State Government Affairs Director

State Government Affairs Director

The Michigan League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is seeking a full-time State Government Affairs  (GA) Director to serve as our lead lobbyist building alliances to pass stronger environmental and voter protection laws. The State GA Director will help develop policy positions for the organization, legislative and administrative strategy, and will actively build and manage relationships with key actors including elected and agency officials, primarily at the state level.

The ideal candidate will be a sharp strategist with government affairs experience, a proven track record of results advocating for policy change, and a network of legislative relationships to bring to the work. They will be motivated to work in a fast-paced, campaign-like environment and collaborate with a broader team to get big things done. They will be excellent at building consensus in order to deliver positive policy outcomes on land, air, water, and democracy issues impacting Michigan communities, and will serve as a resource for our staff and board, as well as state, regional, and national partners. 

This position, alongside a team of tenacious colleagues, will work with and amplify the voices of communities of color and other key constituencies who are disproportionately impacted by environmental issues. This position is an opportunity to directly impact environmental policy in Michigan, 

About the Michigan League of Conservation Voters

The Michigan League of Conservation Voters is a statewide political organization whose mission is to elect pro-conservation candidates to office and to hold all decision makers accountable for protecting Michigan’s drinking water, attacking climate change, and expanding access to the ballot. 

Michigan LCV is an equal opportunity employer. We assure equal treatment in hiring selection, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, training, discipline, and other personnel practices and terms or conditions of employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, height, weight, marital status, genetic testing status, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender status, or any other protected class established by all applicable federal, state and local laws and ordinances.

Job Responsibilities 

This position reports to the Senior Policy Director, is based in or willing to travel regularly to Lansing, and is responsible for the following: 

• Drive the daily work of the State Government Affairs Team team, representing Michigan LCV in Lansing from start to finish in decision-making processes by communicating our position on proposals, attending and participating in committee meetings and legislative session, consistently meeting with decision-makers, hosting events, and being present and available to current and potential allies
• Manage and develop staff within the State Government Affairs team by fostering collaboration, holding them accountable for goals, providing regular feedback, and supporting their professional development; manage the organization’s relationship with our multi-client lobbying firm
• Identify opportunities for progress and key defensive plays on legislation and create effective education, lobbying, and accountability strategies that deliver winning outcomes
• Proactively brief and report back to staff, board, donors and other partners about opportunities to get involved in decision-making processes, so that our team has the information they need to make the biggest impact possible
• In collaboration with our Policy team, research new and proposed policy solutions on deadline, in order to develop and clearly communicate Michigan LCV’s position internally and externally
• Actively expand Michigan LCV’s relationships on both sides of the aisle by hosting events for lawmakers, attending fundraisers, and setting a consistent calendar of one-on-one meetings
• Serve as a resource to in-state, regional, and national partners and coalitions on environmental and democracy policy in Michigan — our history, current lay of the land, and opportunities
• Work with our Advocacy & Outreach Director to develop PAC strategies
• Keeping a steady pulse on all relevant activity in Lansing on land, air, water, climate, and democracy issues by tracking weekly legislative schedules and communications from elected officials and partners, and serving as a resource for those asking for the latest updates, intel, and opportunities to get involved
• Participate in all Michigan LCV political election work — doing the hard work of campaigning, which means door-to-door field canvassing, text and phone banking, and/or attending campaign events

Qualifications

We are seeking candidates who are tenacious, self-starters, problem-solvers, innovators, and who will live our mission every day. You should have: 

• At least 5 years of experience impacting policy decisions in government, preferably in Michigan
• A clear understanding of what it takes to impact policy decisions in Lansing and how to navigate decision-making processes from start to finish
• A demonstrable network of relationships in the legislature and Michigan politics
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills:
• A track record of building strong, effective relationships with lawmakers
• Comfortable public speaking – including the delivery of formal public testimony and ease communicating about politics and public policy in front of large groups
• The ability to quickly and efficiently summarize legislation, and other public policy issues for a variety of audiences
• Experience managing high-performing teams of staff and consultants who represent a rich mix of people across race, gender, sexual orientation, and other group identities
• A strong commitment to and belief in putting issues above party and working across the aisle to better protect our land, air, water, democracy, and communities.
• Excellent time and project management skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks and understand how to most efficiently and effectively reach goals
• The ability to manage multiple projects at once while maintaining an understanding of the overall vision; does not get rattled by needed pivots in a fast-pace work environment
• A positive, problem-solving mentality and ability to deploy creative solutions to challenges
• Experience developing and maintaining strong working relationships with and among a wide range of stakeholders, especially those in communities of color
• Reliable access to the internet, a phone to use for work purposes, and transportation for travel across the state as well as the ability to participate in campaign activities, either phone banking or canvassing.
• Cultural competence:
• Demonstrated awareness of one’s own cultural identity and the ability to learn and build on varying community norms
• Ability to make authentic relationships across difference
• Understanding of how environmental and voting rights issues intersect with racism, economic and social inequality in the U.S.
• Commitment to equity and inclusion as organizational practice and culture

Compensation & Benefits

Step 1 (0-6 years of paid and direct experience): $89,000

Step 2 (7+ years of paid and direct experience): $94,000

Michigan LCV offers a benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision coverage, long-term and short-term disability coverage, life insurance coverage, a retirement savings program, reimbursements for business-related travel, a generous paid time off policy, and a team of smart, funny, and kind colleagues working together to deliver on a mission that matters.