Government Relations Manager

Jobtailor; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Metropolitan Ministries seeks a seasoned Government Relations professional to coordinate public affairs across municipal, county, state, and federal levels in Florida. The role involves tracking budgets and funding, maintaining calendars, and drafting policy updates for leadership.

The ideal candidate has a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration or related field and at least three years of nonprofit advocacy or legislative experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Political Science, Communications, Nonprofit Management, or a related field required.
• Three years of experience in public affairs, government relations, legislative or agency staff work, nonprofit advocacy, or a related field required.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to summarize policy and budget information clearly and accurately.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate day-to-day government relations and public affairs activity at municipal, county, state, and federal levels.
• Track legislative sessions, regulatory changes, budget priorities, and funding developments.
• Maintain the calendar of legislative sessions, committee meetings, budget deadlines, and advocacy events.
• Summarize policy and budget developments into written updates.
• Maintain the government relations tracking system.
• Support contracted government relations lobbyists with scheduling, information gathering, follow-up, and documentation.
• Maintain relationships with government staff, agency contacts, and elected officials’ offices.
• Coordinate site visits, program tours, briefings, and meetings between public-sector leaders and Metropolitan Ministries leadership.
• Staff executive leadership meetings with public officials and capture notes, action items, and follow-up commitments.
• Attend and staff events, coalition meetings, legislative activities, advocacy days, and delegation meetings.
• Coordinate invitations, RSVPs, and stewardship follow-up for elected officials and VIPs.
• Partner with Community Engagement and Philanthropy, Marketing, Donor Services, and Grants teams.
• Support alignment of government relations activity with donor cultivation, volunteer engagement, communications, grants, appropriations, and public funding opportunities.
• Draft briefing memos, talking points, legislative updates, funding request materials, letters of support, endorsement requests, and budget submission materials.
• Support compliance with lobbying, reporting, and ethical standards

Skills

Strong Written Communication

Relationship Management

Highly Organized

Detail-Oriented

Discretion

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration

Tools

Donor Database

Contact Database

Government Relations Tracking System

Job description

• Coordinate day-to-day government relations and public affairs activity at municipal, county, state, and federal levels
• Track legislative sessions, regulatory changes, budget priorities, and funding developments
• Maintain the calendar of legislative sessions, committee meetings, budget deadlines, and advocacy events
• Summarize policy and budget developments into written updates
• Maintain the government relations tracking system
• Support contracted government relations lobbyists with scheduling, information gathering, follow-up, and documentation
• Maintain relationships with government staff, agency contacts, and elected officials’ offices
• Coordinate site visits, program tours, briefings, and meetings between public-sector leaders and Metropolitan Ministries leadership
• Staff executive leadership meetings with public officials and capture notes, action items, and follow-up commitments
• Attend and staff events, coalition meetings, legislative activities, advocacy days, and delegation meetings
• Coordinate invitations, RSVPs, and stewardship follow-up for elected officials and VIPs
• Partner with Community Engagement and Philanthropy, Marketing, Donor Services, and Grants teams
• Support alignment of government relations activity with donor cultivation, volunteer engagement, communications, grants, appropriations, and public funding opportunities
• Draft briefing memos, talking points, legislative updates, funding request materials, letters of support, endorsement requests, and budget submission materials
• Support compliance with lobbying, reporting, and ethical standards

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Political Science, Communications, Nonprofit Management, or a related field required
• Three years of experience in public affairs, government relations, legislative or agency staff work, nonprofit advocacy, or a related field required
• Working knowledge of municipal, county, and/or state budget and funding processes preferred
• Experience supporting or staffing relationships with public officials preferred
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to summarize policy and budget information clearly and accurately
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with demonstrated ability to manage calendars, records, and follow-up across multiple stakeholders
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office
• Comfort working in a donor or contact database
• Ability to coordinate across Community Engagement and Philanthropy, Marketing, Donor Services, Grants, executive leadership, lobbyists, and government staff
• Sound judgment and discretion, including a clear understanding of when to elevate matters
• Commitment to Metropolitan Ministries’ mission, values, culture, service model, faith‑based heritage, and commitment to serving all families with dignity
• Regular local travel throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties, with occasional travel to Tallahassee
• Availability for occasional early morning, evening, and weekend events and meetings
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed for donor engagement and events
• Must pass applicable pre‑employment screening
• Must demonstrate legal authorization to work in the United States

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in government relations and public affairs, with strong capabilities in legislative tracking, relationship management, and effective communication. Proficient in coordinating activities across multiple stakeholders and ensuring compliance with ethical standards.

Highest‑signal resume keywords

• Government Relations Coordination
• Legislative Tracking
• Strong Written Communication
• Relationship Management
• Microsoft Office Proficiency

Hard Skills

• Public Affairs
• Legislative Staff Work
• Nonprofit Advocacy
• Budget Processes
• Policy Summarization
• Documentation
• Event Coordination
• Database Management
• Briefing Memo Drafting
• Funding Request Materials

Soft Skills

• Highly Organized
• Detail‑Oriented
• Sound Judgment
• Discretion
• Ability to Manage Multiple Stakeholders

Industry Keywords

• Public Administration
• Political Science
• Community Engagement
• Philanthropy
• Advocacy Days
• Coalition Meetings
• Ethical Standards

Tools & Technologies

• Donor Database
• Contact Database
• Government Relations Tracking System