Reporting to the President and CEO and serving as an integral member of the senior management team, the Vice President, Government Relations is to advocate on behalf of the business community and to ensure adoption of legislation, administrative rules, and policies that facilitate economic development and job growth, and to effectively communicate our advocacy priorities to elected officials, the media and other stakeholders.
The Vice President manages the Manager of Government Relations and oversees the public policy team including contracted employees and interns. The government relations team manages the development of policies through member committees, programs and the Chamber's Political Action Committee (PAC).
Responsibilities • Develop and direct the strategic planning for and implementation of the Chamber's legislative and advocacy initiatives in consultation with the CEO, Chair of the Public Policy Committee, and committee chairpersons, and the Executive Committee • Work with the Membership team to serve as the lead liaison for members utilizing the Chamber's Government Relations services • Coordinate with the Vice President of Communications on internal and external communications and media outreach • Coordinate with the VP of Programs to implement all public policy related programming • Form strategic alliances with other civic organizations to better coordinate research and policy activities • Serve as a registered lobbyist for, and represent the public policy positions of the Chicagoland Chamber before the Illinois General Assembly; Cook County Board of Commissioners; and Chicago City Council • Serve as liaison to contractual staff and ensure out-sourced activities are implemented properly and in a fiscally responsible manner • Maintain a database of contact with elected officials and track bills and ordinances on legislative issues at the state, county and local levels of government. Manage substantive issue forums, like the Tax Policy Council and the Public Policy Committee
- Maintain a strong knowledge of forum/committee issues and drive their initiatives
- Coordinate event logistics for forum/committee meetings and other events with the Program & Event team
- Oversee the preparation of meeting agendas, correspondence with forum/committee members, handouts and minutes • Manage the Chamber PAC, including candidate selection and PAC fundraising and reporting • Develop and track the Government Relations' budget • Work with the Management Team to assemble the annual Public Policy legislative report, legislative agenda, policy statement, and other marketing materials • Engage in special activities or events as deemed necessary by the President and CEO • Design and implement events for member and elected official interaction • Develop research initiatives that will support and guide the Chamber's legislative agenda
May perform additional duties as assigned
Education & Experience • Master's or other professional degree preferred • Minimum 5 years of direct government and legislative experience; city, state and Cook County experience preferred • Demonstrated command of pro-business issues, priorities and policy • Superior management skills; ability to influence and engage direct and indirect reports and peers • Self-reliant, good problem solver, results oriented • Energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive; a team leader who can positively and productively impact both strategic and tactical situations • Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with staff, senior management, and the board of directors • Broad functional experience in developing strategic plans and implementing goals and tactics; ability to operate as an effective tactical as well as strategic thinker • Must have previous team management experience with strong leadership and motivational skills and the ability to develop a results-focused, collegial team ethos • An inspirational, enthusiastic, and accessible style, the capability to earn respect and broad-based credibility both internally and externally • Ability to travel to Springfield and work non-traditional hours including early mornings and evenings • Passion for the mission of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce