Local Government Affairs Director

Illinois REALTORS®; Springfield (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Illinois REALTORS® is seeking a full-time Local Government Affairs Director to serve as the state association’s lobbyist and chief strategist for local associations in Central Illinois. The role is based in Springfield, IL, with travel to meetings across the state.

You will work with the Director of Local Advocacy and GAD team to advance policy priorities, coordinate committee testimony, RPAC fundraising, and engagement of members at municipal levels.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of full-time government affairs or lobbying experience.
• Proven track record with government relations for a trade association, lobbying firm, or private company.
• Understanding of local legislative processes, committees, and regulatory bodies in the designated region.
• Established network of relationships with local elected officials and regulators.
• Experience in analyzing and editing proposed local legislation.
• Experience organizing and directing advocacy campaigns within local municipalities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as lobbyist and strategist for local associations in the designated region.
• Lead local legislative and advocacy efforts in the region, including RPAC fundraising and policy promotion.
• Monitor agendas and proposed ordinances related to policy goals.
• Staff liaison to designated local associations and CEOs.
• Coordinate committee testimony and prepare speeches, scripts, and responses to inquiries.
• Assist with development and execution of local candidate interviews for political participation campaigns.
• Assist in RPAC fundraising campaigns.
• Conduct member outreach through meetings, newsletters, social media, and emails.
• Collaborate on referendums and advocacy campaigns with local bodies.
• Assist fellow GAD team members with local campaigns.

Skills

Legislative experience

Lobbying

Policy analysis

Stakeholder relations

Campaign management

Networking with officials

Job description

Illinois REALTORS® is seeking a full-time Local Government Affairs Director to serve as the state association’s lobbyist and chief strategist for local associations in Central Illinois.

OUR ADVOCACY MISSION

Illinois REALTORS® is the voice of real estate in Illinois, including at the state capitol and in communities statewide. As one of Illinois’ largest trade associations, representing over 47,000 members involved in every aspect related to the sale, purchase or lease of residential and commercial properties, we are the largest advocate for private property rights in the state. To achieve our advocacy mission, we employ a team of professionals both in the capitol and Local Government Affairs Directors throughout the state, who represent REALTORS® in front of municipal governments of every size. We partner with our local REALTOR® associations, leveraging the strength of our shared members to communicate with and educate local elected officials on our primary policy issues.

This Local Government Affairs Director will work closely and in partnership with the local associations in Central Illinois to execute our policy agenda. The Local Government Affairs Director ("GAD") will be joining a team of fellow GAD’s and will report directly to the Director of Local Advocacy.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as local associations’ lobbyist and strategist for local issues relating to local associations in the designated region. Represent the state association at key stakeholder meetings, including but not limited to committee meetings, fundraisers, and community group meetings.
• In coordination with the Director of Local Advocacy and GAD team, will lead local legislative and advocacy efforts in the designated region, including contributing to policy development, member involvement and mobilization, REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC) fundraising, promotion of REALTOR® policy priorities to members and elected officials, and coordination with state and national advocacy programming.
• Monitor agendas and proposed ordinances related to Illinois REALTORS’ policy goals, including but not limited to areas such as the ownership and transfer of real estate, property taxes, and economic development.
• Serve as staff liaison to designated local associations and associated CEO/Association Executive.
• Coordinate committee testimony, including preparing speeches, testimony, scripts, and responses to legislator or regulatory inquiries, and other content in collaboration with the Director of Local Advocacy and the Vice-President of Marketing & Communications.
• In coordination with the Director of Local Advocacy and the Senior Director of Advocacy Programs, assist with the development, scheduling and execution of local candidate interviews for use in Illinois REALTORS’® political participation campaigns.
• Assist in the development and execution of local RPAC fundraising campaigns.
• Conduct member outreach and communication, through member meetings and preparation of articles for newsletters, social media messaging, and messages for inclusion in email communications on legislative events and political concerns.
• In coordination with the Director of Local Advocacy, work on advocacy campaigns that involve referendums on REALTOR® supported issues.
• Assist fellow GAD team members, on an as‑needed basis, with advocacy campaigns related to nearby municipal bodies.

REQUIRED SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

• At least 3 years of full-time, relevant legislative, government affairs/relations, public affairs, or lobbying work experience
• Proven track record of handling government relations matters for government officials, trade association, lobbying firm, or private company
• Understanding of key components of legislative processes, including committee schedules and agendas, and important local regulatory bodies and administrative rules in the designated region
• An established network of relationships with local elected officials and regulators
• Experience in the analysis and editing of proposed local legislation
• Experience with organizing and directing advocacy campaigns within local municipalities

PREFERRED SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

The person selected for this position will preferably possess the following qualities:

• Self-motivated and ability to take initiative.
• Team oriented and the ability to positively receive direction.
• An effective organizer and able to motivate members to engage in political activity.
• The ability to assure the accuracy and validity of any representation of the Association’s positions and policies.
• The ability to work with and adapt to all types of people, from various political backgrounds, and exhibit strong knowledge, patience, perseverance, and persuasiveness.
• The ability to display a nonpartisan posture and philosophical comfort with REALTOR® interests, including the advancement and protection of private property rights.
• Skilled as a communicator and have the ability to effectively represent the association with other organizations, government agencies, the media, and the general public.
• The ability to follow directions from supervisor(s), display a team-oriented attitude and willingness to assist fellow GAD’s, and be highly flexible with respect to work schedule, including: nights, early mornings, and weekends.
• Knowledge of Illinois REALTORS® mission and the REALTOR® “Three Way Agreement”

WORK LOCATION; TRAVEL

This is an in-person position, which requires working from the Illinois REALTORS® headquarters, as well as attending in-person meetings with members, fellow staff and government officials. Illinois REALTORS’® headquarters is in Springfield, IL and the state association hosts numerous meetings throughout the state. The GAD will be expected to travel to other locations to attend Illinois REALTOR® meetings as well as National Association of REALTORS® meetings as directed. Several of these meetings will require overnight travel.