Director of Intergovernmental Affairs*

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This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Language Incentive
• Referral Bonus
• Tuition Assistance Program

Description

Under general direction from the Chief Administrative Officer, the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs conducts intergovernmental liaison services with other government entities on behalf of the City of Richmond. The incumbent advocates for the City of Richmond’s interests before the Virginia General Assembly, state officials, federal agencies, and other decision-making bodies. The office serves as the liaison to government and non-government organizations and facilitates the communication of legislative priorities between key stakeholders and the city.

Duties include but are not limited to

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Work collaboratively as a strategic member of the Executive Team to advocate policy and formulate operational objectives in accordance with federal and state statutes and consistent with city policies
• Develop and proposes federal, state, and local legislative agendas., Cultivates personal relationships with members of the city’s legislative delegation, serving as a source of information on city policies and issues, and serves as a liaison between legislators and city elected officials and staff
• Provide senior and executive level expert advice
• Perform lobbying activities for the city through one-on-one meetings with legislators and policy staff, providing testimony at hearings on bills, attending policy development and stakeholder meetings, making the case for the city’s legislative position, maintaining contact and influence with regional players, and representing the city’s views
• Establish relationships with key members of the executive staff, legislative members, and state agencies.
• Assist with the development and implementation of the city’s legislative agenda
• Work closely and collaboratively with city leadership to effectively promote all legislative positions and policy strategies to critical stakeholders.
• Respond to a wide variety of inquiries from elected officials’ offices
• Monitor local, state, and federal legislation, observing other cities’ actions, and conducting other research, especially through regional agencies.
• Formulate legislative strategies using sound expert analyses and independent judgment
• Analyze, research, drafts, and edit legislative responses. Estimate effects of changes in legislation or public policy and present recommendations based on sound analyses
• Write and edit content for legislative memos and correspondence to and from elected officials
• Advocate for the city’s interests with the Virginia Executive branch, Virginia General Assembly, and congressional members.
• Utilize federal, state, and local legislative and budget development processes to effectively achieve results

Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses

• Negotiations and advocacy
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Established relationships with Virginia’s legislative bodies
• Working knowledge of Virginia’s political and government structures
• Professional experience in government affairs, professional or local government advocacy

• Effective communication and strong presentation skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and can work in team environment

• Communicate complex issues in a user friendly and understandable manner
• Work under pressure against tight deadlines and prioritize projects
• Conduct comprehensive research, analyze, and problem-solve
• Multi-task in a fast-paced environment and work on time-sensitive priorities
• Work with people at all levels of an organization
• Exercise sound expert independent judgment and display discernment when communicating confidential material

• 10 years of experience working in a professional environment in government relations with seven of them in a supervisory capacity
• A Bachelor's Degree in political science, public policy, political affairs, or a related field
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification

• None required

• A Master's Degree in political science, public policy, political affairs, or a related field is preferred

Americans with Disabilities Act Requirements

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT:Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. The essential duties of this classification may require the ability to regularly finger, talk, hear, see, and perform repetitive motions; frequently walk; and occasionally stoop, reach, stand, push, pull, lift, grasp, and feel. The working conditions may contain environmental hazards. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be sedentary, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

The City of Richmond Values Veterans-We are an Official V3 Certified Company.

With over 4,000 employees, the City of Richmond is an "Employer of Choice" among cities throughout the nation. The City strives to hire and retain employees who bring dedication and talent to the workforce. Offering a competitive, cost effective, and quality benefits package is one element of an "Employer of Choice".
The City offers a full range of benefit programs from initial hire through retirement. Please visit our Web site for details.