Program Manager III

State of South Carolina; South Carolina; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

State of South Carolina's Department of Natural Resources seeks a government and legislative relations specialist to manage relationships with agency leadership, advise on government affairs, and monitor legislation affecting natural resources.

The role requires strategic communication, coordination with lawmakers, and travel across the state; a background in legislative processes and knowledge of SC game, fish and boating laws are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's degree and four years of relevant program experience.
• Eight years of experience in government affairs, public administration, or advocacy.
• Strong knowledge of South Carolina game, fish and boating laws.
• Experience drafting and evaluating legislation and regulations.
• Experience testifying before legislative committees or policy audiences.
• Ability to work with legislators and staff on substantive matters.

Responsibilities

• Developing and maintaining positive working relationships with the Agency director and other agency leadership.
• Advising the Agency Director, DNR Board, Chief of Staff, Chief of Education, Outreach and Information (EOI), and other agency leadership on government affairs matters.
• Remaining knowledgeable of ongoing issues, programs, and initiatives within the Department.
• Participating in decision-making processes for the Department and assisting the Agency Director, Chief of Staff, Chief of EOI, and other agency leadership in researching and formulating natural resources policies.
• Reviewing program objectives and recommending legislative, proviso, regulation, and policy changes to appropriate leadership.
• Evaluating and monitoring all proposed legislation relevant to the Department.
• Reviewing and approving Regulations submitted to Legislative Council for legislative approval.
• Maintaining an internal computerized tracking system of legislative issues and regulations and providing regular reports to the Agency Director, SCDNR Board, Chief of Staff, Chief of EOI, and other agency leadership as needed.
• Coordinating a network of agency subject matter experts to ensure accurate testimony by SCDNR personnel before legislative subcommittees and committees.
• Serving as the primary liaison between the Department and the Governor's Office, members and staff of the General Assembly, other state officials, and state and local government agencies as directed.
• Responding to requests for information coordinating appropriate responses consistent with agency policies and positions.
• Effectively communicating the Department's positions, programs, and policies before legislative subcommittees and committees, public hearings, and at Department-related events.
• Ensuring that effective, working relationships and lines of communication are maintained with elected officials and the staff of state and local government agencies, as well as federal elected officials, their staffs, and the staff of federal government agencies.
• Advising the Agency Director, Chief of Staff, Chief of EOI, and other agency leadership with regard to federal government relations.
• Serving as an official liaison between the Department and the South Carolina delegation to the United States Congress, and federal government agencies.
• Effectively representing and communicating the Department's positions, programs, and policies to federal elected officials and federal agency staff.
• Working with the staff of the Executive Budget Office, Senate Finance Committee, and House Ways and Means Committee to respond to requests for information related to the agency's budget, budget requests, provisos, and fiscal impact statements.
• Working with the Director of Constituent Services to research and resolve constituent issues from the Governor's Office, elected officials, and direct referrals from within the agency, when appropriate.

Skills

Government relations

Public administration

Advocacy

Legislative research

Policy analysis

Testifying before committees

Written communication

Verbal communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Eight years of government affairs experience

Job description

This position will serve as the government and legislative relations specialist for the Department of Natural Resources.

Job Duties Include:

• Developing and maintaining positive working relationships with the Agency director and other agency leadership.
• Advising the Agency Director, DNR Board, Chief of Staff, Chief of Education, Outreach and Information (EOI), and other agency leadership on government affairs matters.
• Remaining knowledgeable of ongoing issues, programs, and initiatives within the Department.
• Participating in decision-making processes for the Department and assisting the Agency Director, Chief of Staff, Chief of EOI, and other agency leadership in researching and formulating natural resources policies.
• Reviewing program objectives and recommending legislative, proviso, regulation, and policy changes to appropriate leadership.
• Evaluating and monitoring all proposed legislation relevant to the Department.
• Reviewing and approving Regulations submitted to Legislative Council for legislative approval.
• Maintaining an internal computerized tracking system of legislative issues and regulations and providing regular reports to the Agency Director, SCDNR Board, Chief of Staff, Chief of EOI, and other agency leadership as needed.
• Coordinating a network of agency subject matter experts to ensure accurate testimony by SCDNR personnel before legislative subcommittees and committees.
• Serving as the primary liaison between the Department and the Governor's Office, members and staff of the General Assembly, other state officials, and state and local government agencies as directed.
• Responding to requests for information coordinating appropriate responses consistent with agency policies and positions.
• Effectively communicating the Department's positions, programs, and policies before legislative subcommittees and committees, public hearings, and at Department-related events.
• Ensuring that effective, working relationships and lines of communication are maintained with elected officials and the staff of state and local government agencies, as well as federal elected officials, their staffs, and the staff of federal government agencies.
• Advising the Agency Director, Chief of Staff, Chief of EOI, and other agency leadership with regard to federal government relations.
• Serving as an official liaison between the Department and the South Carolina delegation to the United States Congress, and federal government agencies.
• Effectively representing and communicating the Department's positions, programs, and policies to federal elected officials and federal agency staff.
• Working with the staff of the Executive Budget Office, Senate Finance Committee, and House Ways and Means Committee to respond to requests for information related to the agency's budget, budget requests, provisos, and fiscal impact statements.
• Working with the Director of Constituent Services to research and resolve constituent issues from the Governor's Office, elected officials, and direct referrals from within the agency, when appropriate.

A bachelor's degree and four (4) years of relevant program experience.Eight (8) years of experience working in the field of government affairs, public administration or advocacy. Highly motivated, self-starter and a committed team player. Knowledgeable of South Carolina game, fish and boating laws. Knowledge of and/or experience in the following areas: legislative research; drafting and evaluating legislation and regulations; testifying before legislative committees or other policy-related audiences; direct working experience with legislators or legislative staff on substantive legislative matters; working knowledge of the legislative process and accompanying procedures. Other related work experiences may be substituted where applicable. Willingness to work on special projects and individual requests at the direction of the Chief of EOI. Knowledge of SCDNR and its extensive programs as well as specific experience dealing with state government processes. Knowledge of SCDNR's mission, goals and strategic plan desirable. Knowledge of Title 50 Game, Fish and Boating laws. Ability to accurately represent the agency's mission and philosophy independently through verbal and written communication with individual legislators, legislative staff, agency officials, constituents and formulate appropriate responses to specific requests. May be required to travel across the state on various assignments which could require overnight stay.