Senior Director of Federal Relations

Universities of Wisconsin • Washington, DC

9d • $195,000 - $230,000

About The Position

The Office of Federal Relations advocates on behalf of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Washington, DC. Our office works to advance the university’s interests and serves as a liaison to the federal government. Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for University Relations, the Senior Director of Federal Relations will provide leadership and oversight to the Office of Federal Relations and direct supervision to the Director of Federal Relations. The Senior Director will oversee the office’s development of UW-Madison’s federal agenda, in consultation with, and with direction from university leadership. The Senior Director will work with the Director of Federal Relations to monitor federal legislative and executive activity to assess potential implications and opportunities for the university. Primary duties include, but are not limited to: Track federal activity related to higher education policy and maintaining an in-depth knowledge of national higher education issues. Prepare and implement annual appropriations strategy for UW-Madison. Provide a positive, high-profile presence to the campus community and federal stakeholders to further support how legislators and key government officials perceive the university. Develop and maintain relationships with campus faculty and staff, including colleagues in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, the Office of University Relations, school/college leadership, and other campus stakeholders. Build and maintain working relationships with members of Congress and Congressional staff; Congressional committees and caucuses; agency, business and industry leadership, and personnel; as well as higher education associations and professional societies

Requirements

• 8+ years professional work experience in federal government affairs, public policy, external relations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated understanding of federal legislative and appropriation processes.
• Experience developing and implementing successful advocacy and legislative strategies.
• Current relationships with elected officials, agency heads, and/or policymakers.
• Experience managing relationships with lobbyists and consultants.
• Strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and to adapt quickly to changing environments.
• Bachelor's degree required

Nice To Haves

• 2+ years of direct supervisory experience
• Familiarity with higher education institutions and knowledge of national higher education issues.
• Familiarity with the State of Wisconsin.
• Master’s Degree or other advanced degree in public policy, law, or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience preferred

Responsibilities

• Develops and audits the unit budget
• Manages the Office of Federal Relations which serves as the main point of contact and unit liaison to governmental stakeholder groups providing organizational information and representing the interests of the unit
• Evaluates and manages relationships with external consultants, in collaboration with the Vice Chancellor for University Relations
• Monitors and disseminates legislative actions that affect institutional activity
• Develops, implements, and monitors strategic communication initiatives to government entities and stakeholders to maximize engagement, strengthen collaboration efforts, and communicate institutional objectives and concerns
• Serves as a subject matter expert to institutional leadership on legislative matters and on issues and actions of national higher education associations
• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
• Develops operational policies and procedures to align with legal requirements and applicable laws

Benefits

• This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees