Senior Government Affairs Manager

Salary Range: $90,950.00 to $107,000.00 annually

Position Summary

The Senior Government Affairs Manager will be responsible for leading Western Resource Advocates and WRA Action Fund’s (referred to collectively as "WRA") legislative, regulatory, and administrative advocacy efforts in the relevant state. This position will involve working closely with WRA’s program and marketing and communications staff to advance innovative legislative and administrative policy solutions critical to addressing the state’s most pressing climate change challenges. The position focuses on advancing climate and conservation policies across WRA’s three program areas.

About Western Resource Advocates

WRA fights climate change and its impacts to sustain the environment, economy, and people of the West. Our team of policy experts, scientists, economists, and attorneys has a 30-year history of working where decisions are made, sweating the details, creating evidence-based solutions, and holding decision makers accountable. This on-the-ground work with policymakers and other advocates advances clean energy, protects air, land, water, and wildlife, and sustains the lives and livelihoods of the West.

Location

The position can work remotely from the Carson City‑Reno or Las Vegas metropolitan areas, be based in WRA’s Reno office, or work in a hybrid remote and in‑office setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead WRA’s government affairs work in the state and work collaboratively with program and communications staff to develop and implement public policy advocacy efforts with legislative and administrative decision makers in Nevada.
• Lead in prioritizing and planning activities and campaigns to advance policies in multiple decision‑making forums including, but not limited to, the State Legislature and regulatory decision‑making bodies.
• Partner with WRA program leaders and other WRA staff and contract lobbyists to develop legislative and other decision‑maker targets to inform advocacy campaign planning.
• Partner with WRA team members, consultants, and partners to develop plans that advance WRA’s objectives.
• Coordinate with WRA’s policy and marketing and communications staff to craft communications strategies and messaging that accurately and persuasively convey WRA’s advocacy positions to stakeholders and decision makers.
• Serve as WRA’s senior liaison with elected leaders and other decision makers in the state.
• Identify and manage effective coalitions of diverse partners in the region to advance WRA’s priorities.
• In coordination with program staff, read and analyze the potential impact of proposed legislation and administrative policies with little guidance or direction.
• Identify, recruit, and organize a diverse group of opinion leaders in the state to engage with decision makers in support of WRA’s policies and positions.
• Manage and oversee contract lobbyists and other consultants retained by the Government Affairs department.
• Effectively communicate complex policy concepts to a diverse set of audiences.
• Monitor and track relevant state and local policies, rules, and regulations.
• Travel frequently to the state capital during the legislative session.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervise interns, fellows, and other government affairs staff members.
• Assist with hiring and training of interns, fellows, and other government affairs staff.
• Provide constructive feedback and timely performance evaluations for direct reports.

Qualifications & Competencies

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of this position will be considered. For example, the requisite experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities would include:

• At least seven years of experience in a government affairs capacity for an elected official, government agency, private entity, and/or nonprofit advocacy organization.
• A minimum of four years of proven experience leading, developing, and executing strategic government affairs, external affairs, communications, and/or advocacy campaigns.
• Experience managing consultants and providing guidance and support to fellow team members.
• Extensive understanding of relevant state politics and policy makers, especially as they relate to conservation and climate change policies.
• Substantial experience building and maintaining relationships with decision makers to advance WRA’s policy objectives.
• Broad experience building coalitions with a diverse group of stakeholders to advance WRA’s public policy objectives.
• Comfort and skill in communicating with a variety of constituencies and audiences.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to persuade, influence, or lead others on complex subjects.
• Strong organizational and time‑management skills, with attention to detail and follow‑through.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience lobbying or advocating with decision makers.
• Experience and knowledge centering equity in policy development.
• Existing relationships with decision makers and influencers in WRA’s region.

Working Environment and Physical Requirements

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those required by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation, including:

• A typical office environment with minimal exposure to excessive noise or adverse environmental issues.
• Prolonged periods of time at a desk and working on a computer.
• Some travel by automobile, airplane, and other means of transportation.

Travel Requirements

Travel to meetings, conferences, and other work‑related events is required within the relevant state and specifically to the capital city. This is in addition to travel required for retreats and other internal organizational meetings within WRA’s region (approximately 10% to 25%, depending on the location of work).

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for a Senior Government Affairs Manager is $90,950 to $107,000. Salary depends on relevant experience, and new staff rarely start at the top of the range.

WRA’s excellent benefits package includes a 401(k) retirement plan with up to 5% matching and health, dental, vision, and life and disability insurance with 100% of premiums paid by WRA.

Annually, staff receive:

• Seventeen days of paid vacation leave to start.
• Twelve paid holidays.
• Additional paid time off during WRA’s Winter Break between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Employees are eligible for up to twelve weeks of parental leave, and after five years, staff are eligible for up to twelve weeks of paid sabbatical leave. This position is full‑time and exempt.

Deadline to Apply

Diversity and inclusion are a critical component of our strategy, mission, and vision. We welcome candidates from an array of backgrounds and experiences to join our team.

WRA is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, or veteran status.

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