VP, Legislative Relations & Stakeholder Alliances

Summary

The VP Legislative Relations & Stakeholder Alliances will directly manage NYPAs external stakeholder relations including with state legislators and government officials working closely with Legal Affairs Policy & Regulatory Affairs Executive Management Community & Government Relations Environmental Justice Communications/Marketing Innovation Finance Business Development & Operations and other relevant departments. Keep senior management including the President and CEO abreast of issues that may impact and/or require action by the Authority. Inform and implement strategies to maintain positive working relationships with these stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of Authority strategies and programs. Work in close partnership with Policy & Regulatory Affairs to ensure alignment in messaging of state and federal policy priorities. Provide guidance to and receive input from the SVP of Communications & External Affairs.

Responsibilities

• Inform and implement strategies to build relationships with key officials legislators their staff and stakeholders aligned with the organizations overall goals and objectives. Attend various legislative hearings events and caucuses as deemed necessary by NYPA leadership.
• Cultivate key relationships and coordinate the delivery of educational briefings for stakeholders on NYPAs organizational structure operating parameters and strategic priorities.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with energy industry groups chambers of commerce academia and support the development of strategic partnerships to facilitate and support projects aligned with NYPA legislative priorities.
• Partner with Legal Affairs and Policy and Regulatory Affairs to ensure strategic and consistent messaging on state and federal legislative goals and objectives and closely follow relevant proceedings of the New York State Legislature and local government legislative bodies.
• Coordinate closely with the Federal Affairs team to ensure alignment and consistent reporting on state and federal legislative goals and objectives.
• Manage a team of government relations professionals providing guidance and direction to ensure effective execution of the organizations advocacy agenda.
• Serve as a point of contact in coordination with Legal Affairs for the Governors legislative affairs office.
• Work with Legal Affairs Policy & Regulatory Affairs and other departments to provide technical assistance on legislative language develop engagement strategies and evaluate legislative issues and recommend actions for NYPA.
• Coordinate CEO preparation for state legislative hearings in close coordination with Legal Policy & Regulatory Affairs the Executive Office and Executive Management. May represent the organizations interests before legislative bodies government agencies and other relevant forums.
• Provide summary reports about stakeholders to NYPA senior executives including the CEO and Executive Management Committee on legislative proceedings in collaboration with Legal Affairs Business Unit.
• Stay apprised of key issues including financial public perception political environmental operational and others that impact the Authority. Recommend actions necessary to ensure NYPAs interests are served in state and local decision-making.
• Provide briefings about areas where policy may be changing in cooperation with Legal Affairs.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Independent thinking creative proactive and self-motivated with a positive confident attitude.
• Ability to proactively address concerns or issues.
• Strategic thinker with experience developing a long-term plan and ensuring its execution.
• Excellent judgement and discretion ability to make decisions quickly and efficiently.
• Ability to work well under tight deadlines and respond to rapidly changing demands and fulfill efficient follow-up.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills with ability to interact with diverse internal and external constituents.
• Strong negotiation/persuasion skills to generate internal and external support.
• Extensive knowledge of the issues facing the electric utility industry and the ability to express complex technical and legal concepts in laymans terms.
• Strong team management and coaching skills.
• Understanding of policies and procedures and experience evaluating management processes and implementing improvements preferred.
• Ability to support strategic change to meet organizational goals in a continuously changing environment.
• Extensive knowledge of NYS Legislative process with ability to review analyze and summarize prospective and enacted legislation.
• Strong leadership skills with proven ability to lead and execute business initiatives and provide tactical planning.
• Excellent presentation verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to maintain a trusted and collaborative relationship with senior executives across all business units.

Education Experience and Certifications

• Bachelors degree required.
• Graduate degree (J.D. or MPA) preferred.
• Project management experience required
• Minimum of 8 years of combined private and public sector experience required preferably with legislative and/or executive advocacy experience.
• Political campaign experience preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years managing a team.
• Utility or energy experience required.

Physical Requirements

• Approximately 40% travel primarily within NY State