This position provides support to the government affairs department in day-to-day responsibilities involving stakeholder management, legislative activity, policy initiatives, and strategic planning. This role requires fostering positive relationships with public officials and their staff, community and trade organizations, and ancillary parties; assisting with the development and execution of legislative goals; drafting internal and external communications; and interfacing with internal and external partners to complete various tasks. **Functional Expertise:** + Educate and advocate for company priorities and initiatives and customer programs and needs. + Attend Illinois General Assembly legislative proceedings and forums. + Track policy issues and legislative activity and support the bill review process. + Perform timely research and draft memorandums and communications for internal and external meetings and forums involving other business units, consultants, public officials, industry groups, advocacy organizations, and other public entities. + Support government affairs department and internal teams to evaluate key legislative and regulatory issues to assist with the development and implementation of strategies, including policy development, planning and other forms of problem resolution. + Coordinate events and meetings between public officials and company personnel. + Manage special projects, including working cross-functionally to obtain information and/or facilitating collaborations business units. + Conducts internal reporting of on-going departmental activity and maintains the calendar for the Government Affairs team. **Business Acumen:** + Proven ability to independently manage, plan, organize and prioritize detailed aspects of several projects/issues simultaneously. + Excellent written and verbal communication skills, to convey positions, analysis, and recommendations. + Proven analytical and problem-solving skills + High organized and detail oriented. + Understands leadership, organization, and procedure of state legislature, committees, and state government agencies. + Government/community/civic engagement experience. **Engagement:** + Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders on legislative initiatives and projects. + Demonstrates a high degree of personal engagement when resolving problems / planning activities. + Represents Department with professionalism on the phone, in person, and in writing. **Driving Results:** + Provides high-level support to the government affairs team to ensure timely responses. + Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communicate skills. + Optimizes project flows by identifying process improvements and implementing changes. **Qualifications** **Education, Certifications/Licenses:** Required: + B.S./B.A. degree in political science, public policy, communications or related studies **Related Work Experience** Required: + Minimum 2 years of legislative/governmental or grass roots lobbying experience. Preferred: + Minimum 2 years of lobbying experience with Illinois legislature, state agencies and boards, or municipal government institutions. **Specific Skills& Knowledge:** Required: + High proficiency at MS Word, SharePoint, MS Excel and PowerPoint. **Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:** TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: + Must be able to travel to Springfield, IL weekly during 5-month legislative session and special sessions + Must have valid driver’s license and access to transportation to attend meetings/events across the state of Illinois and occasional travel out of state. PHYSICAL DEMANDS + Office environment WORK ENVIRONMENT + The incumbent works in an office environment and satellite office. + Many evening and weekend commitments **Disclaimer:** _This information describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this job. The description is not designed to be a comprehensive inventory of duties, responsibilities and qualifications required in the job; responsibilities may be changed or added without advance notice. Reasonable accommodations may be made to qualified disabled individuals for performance of essential duties and responsibilities._ **About Southern Company Gas** Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.2 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and approximately 600,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com . Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million residential and commercial customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy infrastructure company with national capabilities, a fiber optics network, and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience, and sustainability, we are taking action to meet our customers’ and communities’ needs while advancing our commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have earned the company national awards and recognition from numerous organizations, including Forbes, Military Times, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, J.D. Power, Fortune, Human Rights Campaign and more. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com. Southern Company invests in the well-being of its employees and their families through a comprehensive total rewards strategy that includes competitive base salary, annual incentive awards for eligible employees and health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as an incentive program, with the amount of any bonus/awards subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan(s). A summary of the benefits offered for this position can be found here https://seo.nlx.org/southernco/pdf/SOCO-Benefits.pdf . Additional and specific details about total compensation and benefits will also be provided during the hiring process. Southern Company is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law. Job Identification: 10320 Job Category: Government & Regulatory Affairs Job Schedule: Full time Company: Nicor Gas Pay Range: $86,682.00 - $136,215.20 USD Annually: Base salary varies depending on a wide array of factors, which may include but are not limited to the specific office location, role, skill set, and level of experience. As required by local law, and at the time of this posting, this is the reasonable salary range for this role.