State Affairs, Lead Specialist

Vestas group; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Dental & vision coverage

Paid time off

401(k) with employer match

Job summary

Vestas-Steelhead Americas seeks a proactive State Affairs Lead Specialist to drive state-level government affairs, stakeholder engagement, and public policy strategies supporting Steelhead's development portfolio.

The role involves representing the company before lawmakers and regulators, guiding project teams through policy changes, and coordinating with external partners to advance priorities across Virginia and other priority states.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Public Policy, Political Science, Public Affairs, Communications, Law, or related field.
• 7+ years of government affairs, public policy, or related experience.
• Proven experience advocating before legislators, regulators, and trade groups.
• Strong understanding of state legislative processes and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience managing external consultants and coalitions.
• Excellent communication, organization, and prioritization skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead state government affairs and public policy strategies for Steelhead's development portfolio.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments; provide strategic guidance to teams.
• Represent the company before state legislators, regulators, and industry groups.
• Develop advocacy strategies, including testimony, comments, and policy positions.
• Build relationships with policymakers, regulators, tribal governments, and stakeholders.
• Lead participation in trade associations, coalitions, and partnerships.
• Manage external consultants and coordinate cross-functional engagement.
• Provide political and policy risk assessments and recommendations throughout projects.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Public speaking

Strategic thinking

Relationship building

Project management

Communication

Travel planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Policy/Political Science/Public Affairs/Law

Tools

Quorum

Job description

Vestas-Steelhead Americas is seeking a proactive, politically savvy, and strategic State Affairs Lead Specialist to develop and execute state-level government affairs, stakeholder engagement, and public policy strategies that support Steelhead's development portfolio.

This role is responsible for identifying and influencing legislative, regulatory, and political developments affecting project siting, permitting, transmission, energy markets, and renewable energy development across Steelhead's priority states.

Working with a high degree of autonomy, the State Affairs Lead Specialist serves as a trusted advisor to project teams and company leadership, representing Steelhead before elected officials, regulators, industry associations, trade organizations, and key external stakeholders. This position plays a critical role in advancing Steelhead's policy priorities, protecting company interests, and supporting successful project outcomes.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of state government affairs, stakeholder engagement, and public policy strategies in support of Steelhead's development portfolio.
• Monitor and analyze legislative, regulatory, political, and market developments, providing strategic guidance to project teams and leadership.
• Represent the company before state legislators, regulators, executive branch officials, industry associations, and key external stakeholders.
• Develop and execute advocacy strategies, including legislative testimony, regulatory comments, policy positions, and issue briefs.
• Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, industry leaders, tribal governments, and other stakeholders as relevant.
• Lead participation in trade associations, coalitions, and strategic partnerships to advance company priorities.
• Manage external consultants, lobbyists, and public affairs partners while coordinating cross-functional engagement efforts.
• Provide ongoing political and policy risk assessments, briefings, and recommendations throughout the project development lifecycle.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Public Affairs, Communications, Law, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in government affairs, public policy, legislative affairs, stakeholder engagement, renewable energy, infrastructure, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing legislative, regulatory, advocacy, or public affairs strategies.
• Strong understanding of state legislative processes, regulatory frameworks, permitting requirements, and political landscapes.
• Experience representing organizations before elected officials, regulatory agencies, trade associations, coalitions, and industry groups.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with policymakers, regulators, community leaders, industry stakeholders, and business organizations.
• Excellent communication, project management, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and influence outcomes.
• Experience in renewable energy, transmission, energy storage, utility regulation, lobbying, political campaigns, or related infrastructure sectors preferred.
• Strategic and political thinker with strong policy judgment.
• Skilled at influencing decision-makers and building consensus among diverse stakeholders.
• Advanced relationship-building and coalition-management capabilities.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex policy issues into actionable business recommendations.
• Effective communicator and public spokesperson.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and complex projects under tight deadlines.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and integrity.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and stakeholder, legislative, or issue-tracking databases (Quorum).
• Willingness to travel as needed (up to 35%).

Join our team for a fulfilling role with excellent growth opportunities in an inspiring workplace at the world's leading wind turbine manufacturer. You'll be part of a global team dedicated to sustainability and safety, working alongside colleagues who support one another.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary and industry-leading benefits
• Comprehensive dental and vision coverage
• Generous paid time off policies
• Outstanding 401(k) plan with employer match

Our commitment to a fair hiring

At Vestas, we evaluate all candidates solely based on their professional experience, education, and relevant skills. To support a fair recruitment process, we kindly ask that you remove any photos, dates of birth or graduation, gender pronouns, marital status, or other personal information not relevant to the role before submitting your CV/resume. Your CV/resume should focus on your professional and educational background, along with the necessary contact details (email and phone number). We train our hiring teams in inclusive evaluation and regularly review process outcomes to ensure fairness.

DEIB Statement

At Vestas, we recognize the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion in driving innovation and success. We strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, particularly those who may hesitate due to their identity or feel they do not meet every criterion. As our CEO states, "Expertise and talent come in many forms, and a diverse workforce enhances our ability to think differently and solve the complex challenges of our industry". Your unique perspective is what will help us powering the solution for a sustainable, green energy future.

About Vestas

Vestas is the energy industry’s global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We are specialised in designing, manufacturing, installing, and servicing wind turbines, both onshore and offshore.Across the globe, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. We consider ourselves pioneers within the industry, as we continuously aim to design new solutions and technologies to create a more sustainable future for all of us. With more than 200 GW of wind power installed worldwide and 40+ years of experience in wind energy, we have an unmatched track record demonstrating our expertise within the field.With 39,000 employees globally, we are a diverse team united by a common goal: to power the solution – today, tomorrow, and far into the future.Vestas promotes a diverse workforce which embraces all social identities and is free of any discrimination. We commit to create and sustain an environment that acknowledges and harvests different experiences, skills, and perspectives. We also aim to give everyone equal access to opportunity.To learn more about our company and life at Vestas, we invite you to visit our website at www.vestas.com and follow us on our social media channels. We also encourage you to join our Talent Universe to receive notifications on new and relevant postings.