Senior Director Government Relations

Government Relations

Government Relations (GR) seeks to advance Pew's nonpartisan policy and research goals at all levels of government, in the United States and internationally. We focus on sharing the organization's research and fact-based recommendations, shaping pragmatic strategies to achieve program objectives, and building relationships with key government officials to forge compromise and consensus on issues that make a difference to the public.

Position Overview

This position, based in Pew's Washington, DC office, reports to the Senior Vice President, Government Relations. The Senior Director, Government Relations is responsible for managing a team of professionals who help design and execute strategies to advance the goals of various advocacy and research projects in Pew's Environment portfolio. Current initiatives to protect the natural environment focus on land and river conservation in the United States, Canada, Chile, and Australia; international action to address the threat to the ocean from plastic pollution, seabed mining, harmful fisheries subsidies, illegal fishing, and overfishing; making U.S. communities more resilient to flooding; and protecting coastal wetlands and coral reefs.

The Senior Director will coordinate closely with colleagues in the Environment portfolio to provide strategic advice, research, educational material, and policy recommendations to policymakers at the state, federal, and international levels. Working with teams across Pew, including in Communications and Legal Affairs, the Senior Director will help achieve important public policy goals to preserve wild places, restore biodiversity, and increase the understanding of ocean ecology.

Responsibilities

• Manage a government relations team with deep experience in environmental policy making, in collaboration with managers of individual projects, including mentoring, professional development of staff, and performance evaluations.
• With program and other Pew colleagues, develop a strong identity for Pew initiatives with key players in the U.S. Congress and federal executive branch; select U.S. states; Canada; Australia; Chile; the United Kingdom; and the European Union. Work to raise the profile, credibility, and influence of Pew and its initiatives among these constituencies.
• Influence action on environmental issues in international fora such as regional fisheries management organizations, the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the International Maritime Organization.
• Work with portfolio leadership to identify, prioritize, implement, and coordinate advocacy objectives at the state, national, and international levels, and to develop and evaluate political feasibility of potential new areas of work.
• Work with Environment colleagues to develop and implement effective outreach strategies designed to bring project policy goals to the attention of elected and appointed federal policymakers, including direct contact, conferences, electronic communications, and other activities.
• In support of the Environment portfolio's policy goals, work with project teams to develop and manage national coalitions and identify partners who can play a critical role in advancing the objectives of the initiative.
• Develop and maintain key relationships with U.S. congressional offices and serve as a liaison to federal and congressional staff.
• Provide informed direction on lobbying compliance, liaising directly with GR's compliance team, ensuring that environmental advocacy efforts are coordinated with other Pew projects and contributing to planning advocacy efforts across the organization.
• Serve as a connector between environment project teams and GR, helping drive the use of GR's "e-Advocacy" tools in support of project goals.
• Manage GR environment approvals including communications with government officials, e-Advocacy postings, formal testimony, social media and press statements.
• Oversee contracts with government relations vendors-drafting deliverables and the scope of work for vendors, working with Pew's contracts and procurement to finalize agreements, and actively managing and overseeing the workplan to ensure deliverables are met.
• Manage a system for tracking institutional lobbying and government official spending within Environment in close collaboration with the legal department and GR's compliance team.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in government relations, government service, U.S. and international environmental campaigns, and/or policy advocacy, demonstrating a high level of understanding of U.S. and international policy development. Experience or familiarity with policy initiatives of the UN or other intergovernmental fora and/or European government institutions preferred.
• Experience working with a variety of public and private-sector officials across the political spectrum and a strong network of contacts with government officials, including members of Congress and their staff. Experience working in Congress or the U.S. Executive branch preferred. An ability to leverage relationships to influence positive outcomes.
• Minimum of eight years of previous direct supervisory experience required, including experience managing performance management process for direct reports and providing career development advice and counsel.
• Prior to commencing employment with Pew, candidates for this position who were registered to lobby in any jurisdiction must certify termination of previous registration(s) and provide copies of termination notices with said jurisdiction(s) to Pew.
• Excellent political skills and judgment, demonstrated leadership and management ability, and strong and diplomatic interpersonal skills. Able to develop and manage productive relationships with a range of diverse interests. Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team, foster consensus, and collaborate with national partners.
• Strategic thinker.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and experience interacting with the media.

Travel

This position requires occasional travel to attend meetings and conferences, and to perform other business.

Total Rewards

We offer a competitive salary and benefit program, including: comprehensive, affordable health care through medical, dental, and vision coverage; financial security with life and disability insurance; opportunities to save using health savings and flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits to help prepare for the future; and work/life benefits to maintain a good balance.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Pew considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

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