Senior Director, State Affairs

Alliance for Automotive Innovation; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Equity

Medical benefits

401(k) plan

Other company perks

Job summary

Alliance for Automotive Innovation in Sacramento, CA seeks a Senior Director State Government Affairs to lead the association's policy representation across the west coast, engaging with state legislators and agencies to advance member interests.

Reporting to the Vice President, this role analyzes legislation, develops engagement strategies, builds relationships with lawmakers and lobbyists, and coordinates across departments.

Qualifications

• Comprehensive understanding of state legislative process and advocacy strategies.
• Ability to review and analyze state legislation, and effectively communicate impact to other association staff, member companies, and external stakeholders.
• Capacity to quickly understand and internalize complex policy concepts on wide range of issues impacting industry.
• Excellent communications skills - ability to quickly draft compelling written testimony and advocacy materials that translate association policies to non-expert policymakers; comfort with public speaking before legislative committees, policy panels, and other public events.
• Strong interpersonal skills and leadership qualities to generate trust and find consensus among member company policy staff.
• Excellent judgement in priority setting between competing interests in changing environment.
• Ability to thrive in a team environment requiring sustained collaboration and communication with colleagues.
• Bias for action with a demonstrated track record for translating strategic thinking into action plans and positive outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Monitors, evaluates, engages, and apprises the association's leadership, staff, and member companies of state policy that impact the industry within the region.
• Consults regularly with member companies on policy priorities, issue positioning, appropriate messaging, and legislative engagement strategy and tactics.
• Collaborates with staff and members to prepare comments, correspondence, and deliver hearing testimony as needed to state legislative and regulatory bodies.
• Serves as a thought-leader on state policies impacting the industry with third-party organizations and panel discussions and in other public forums.
• Represents the association in strategic partnership efforts and other public venues advocating adoption of recommended policies and initiatives.
• Identifies, develops, and maintains relationships with lawmakers, stakeholders, and other relevant organizations.
• Works closely with other departments within the association to ensure a coherent, coordinated industry effort and proper messaging on issues is achieved.
• Collaborates and manages relationships with in-state lobbyists and consultants.
• Travels extensively, occasionally on short notice, to attend in-person meetings, hearings, or events.
• All other duties as assigned.

Skills

State policy analysis

Advocacy strategies

Legislative communication

Public speaking

Stakeholder collaboration

Policy translation

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Status:Full Time

FLSA:Exempt

Reporting to the Vice President of State Government Affairs, the Senior Director State Government Affairs is the industry's lead policy representative across west coast region, actively working with state legislative and administrative personnel to advance member interests. The position will assist in the assessment of legislative opportunities and threats, as well as the evaluation and development of strategies for engagement. The Senior Director will manage interactions with member company policy and advocacy staff, as well as in-state lobbyist network in assigned region. The position will represent association interests in state capitols and at policy conferences as required. The position will also be responsible for assisting in the management of special events and projects to advance both the industry and the association's interests and policy positions throughout the year. The Senior Director will work closely and regularly with other departments within the association to successfully advocate in the region on a wide range of issues impacting the auto industry.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Monitors, evaluates, engages, and apprises the association's leadership, staff, and member companies of state policy that impact the industry within the region;
• Consults regularly with member companies on policy priorities, issue positioning, appropriate messaging, and legislative engagement strategy and tactics;
• Collaborates with staff and members to prepare comments, correspondence, and deliver hearing testimony as needed to state legislative and regulatory bodies;
• Serves as a thought-leader on state policies impacting the industry with third-party organizations and panel discussions and in other public forums;
• Represents the association in strategic partnership efforts and other public venues advocating adoption of recommended policies and initiatives;
• Identifies, develops, and maintains relationships with lawmakers, stakeholders, and other relevant organizations;
• Works closely with other departments within the association to ensure a coherent, coordinated industry effort and proper messaging on issues is achieved;
• Collaborates and manages relationships with in-state lobbyists and consultants;
• Travels extensively, occasionally on short notice, to attend in-person meetings, hearings, or events;
• All other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Comprehensive understanding of state legislative process and advocacy strategies;
• Ability to review and analyze state legislation, and effectively communicate impact to other association staff, member companies, and external stakeholders;
• Capacity to quickly understand and internalize complex policy concepts on wide range of issues impacting industry;
• Excellent communications skills - ability to quickly draft compelling written testimony and advocacy materials that translate association policies to non-expert policymakers; comfort with public speaking before legislative committees, policy panels, and other public events;
• Strong interpersonal skills and leadership qualities to generate trust and find consensus among member company policy staff;
• Excellent judgement in priority setting between competing interests in changing environment;
• Ability to thrive in a team environment requiring sustained collaboration and communication with colleagues;
• Bias for action with a demonstrated track record for translating strategic thinking into action plans and positive outcomes.

QUALIFICATIONS OF IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• Bachelor's Degree;
• Minimum five to fifteen years of experience working in/with state legislature or administration, preferably in western region of country;
• Strong interest in automotive industry, including new and developing technologies, environmental protection, and roadway safety;
• Positive attitude, willingness to work hard, and interest in learning new and evolving policy areas.

To provide greater transparency to candidates, we share base pay ranges for all US-based job postings regardless of state. We set standard base pay ranges for all roles based on function, level, and country location, benchmarked against similar-stage growth companies. The anticipated salary range for this position at Senior Director level is $200,000 to $230,000. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including candidate location, skills, depth of work experience, and relevant licenses/credentials, and may vary from the range listed. This role may also be eligible for bonus, equity, medical benefits, 401(k) plan, and other company perk programs.

At the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Equal Employment Opportunity is our commitment and goal. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status or any other protected status designated by federal, state or local law. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a reference and background investigation based on a position.