Director of Government and External Affairs

Director of Government and External Affairs

 

The Director of Government and External Affairs will support the President in designing and executing its advocacy and communication strategies in partnership with member colleges.

 

Reports to:                   President

Employment Type:      Full-Time, work performed primarily in-person in downtown Lansing, with some travel and opportunities to work remotely

Compensation:            Salaried, $ 70,000+, Commensurate with experience

Exceptional benefits package, including health, vision, and dental insurance, paid holidays, and time off, generous 401k contributions, life insurance, short/long-term disability insurance, and health savings account.

Duties and Responsibilities

Government Relations

Track and maintain fluency on relevant state legislative issues that impact community colleges Develop a policy agenda for the Association, in consultation with the legislative committee, which is centered on expanding state investment into Michigan’s community colleges Leverage the subject matter expertise of MCCA staff to develop effective policy recommendations Establish and maintain relationships with key state policymakers and staffers Liaise with legislators, the Governor’s Office, and state departments on issues impacting Michigan’s community colleges in close coordination with the President and lobbyist Attend and summarize legislative hearings Develop materials in support of MCCA’s policy agenda, such as legislative summaries, testimony, fact sheets, and talking points Regularly update Presidents and Trustees on legislative happenings in real-time Perform research on and track major community college policy issues proposed or implemented in other states Track policy issues and coordinate advocacy action on federal policy issues, in close coordination with national organizations like ACCT and AACC Work with the President and legislative committee to design a strategy for its Political Action Committee and manage the implementation of that strategy Regularly attend fundraisers, receptions, and events hosted by elected officials/candidates Coordinate and facilitate monthly meetings of the lobbyists of members Respond to college inquiries about specific state and federal policy issues Gather feedback from colleges to inform MCCA’s positions on legislation Organize meetings with Congressional delegation during annual Joint National Legislative Summit sponsored by ACCT Identify appropriate college personnel to serve on statewide committees, boards, and commissions

 

External Relations/Communications

Work closely with MCCA’s PR and marketing consultants to design and implement MCCA’s external communication strategy Identify opportunities to amplify success stories of member community colleges and generate ideas for social media posts and campaigns Maintain the integrity of the MCCA brand in all communications Represent the Association by attending events and meetings hosted by partners or stakeholders

 

Association Management

Manage the activities of the Legislative Committee including developing agendas for facilitating monthly meetings Plan and execute certain MCCA events, including its annual Community College Day Prepare “Legislative Update” section of MCCA’s Weekly Board Update and other communications in partnership with Director of Member Engagement Maintain “Advocacy” tab on MCCA’s website, including “Bills to Watch” section Monitor “News” section on MCCA’s website Represent MCCA’s President on work groups, coalitions, and task forces as needed Generate a quarterly policy update to be shared with MCCA affinity groups Provide staffing and/or participate in various existing MCCA affinity groups Convene and establish new affinity groups as needed, including affinity groups representing communication/marketing professionals and government/external/community affairs professionals Support the execution of all MCCA events, including the Annual Summer Conference Special projects and other duties, as assigned

 

 

 

 

 

Requirements and Skills:

Bachelor’s Degree with a concentration in political science, public policy, communication, education, management/administration, business, or a related field; Advanced/Professional degree preferred At least three years of experience working in government and/or external affairs Demonstrated success in the state public policy and legislative arenas, including executing successful advocacy strategies Knowledge, understanding, and proven ability to navigate local, state and/or federal political landscape Knowledgeable on diversity, equity, and inclusion principles Highly organized with excellent project management skills. Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with an ability to meet deadlines Excellent interpersonal and communication skills Critical and strategic thinker with an ability to work across the political landscape and engage diverse stakeholders Proficiency in Microsoft office products, social media, and marketing software Enthusiastically committed to working as a team Exceptional professionalism and customer service skills when engaging community college presidents, trustees, and personnel

Michigan Community College Association believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that enables our staff to thrive. We are committed to building a talented team that reflects diverse backgrounds and experiences. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.

How to Apply

We welcome questions from interested candidates. To apply, please send resume and a short cover letter to Kathy Taskey at kathy@mcca.org no later than Friday, September 2, 2022.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About MCCA: 

The Michigan Community College Association is the unified voice for Michigan’s community colleges, empowering members to lead in the areas of student success, talent development, and community vitality.

 

Vision:

MCCA will be a national recognized state association, providing effect leadership in talent, community, and economic development.

The MCCA will:

Be the state’s leading advocate for postsecondary education and talent development Strengthen public awareness and recognition of the role of community colleges Support members in delivering education and training that is responsive to changing labor-market needs Champion the strategies necessary to achieve equitable student success, emphasizing linkages between policy, practice, and research Foster collaboration, connection, and partnerships among community colleges and stakeholders

 

For more information, visit our website at www.mcca.org.

Michigan Community College Association believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that enables our staff to thrive. We are committed to building a talented team that reflects diverse backgrounds and experiences. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.