Executive Director of State Government Relations

Company: Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
Location: Sacramento
Posted on: May 16, 2022

Job Description:

Description:
SUMMARY This position has overall responsibility for the functioning of the Western Regional Office (WRO). S/he reports to the Senior Vice President of Policy and Government Relations in developing and advancing HACU's legislative agenda with respect to state government issues in the five western states of California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. S/he will coordinate activities for legislative relations, work in a cooperative mode with both executive and legislative branches of the state governments, as well as regional policy centers, Hispanic and other minority organizations, other legislative affairs departments of member colleges and systems in the region, and higher education associations, and track state policy in operation or under development by performing the following duties personally or through subordinate assistants. S/he is also responsible for maintaining strong member relationships in the Western Region Office service area, including the promotion of HACU programs and services. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES(Other duties may be assigned)

• Manage all staff assigned to the Western Regional Office as a senior manager.
• Plan, organize and coordinate HACU's legislative strategies and activities with the western regional state governments and agencies. Assist the Sr. Vice President of Policy and Government Relations with regional activity in support of HACU's federal government advocacy activity, including contact with federally elected officials and their local office staff.
• Meet with legislators, legislative staff, state agency staff, lobbyists, members of advocacy groups, and the general public regarding legislative policy issues.
• Prepare written statements and analyses of budget and policy documents and present analyses orally to HACU leadership, staff, and/or stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain relationships with legislative affairs officers of member institutions and systems in the region to track and propose policy positions with regard to western state-level issues affecting Hispanic higher education.
• Monitor legislative proceedings in the five western states and provide reports of the proposed or passed legislation.
• Work closely with western region state agencies in identifying resources for regional HSIs and for transmitting this information to HSIs in the appropriate manner and in a timely fashion.
• Communicate with and engage regional HSI presidents and other key institutional officials and state government officials in promoting and advocating HACU's regional policy priorities, bills, and/or regulations that have a potential impact on member institutions in the region.
• Maintain collegial relationships, including regular communication, with all Hispanic-Serving Institutions and HACU members.
• Coordinate, in collaboration with other HACU staff, state and/or regional meetings of HSI presidents and/or campus leaders around state/regional legislative and educational policy issues.
• Arrange and facilitate testimony, meetings, and other such contacts with elected or appointed state officials by HACU's President and Presidents/CEOs of HACU-member institutions.
• Monitor and analyze regional state legislative bills and proposals to ensure that the interests of HACU-member institutions are included in such items.
• Draft and prepare documents and correspondence related to regional state government relations and legislation for the President of HACU and the HACU Governmental Relations Committee.
• Represent HACU at meetings/conferences/symposiums and make presentations to groups.
• Write summaries, documents, and internal reports for Governing Board meetings, as well as monthly cabinet and staff meetings.
• Write, publish and disseminate regional legislative alert announcements, briefs, and newsletters for timely distribution to membership and other target groups as directed.
• Maintain WRO's social media presence.
• As available, assist with HACU's National Internship Program (HNIP) recruiting in the WRO service area.
• Assist senior management in other tasks or projects as assigned.SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES Supervisory responsibility for all personnel assigned to the Western Regional Office, which currently includes a Staff Assistant.
  
  Requirements:
  QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
  • Master's degree in public administration, higher education, or related field with extensive experience in state government relations and policy analysis, preferably in higher education or education-related issues.
  • Experience and/or training at the federal/state level on issues impacting Hispanics in higher education.
  • Strong knowledge of and familiarity with the state legislation, budget, and appropriations process. LANGUAGE SKILLS Exceptional people skills and excellent oral and written communication skills. Spanish language proficiency is highly desired. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret legislation, legislative and policy analyses, governmental and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to a prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information in written reports and in verbal presentations to top management, elected and appointed state officials, state agencies/departments, public groups, higher education organizations, members of the business community, members of Hispanic organizations, and/or governing boards of directors.RESEARCH AND BUDGETING SKILLS Ability to analyze and interpret research documents and data including mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to develop and manage an annual office budget.OTHER SKILLSProficiency with computers (e.g., word processing, database search) and familiarity with educational issues affecting Hispanic students. Ability to use a legislative tracking system.PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment is characteristic of a small branch office: the ability to collaborate closely with a small team of people with varied responsibilities. A keen sense of responsibility that includes the capacity for both independent action and accountability to geographically distant supervisors will be necessary. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.Travel is required for this position, including but not limited to conferences and member presentations. Travel varies in frequency throughout the year. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONIn accordance with the ADA and other applicable laws, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job.Relocation assistance is not available for this position.HACU offers a friendly work environment and a generous company-paid benefits plan. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.EEO STATEMENTThe Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) believes that equal opportunity for all employees and applicants is important for the continuing success of our organization. As an equal opportunity employer, HACU is committed to a policy that provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and to make all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment opportunity. HACU will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are offered employment and employees are treated during employment without regard to these characteristics. For more information regarding Equal Employment Opportunity, click .ADA STATEMENTThe Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the HACU will provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed during the application process, please email jobs@hacu.net. For more information regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act, click .HACU COMMITMENT TO HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICYPer the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Commitment to Health and Safety Policy, effective August 2021, it is a condition of employment for all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless they are granted a reasonable accommodation under applicable state law. Employees will need to provide proof of full vaccination prior to their start date or apply for an exemption/accommodation within three business days after their start date. Depending on the circumstances, new hires who do not comply with this Policy, or who cannot be reasonably accommodated, will either have their employment suspended or terminated. Candidates who are non-compliant will have their offers rescinded. If reasonable accommodation is needed during the application process, please email jobs@hacu.net.

Keywords: Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, Sacramento , Executive Director of State Government Relations, Government & Protective Services , Sacramento, California