Government Affairs Director jobs in Tacoma, WA

• Participates in legislative, advocacy, and partner meetings
• In consultation and coordination with the Chief Government Affairs Officer, monitors policy development and identifies emerging issues that the City may need to address, and produces recommendations on appropriate path forward as needed
• Participates in bill tracking, review, analysis, and advocacy planning
• Assists with state, federal, and regional advocacy 
• Develops materials for advocacy, discussion, or presentation on state, federal or regional issues, including coordinating City positions
• Coordinates meetings and briefings with partner agencies and policy makers as needed
• Works collaboratively with the City Council policy support team to ensure that Council priorities are adequately addressed at the appropriate levels of government
• Other duties as assigned by the Chief Government Affairs Officer to support the work of the City Council and City Manager’s Office
• Provides presentations and develops necessary briefing materials for policy makers and other audiences as needed

Minimum Education*
Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, public policy, political science, communication or a field related to the work of this position

Minimum Experience*
6 years including 1 year prior as a subject matter expert (SME)

*Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of education 

• Relationship Building: Ability to cultivate and maintain interpersonal relationships with elected officials, key staff, and community leaders. Build constructive relationships through listening, learning, and building trust. Use knowledge and understanding of the organization and political climate to make recommendations that satisfy diverse interests and contribute to achieving organizational goals.
• Organizational Acumen: Understand City operations, budgetary concepts, and policy objectives.
• Project Management: Ability to effectively manage a project, assess and rank project priorities, collaborate with others, identify and secure needed technical expertise, and ensure timely achievement of project goals.
• Analysis: Assess data and information in a clear and rational process to understand issues, evaluate options, form opinions, and make defensible recommendations. Identify information gaps and develop approaches to address them.
• Communications: Clearly and persuasively convey timely information to positively influence others within and outside of the utility regarding the communicated messages.
• Problem Solving: Utilize critical thinking, intelligence, common sense, and perseverance to address challenges and obstacles to achieving the objectives.
• Cultural Competency: Ability to listen to, and be respectful of, diverse perspectives and policy needs. Actively work to incorporate anti-racist approaches to policy development work and special projects.
• Team Leadership: Actively build team cohesion with both internal staff and external partners by creating a cooperative and productive work environment, and promoting inclusion and professionalism. Employ expertise, credibility, and inclusive collaboration to help team members identify, evaluate, and resolve complex and sensitive issues and problems.
• Political Acumen: Use knowledge and understanding of the organizational environment and political climate when taking actions, making recommendations and communicating with associates and individuals outside of the City of Tacoma organization.
• Personal Accountability: Takes pride and ownership in one’s work product and actively seeks to continuously improve over time.