Director of Federal Government Relations
Director of Federal Government Relations
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Job Description
About Rice:
Boasting a 300acre treelined campus in Houston Texas Rice University is ranked among the nations top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6to1 undergraduate studenttofaculty ratio and a residential college system which supports students intellectually emotionally and culturally through social events intramural sports student plays lectures series courses and student government. Developing closeknit diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.
Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rices culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name RICE Responsibility Integrity Community and Excellence.
Position summary:
This position is responsible for developing and executing strategies to advance Rices institutional mission and academic interests. The Director of Federal Government Relations will work with federal elected officials Executive Branch officials and their respective staffs; represent Rice in national regional and local coalitions and associations to advance Rices policy interests; develop strong relationships with the Texas congressional delegation their staff and other relevant members of Congress and congressional staff; and facilitate campusbased and events and visits. The Director will develop strong relationships with Rice senior administrators deans institute directors and key faculty members to ensure the Office of Public Affairs (PA) and Government Relations (GR) department is strategically focused advocating for Rice Universitys most important federal priorities and effectively leveraging the PA teams capabilities to amplify the impact of GRs work. The position will have a primary location in Washington D.C. and will need the ability to travel to Houston and Austin.
Hybrid position: This position is offered as a hybrid role combining both inoffice and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Insert hybrid schedule. PerRice policy 440 work arrangements may be subject to change.
Hiring Range: Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. This is an exempt (salaried) position under FLSA and not eligible for overtime.
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelors degree
- Five yearsofrelated governmental affairs professional experienceincluding service in local state or federal government or as lobbyist for a university corporation or nonprofit institution.
- In lieu of the education/experience requirement additional related education and/or experience above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent yearforyear basis.
Skills:
- Understanding of the federal legislative processincluding appropriationsand regulatory rulemaking procedures demonstrated through the development and of strategies advancing policy goals.
- Extensive Capitol Hill and/or executive branch experience and a track record of relevant achievements.
- Exemplary networking ability demonstrated by extensive federal contacts.
- Effective support and advisory leadership capacity.
- Clear concise proactive and effective communication and problemsolving ensuring internal alignment and organizational success.
- Ability to think critically and creatively about public policy.
- Practices professionalism confidentiality and discretion within the context of higher education and the federal relations industries.
- Strong interpersonal skills able to work in a team and effectively manage meetings.
- Broadly computer literate with specialized capabilities relevant to the nature of the work described.
- Keen attention to detail and organization skills. Able to track and manage numerous projects across multiple issues client sets and timetables.
- Able to take initiative problemsolve and work independently with good judgment about when to seek direction.
- Able to prioritize focus on priorities and manage or minimize distractions.
- Superior communications skills with the ability to express complex ideas clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing.
- Comfortable with both public speaking and oneonone conversations with executive leaders.
- Ability to recognize and protect confidential information and exercise tact good judgment and diplomacy in handling sensitive situations.
Essential functions:
In consultation with the Senior Director of Government Relations and the Vice President of Public Affairs develop and execute strategies to advance Rices institutional missions of universitybased research teaching and innovation in the higher education policy realm.
- Oversee and advocate on legislative and regulatory issues related to higher education; federal research funding and policy; domestic workforce; international visas/immigration; campus safety and free speech; academic freedom and institutional autonomy; athletics; science arts and the humanities; higher education finances endowments taxes and student financial aid programs; and technology transfer and patent issues.
- Support and assist the Senior Director of Government Relations and Vice President of Public Affairs in the development and sustainment of a strategic and tactical federal government relations plan.
- Monitor developments and analyze federal legislation congressional committee and caucus activities and executive branch rulemaking and regulations for potential impact on Rice University (mission students faculty staff reputation).
- Develop manage and enhance relationships with members of Congress congressional staff committee staff agency leads/senior staff cabinet officials and University administrators faculty and staff.
- Represent the university and communicate effectively with relevant constituencies including providing federal audiences with selected proactive and timely information about university news priorities accomplishments and interests.
- Working with the Office of the President Office of the Provost and Development and Alumni Relations expand and nurture trustee and alumni relationships across the executive branch and Congressand a particular emphasis on our state delegation.
- Establish and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues at peer institutions; actively participate with associations and coalitions such as AAU COFHE NAICU NACUBO Ad Hoc Tax Presidents Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration and others.
- Working with Rices chief compliance officer and Senior Director of Government Relations ensure compliance with all federal lobbying laws and regulations including timely and accurate filing of federal lobbying activity expense and contribution reports. Strive to continually improve on transparency and reporting requirements and collaborate with the Office of General Counsel to educate the Rice community about all applicable university policies.
Serve as a key resource for senior administrators faculty members and staff on federal issues.
- Build and sustain positive working relationships with university leaders faculty and staff. Elevate the GR and PA joint profile as reliable trustworthy responsive resources on campus.
- Support faculty staff and leadership by drafting briefings talking points correspondence formal comment letters and other relevant university communications for federal audiences.
- Ensure a thorough and collaborative process to receive input from faculty and staff on legislative and regulatory proposals as well as association efforts.
- Coordinating with appropriate Rice units review research and recommend institutional positions on federal matters to the president and provost.
- Oversee requests for Rice to endorse/signon to letters endorsing opposing or commenting on policy proposals.
Create and identify opportunities that are aligned with and contribute to realizing Rices research enterprise goals and broader strategic objectives.
- Identify or create legislative opportunities that support Rices research priorities.
- Develop a federal agency engagement strategy on key research topics coordinating with the Office of Research institute directors and deans.
- Oversee and manage the work of any outside consultants retained to assist our research growth endeavors or specific initiatives.
- Support researchers students and senior administrator visits to Washington D.C. if it involves federal relations priorities or testimony.
- Working with university leadership coordinate support for federalrelated events and campus visits from federal officials agencies and staff.
- Point of contact to advise and support Rices Baker Institute for Public Policy on federal policy matters including promotion of their experts with federal audiences and Baker Institute events involving federal offices audiences.
Additional Functions
Position will have a primary location in Washington D.C. and will need the ability to travel to Houston and Austin. Significant weekend and evening work may be required.
Rice University HR Benefits: Mission and Values:Mission and Values Rice University
Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race color religion age sex sexual orientation gender identity national or ethnic origin genetic information disability or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process please contact Rice Universitys Disability Resource Center ator for support.
If you have any additional questions please email us at. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.
Required Experience:
Director
Employment Type
Full-Time
