government Relations Manager acts as the government relations liaison with Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (CPARB), State Building Code Council (SBCC), and Project Review Committee (PRC) providing legislative support helping to facilitate legislative interaction and feedback for these groups. This role works closely with the DES Director of Policy, Rules & Compliance to support and help manage enterprise policy implementation that results from issuing of executive orders and bills passed by the legislature with policy changes implications or DES or enterprise policy.

Requirements

Progressive experience managing state or federal level policy development, direct experience with the legislative process, or direct experience with inter-governmental relations.
Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in business administration, public administration, public policy, law, or a related field.
Any combination of qualifying experience and qualifying education totaling nine (9) years.
Total of nine (9) years of progressive experience managing state or federal level policy development, direct experience with the legislative process, or direct experience with inter-governmental relations.
Five (5) years of progressive experience managing state or federal level policy development, direct experience with the legislative process, or direct experience with inter-governmental relations. AND Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, public policy, law, or a related field
Knowledge of legal and legislative process and protocols, rule-making or other public policy-making process, as well as other government and political processes.
Excellent communication skills, and the relationships skills and abilities to work with and influence state leaders and individuals at all levels.
Ability to clearly articulate policy choices and decisions to a wide variety of audiences.
Demonstrated high-level research, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
Demonstrated experience in relationship-building, facilitation, and negotiation skills.
Ability to interpret state, federal and local rules, laws, and polices related to the agency’s mission and core business functions and be able to clearly articulate them to state leaders, staff and other partners and stakeholders.
The ability to perform under pressure and within time constraints of a legislative session.
Ability to handle complex and difficult issues and situations, often under pressure.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with policy-level staff at other agencies and the Governor’s Office, legislative staff, legislators, representatives of federal and local government units, governing boards and commissions, and private interest groups.
Government or non-profit sector in any of the following areas: policy making, public engagement, issue advocacy, working with elected officials, working with an elected or appointed governing board.
Building strong collaborative relationships with internal and external partners and stakeholders.
Demonstrated skills in executive and complex strategic negotiations involving multiple priorities and multiple stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Washington State legislative and budget processes.
Federal, state, and local relationship(s) to agency business.
Legislative bill or policy implementation for an agency or organization.
Agency mission, direction, programs, and initiatives.
Public Disclosure Commission reporting requirements.
Administrative Procedure Act and Open Public Meeting Act.

Responsibilities

Manage the agency’s legislative program and serve as the agency Legislative Liaison.
Coordinates and participates in lobbying efforts with the DES Chief of Staff and works in coordination with the Director of Executive Operations, to advance agency priorities and provide feedback to legislative, state and local stakeholders.
Build relationships with the Governor’s Office and other legislative liaisons to grow the agency’s reputation and influence.
Build strategic external relationships with key legislators, legislative staff, congressional leaders, other governmental officials, local and state government partners, lobbyists, and stakeholders.
Acts as the Government Relations liaison to the Capitol Projects Advisory Review Board (CPARB), State Building Code Council (SBCC), and Project Review Committee (PRC) for legislative interaction, et al; attending regularly scheduled meetings and coordinating member meetings with legislators and other elected officials and escalating issues as necessary to communications, the Director of Executive Operations, and the Chief of Staff.
Design and manage internal agency legislative processes including bill implementation with DES divisions.
Coordinate legislative staff trainings, bill tracking and analysis, and legislative monitoring and reporting, working closely with the Government Relations Analyst/Specialist.
Manage and track legislation impacting the agency; communicate legislative impacts to the Director and Leadership Team; develop and implement strategy; testify at legislative hearings; and coordinate subject matter expert testimony.
Develop and lead the agency-request legislation process for DES, working with divisions to submit vetted ideas that align with enterprise priorities.
Influence the progress of bills through the state legislative process meeting with legislators and other external stakeholders communicating DES enterprise positions and needs.
Act as the agency’s contact for legislative correspondence and requests for information or assistance.
Works with the DES Agency Policy and Rules team providing analysis and support to manage enterprise policy implementation that results from issuing of executive orders and bills passed by the legislature with policy changes implications or DES or enterprise policy.
Manage and analyze Executive Orders affecting DES divisions ensuring that the enterprise is compliant with directives and coordinate resourcing to accomplish those directives and follow through with implementation plans.
Provide training and analysis support to the Strategy and Alignment division.