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Federal Relations Associate

DescriptionPosition Summary
The Federal Relations Associate is a member of the University of Colorado (CU) System's Office of Government Relations team. This position is permanently located in Washington, D.C. and supports the Federal Relations team’s outreach and education activities focused on Congress, federal agencies, and higher education associations on behalf of all four CU campuses and System Administration.  The Federal Relations Associate helps communicate important policy news and updates back to the campuses, conducts research and develops educational materials on policy issues, and works to inform key stakeholders about developments at CU. This position also manages CU’s DC-based Government Relations office. 

This position reports administratively to the Senior Vice President of Government Relations & Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and functionally to the Associate Vice President for Federal Policy and the Associate Vice President of Research and Federal Relations. The Federal Relations Associate is exempt from the State of Colorado Classified Staff system.

 
Duties and Responsibilities
Duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to: 

  • Assists the Federal Relations team in coordinating CU’s interactions with Congress, the Administration, federal agencies, research organizations, professional societies, university associations, and public policy organizations on higher education-related issues
  • Authors the Federal Update, a regular weekly e-mail to all four CU campuses covering relevant legislative and regulatory issues
  • Attends higher education association meetings and participates in calls providing updates on policy issues
  • Researches university and policy information to assist in communication and development of strategy
  • Drafts concise fact sheets, background materials, position papers, talking points, and high-level correspondence for use by the federal team and university leaders and faculty
  • Provides timely and pertinent content and outreach strategies for the Office of Government Relations’ social media accounts
  • Oversees the management of CU's DC-based office, which may include, but not limited to: coordinating IT, telephone and office equipment support and maintenance; serving as on-site liaison to the CU in DC Internship program; and performing general office and administrative duties
Who we are:

System Administration, which also houses the Office of the President, is located in the uptown neighborhood of Denver with a few smaller offices located on the campuses.  However, this position is located in Washington, D.C.  Many of our departments support the educational and research missions of the four University of Colorado campuses, but System Administration is not considered a campus. We provide diverse opportunities for professional development, innovation, and collaboration with talented staff and faculty.  Learn more about CU System Administration.

The University of Colorado has been proactive in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can visit our COVID-19 webpage for more information.

What we offer:

Salary: The salary range has been established at $54,500 - $60,000.

Benefits: The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

  • Medical: Multiple plan options
  • Dental: Multiple plan options
  • Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision and Wellness
  • Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
  • Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
    • Vacation Days: 22
    • Sick Days: 15
    • Holiday Days: 10
  • Tuition Benefit: System employees have the benefit on all campuses 
  • ECO Pass: RTD Bus and light rail service
  • Additional Perks & Programs: Click here to access a few more Perks and Programs
Click here to access our Total Compensation Calculator to see what your total rewards could be at CU. This position is a University Staff position.

More information on benefits programs, including eligibility, is available at www.cu.edu/employee-services/.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
To be successful in this position, candidates will need the following:

  • Knowledge of federal government institutions, structures, systems, and processes
  • Knowledge of policy development processes and activities, including agenda setting, policy formulation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation
  • Computer skills, including the ability to utilize Microsoft Office programs (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.) and learn and experiment with new software and systems
  • Oral, written, and listening communication skills, including the ability to accurately interpret what others are saying and convey messages, information, concepts, and details accurately and clearly
  • Interpersonal skills, including the ability to facilitate interaction, communication, and teamwork between others
  • Organizational skills, including the ability to set and meet goals and deadlines, manage appointments, create schedules, coordinate and facilitate meetings, and make decisions 
  • Ability to maintain sound political judgment with relation to department activities
  • Ability to self-start and take initiative in completing daily tasks, special projects, and managing project and process timelines 
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and reliable professional judgment, as well as collaboratively with a team to achieve desired results
  • Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple concurrent and competing tasks and responsibilities, and adapt to changing priorities while maintaining personal effectiveness
  • Ability to take assignments on short notice and travel to the Hill, federal agencies, and/or associations (when pandemic restrictions allow for safe in-person travel and activities)
  • Ability to successfully negotiate with internal and external constituencies and with diplomacy 
  • Ability to navigate a complex political environment


QualificationsMinimum Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education, or equivalent professional experience (professional experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis)
  • One (1) year of experience working in areas related to congressional/federal affairs, higher education policy, or other relevant experience
  • Must be willing and able to travel the Washington D.C. metro area and periodically to Colorado on an “as needed” basis
Preferred Qualifications:

  • Two (2) years’ experience working in areas related to congressional/federal affairs, higher education policy, or other relevant experience, which may include:
    • Experience with developing or assessing higher education policy and/or scientific research policy and/or health care policy. 
  • Interest in advancing the University of Colorado and Colorado higher education and academic research


Job Category: External Relations
Primary Location: Denver
Schedule: Full-time
Posting Date: Nov 20, 2020
Unposting Date: Ongoing

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