Program Director, State Government Relations

At ACT Your Work Makes a Difference

Education has power a power that changes lives forever. It creates opportunities that lift up individuals their families and sparks societal change that echoes through generations to come. From our grassroots we have fought the good fight for inclusivity in education and we remain devoted to helping anyone who struggles to access that power. This is what matters to us and we must do better -- weve never been more sure of our purpose.

ACT Education Corp. team members are part of an organization dedicated to an important mission: Helping people achieve education and workplace success. Advancing the mission internally by helping team members achieve education and workplace success of their own is core to our values. ACT values a diverse workplace and is committed to fostering an inclusive environment in which every team member has equal opportunity to grow.

We want our team members to have the well-being and confidence they need to do their best work in an environment where both they and the company thrive. To support this our total rewards include company paid life insurance medical dental vision flexible spending accounts 401(k) with company contributions paid holidays paid time off and so much more. You can find a comprehensive list of our benefits here.

You will be joining a team that aligns ACT solutions with state goals and initiatives fosters relationships with decision-makers and advances and defends the organizations interests with state legislators governors offices and other state officials in multiple states simultaneously.

The Program Director State Government Relations will develop and execute a strategic multi-state outreach and lobbying plan that grows and retains state revenue. The Program Director will represent advance and grow revenue through ACTs government relations agenda with elected officials and government decision-makers primarily at the state and local level in key states. Works both internally and with external partners to identify develop implement and effectuate advocacy outreach and lobbying strategies to secure state policies legislation funding or administrative actions that foster existing business lines or lead to new opportunities for ACT solutions. Additionally this position works with a variety of ACT staff to understand complex state relationships build relationships and understand the specific policy needs of states through interactions that support the delivery and growth of ACTs products and services in a manner that achieves retention and growth of revenue. Targets state budgets and legislative appropriations.

The finalist will be hired at the salary and level commensurate with their qualifications. For this position we anticipate offering an annual salary in the range of $120000 to $135000. ACT manages salaries within the range based on relevant factors including skills experience and internal equity. This position is incentive eligible.

Location: This is a remote position based in the United States.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for visa sponsorship.

What you will be working on:

• Develops and manages relations with various state entities including but not limited to: Governors Offices State Legislatures Jurisdictional Agencies and State Boards of Education
• Serves as the lead state lobbyist responsible for outreach and execution of the state strategy in assigned states.
• Responsible for planning execution and attainment of state revenue goals targeting state budgets and legislative appropriations.
• Is accountable for and works with legislators and lobbyists to maintain current legislation that supports ACT State Contracts and grows existing revenue.
• Is accountable for and works with legislators and lobbyists to introduce new legislation that will support the introduction of ACT State Contracts and drive revenue.
• Is accountable for and works with legislators and lobbyists to suppress and defeat proposed legislation by competitors and other entities that would be detrimental to ACT.
• Monitors analyzes and communicates the impacts or potential impacts of state legislation or regulations.
• Serves as a member of internal teams in support of strategic state goals.
• Develops and maintains relationships with ACT internal departments and leadership to identify operational issues requiring legislative action.
• Works with RFP teams to provide insight into RFP strategy and response development as appropriate based on legislative directives of given states.
• Assists State Partnerships in developing comprehensive State Plans including but not limited to: incorporating legislative priorities providing legislative landscape and identifying legislative key players.
• Analyzes competitive intelligence local information and strategic advantages in order to develop best strategies to drive future business opportunities from a policy/advocacy perspective.
• Provides leadership problem solving and decision-making; works closely with state clients and contacts to identify and select solutions that best meet their needs.
• Provides excellent customer service and stellar professional communication to external audiences.
• Responsible for strict compliance with all applicable lobbying reporting and gift laws.

Role Progression:

At the end of 3 months you will have:

• Become familiar with ACT products and services and funding process for state contracts.
• Establish relationships across the organization where there are common goals.
• Learn the policy-making process and timelines associated with each assigned state and determine opportunities and threats.

Within 6 months you will:

• Be able to discuss and align ACT programs with to stated goals of governors and state legislators.
• Own assigned states and be responsible for implementing strategies to advance or protect ACT interests.
• Monitor legislation via tracking system and document actions and progress.

Within 12 months you will:

• Achieve successful outcomes via legislative process and Governor-led initiatives.
• Secure and have 1:1 meetings with Governors Offices and state officials via designated political membership organizations.
• Secure testimony from state stakeholder in support of ACT interests and/or testify on behalf of ACT in legislative hearings.

This could be the job for you if you have (minimum requirements):

• Minimum of 7 years of experience required that includes:
  • State lobbying and engagement experience
  • State sales experience that includes successful attainment of revenue generation goals
• Strong knowledge of state legislative processes
• Knowledge of Sales Cycle and how to plan and execute on revenue generation goals
• Ability to learn in depth product knowledge of ACTs products and services and how those products and services are collectively used to provide solutions to state customers
• Strong working knowledge of education industry workforce development and assessment business
• Exceptional legislative lobbying and state government advocacy experience and skills
• Proven track record of having legislation introduced which led to state level contracts
• Working knowledge of state legislative and policy processes key competitors to ACTs products and services and how the market perceives these competitors
• Ability to learn competitors products and ACTs differentiators
• Outstanding presentation skills
• Strong relationship skills
• Strong analytical abilities
• Competence in using computers devices and software including word-processing spreadsheet database and CRM
• Ability to determine logical solutions to complicated problems
• Ability to set goals and priorities and manage campaigns to completion
• Strong negotiation skills
• Ability to travel domestically within designated territory up to 30% of the time
• Bachelors degree in a related area of study or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired.

Its a plus if you have:

• Multi-state lobbying in education and/or workforce sectors
• Previous state contract experience account management or sales experience
• Experience in state procurement processes
• Experience working with State Department of Education GR staff

About ACT

When ACT was founded in 1959 it disrupted the assessment industry with a new approach to helping students better understand their readiness so they could take steps to improve it. By leveraging our expertise and authority in assessment and research we will again disrupt the industryhelping more people learn better measure their progress and improve their navigation through lifes transitions.

More than ever before ACT is fulfilling its mission of helping people achieve education and workplace success. Were doing it by pushing the boundaries of learning innovation through the work of our people who we call team members because were all in this together.

We know transformation does not come without challenge. Thats why ACT invests in a variety of experiences for team members to strengthen their connections explore ideas learn from customers and celebrate success.

Learn more about working at ACT at !

ACT is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability status protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. ACT participates in E-verify. ACTs online position announcements are intended only to provide general descriptions of employment opportunities; none of the information provided for any position should be interpreted as a commitment by ACT to specific terms and conditions for employment.

Application FAQs

**If you have received an ACT employment-related communication from an email address that is not affiliated with @ and/or that requests personal or financial information please do not reply. Instead reach out to us at with the details. ACTs recruitment team appreciates your interest in working with us to transform college and career readiness pathways for all learners and wishes you the best of luck in your career journey.**