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.