Position Number:S84980-20190906 Title:Associate Director Department:Communications + Public Affrs Category:Professional/Managerial Job Family:Government Affairs Website:https://www1.lehigh.edu/government Posting Date:09/06/2019 Summary:

The Associate Director of Government Relations is responsible for Lehigh’s interests in Harrisburg, including managing the activities of state consultants and developing relationships with state government officials, and various federal legislative activities/issues, including Capitol Hill advocacy and monitoring federal issues that impact the University

Accountabilities:

1. Legislative Relations: Develop and implement advocacy strategies to advance Lehigh’s interests with the Pennsylvania General Assembly and enhance the University’s reputation and influence in Harrisburg
   • Establish relationships with members and staff, particularly local area offices, to support Lehigh’s agenda
   • Monitor and attend legislative hearings, briefings and events of interest to faculty and staff
   • Support campus efforts to secure state capital grants and contracts
   • Identify opportunities to demonstrate to state officials the University’s strengths in education and research and value to the Commonwealth
   • Collaborate with state-level higher education associations, peer institutions of higher education and interest groups
2. State Agency Relations: Develop and implement strategies to advance Lehigh’s interests with the Governor’s office and state agency officials and enhance the University’s reputation
   • Establish relationships with key executive agency officials and the Governor’s office and explore strategic opportunities for University engagement
   • Monitor and attend meetings, briefings and other events of interest to faculty and staff
3. Other state relations functions
   • Assist in the development of state relations annual strategic plan mapped to University priorities
   • Monitor and report on state-level budgetary, regulatory, policy and political issues that impact the University.
   • Coordinate all official University engagement with state legislative offices, including campus invitations and visits, information sharing, and requests for letters of support
4. Federal Legislative Relations: Assist in the development and implementation of advocacy strategies to advance Lehigh’s federal legislative interests and enhance the University’s reputation and influence in Washington
   • Establish working relationships with Pennsylvania congressional staff in district offices and in Washington
   • Establish relationships with key Lehigh faculty and officials and identify federal legislative priorities impacting their work
   • Monitor and report on federal budget, appropriations and policy issues considered in Congress that impact federal programs of interest to the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education and Health. Attend/monitor congressional hearings, briefings and events of interest to faculty and staff
   • Organize faculty and staff participation in selected congressional advocacy activities in support of federal research programs. Identify further opportunities for faculty and staff to engage with Congressional offices and demonstrate the University’s strengths in education and research
   • Share information, develop shared positions, and carry out coordinated advocacy strategies with government relations staff from peer institutions of higher education and selected advocacy coalitions in Washington
   • Assist in the development of federal relations annual strategic plan mapped to University priorities
5. Other Government Relations Functions
   • Assess policy information from a wide range of resources concerning state and federal issues of interest to Lehigh; coordinate with the associate VP on regular government relations communications with key campus partners and audiences
   • Assist with Lehigh University Government Relations communications through active social media accounts
   • Assist with selected Lehigh University Government Relations sponsored events
   • Assist in managing interns and student employees
   • Familiarity and compliance with state and federal lobbying, ethics, political campaign and election rules

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Political Science or Related Area
• 3-5 years of related work experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience working in a Pennsylvania legislative office at the state or federal level (General Assembly or U.S. Congress); or experience working in a Pennsylvania state administrative agency; and/or knowledge and familiarity with state/federal legislative and administrative policies and issues related to higher education and university research preferred.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Solid writing ability and organizational skills
• Solid analytical, decision making and problem solving skills
• Solid computer skills with experience using word processing and spreadsheet software
• Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, county and national criminal background checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance. Based upon the requirements of the position Lehigh may also request credit history reports, motor vehicle checks and professional license/certification verification

Special Considerations:

• Special events and meetings which may require occasional evenings; legislative and project related deadlines; occasional travel for conferences.
• Frequent travel required between Washington, Harrisburg and Bethlehem.

FTE:100% Required Documents Message:Cover Letter, Resume