Vice President, State Government Relations

National Grocers Association•Washington, DC

12d•$120,000 - $140,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The National Grocers Association (NGA) is the national trade association for America’s 21,500 independent community grocers. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers located in every congressional district across the country, as well as state grocers’ associations, manufacturers, and service suppliers. The NGA Government Relations (GR) team manages government relations, political activities, member casework, and more. We lobby on issues across a range of policies, including food, nutrition, antitrust, payments, labor and employment, tax, privacy, pharmacy, among others. NGA is seeking a strategic, politically astute, and results‑driven professional to serve as Vice President of State Relations. This role will lead the development and execution of NGA’s state‑level advocacy strategy at a time when governors, legislatures, and state attorneys general are playing a growing role in food, antitrust, and retail policy. POSITION SUMMARY The Vice President of State Relations is responsible for building and executing a credible, coordinated, and proactive state government affairs function for NGA. The role focuses on protecting independent grocers from harmful state level policies, advancing a pro-competition agenda, and strengthening NGA’s value to members and state association partners. This individual will serve as a trusted national resource on state policy issues, translating complex legislative and regulatory developments into actionable intelligence and effective advocacy strategies in close partnership with state grocery and retail associations and NGA members. The role requires strong political judgment, experience managing multi-state advocacy efforts, and the ability to align NGA’s state and federal priorities in a rapidly evolving policy environment.

Requirements

Deep understanding of state legislative and regulatory processes and advocacy strategy.
8-10years of experience in state government affairs, public policy, or legislative strategy.
Demonstrated success managing state‑level advocacy efforts across multiple jurisdictions.
Strong understanding of state legislative, regulatory, and attorney general processes.
Experience managing contract lobbyists, consultants, or multi‑state advocacy programs strongly preferred.
Familiarity with food, retail, nutrition, agriculture, or consumer‑facing regulatory policy preferred.
Excellent analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
Proven ability to represent an organization publicly through effective speaking engagements, including panels, conferences, legislative briefings, and member meetings.
Strong relationship‑building skills and sound political judgment.
Bachelor’s degree required.
Advanced degree preferred.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing contract lobbyists, consultants, or multi‑state advocacy programs strongly preferred.
Familiarity with food, retail, nutrition, agriculture, or consumer‑facing regulatory policy preferred.
Advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

State Government Relations & Advocacy Strategy
Lead the development and execution of NGA’s state-level legislative and regulatory strategies in response to the growing influence of states on food and retail policy.
Create systems and protocols to monitor, analyze, and assess state legislation, regulations, attorney general actions, and waiver activity affecting independent grocers, including SNAP restrictions, EBT modernization, WIC administration, antitrust enforcement, labor mandates, taxes, utility costs, retail crime, and supply chain issues.
Engage with governors’ offices, legislatures, state agencies, and attorneys general to prevent burdensome or harmful policies before enactment and to advance pro-competition solutions.
Develop and support advocacy strategies that address the risk of inconsistent state rules that increase compliance costs and operational complexity for NGA members.
Develop and disseminate research, testimony, issue briefs, and model legislation.
Build partnerships with state policymakers, coalitions, and third‑party organizations to ensure independent grocers’ concerns are reflected in enforcement and legislative decisions.
Represent NGA in state‑based coalitions, regional industry groups, and multi‑state policy initiatives advancing shared goals.
Provide strategic political intelligence related to gubernatorial and state legislative elections, including insights relevant to advocacy strategy and policy outcomes.
Direct and coordinate contract lobbyists and external advocacy consultants in key states, as needed, to advance NGA priorities.
Coordinate with the PAC manager on political engagement activities, including state‑level political giving strategies, in compliance with varying state ethics, reporting, and disclosure requirements, working with legal counsel as necessary.
Work with external compliance consultant to ensure lobbying registration compliance.
State Association & Member Engagement
Serve as NGA’s primary liaison to state grocers’ associations, ensuring close coordination and avoiding duplication of existing state efforts.
Support and manage a State Government Relations Advisory Committee composed of state association executives and NGA retailer and wholesaler members to provide strategic guidance, share intelligence, and align advocacy efforts.
Deliver timely, actionable intelligence tailored to the needs of independent grocers operating in diverse state environments.
Communications & Thought Leadership
Develop briefing materials, policy analyses, issue papers, testimony, and position statements related to state policy issues.
Contribute to NGA government relations communications, including state focused alerts, member updates, and strategic memos.
Present state legislative and regulatory updates to NGA boards, committees, conferences, and member audiences.
Coordinate closely with NGA’s Government Relations and Communications teams to ensure consistent messaging and integrated advocacy.
Operational & Organizational Leadership
Support the development and implementation of NGA’s state affairs operating model, including internal staffing, use of monitoring software, consultant engagement, and reporting structures.
Help define success metrics and expected outcomes for NGA’s state affairs efforts over time, including policy wins, improved responsiveness, and strengthened state relationships.
Ensure effective project management across multiple concurrent initiatives.
Contribute to cross-departmental initiatives and broader organizational strategy.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of NGA’s mission.

Benefits

NGA is an equal opportunity employer offering generous benefits including employer paid health and dental insurance, 11 paid holidays and one floating holiday, generous PTO, and 401(k) eligibility starting on the 1st quarter of the following 6 months of employment.

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