Government Relations Director 999958

Xavier University is part of the 500-year-old Jesuit Catholic tradition of academic excellence in the liberal arts and is strongly committed to enhancing equity, inclusion, and diversity. These values are central to our mission . We strive for a climate of respect and inclusiveness that welcomes and supports members from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, is committed unreservedly to open and free inquiry, and deliberately seeks out multiple perspectives.

Xavier University seeks a Government Relations Director (GRD) to serve as its principal advisor on government affairs topics of critical importance to the University. The director also leads political and community-engagement of undergraduate students in the University Honors Philosophy, Politics and the Public (PPP) program.

The GRD provides expert advice and analysis on government affairs to inform the university’s President, Provost, Chief Counsel, VP for Administration, Chief Business Officer, Deans and other leaders on policy, legislation, funding (e.g., grants), and other topics of critical importance to the university. This will require well-informed local political knowledge and connections to inform university priorities (e.g., Campus Master Plan) that do or may affect the local community.

The GRD will frequently represent the university to external audiences on issues related to public policy, actively monitoring local, state, and federal policy related to higher education and maintaining and cultivating relationships to key local, state, and national political leaders. The GRD will work independently to advocate for the university whenever opportunities arise; this will require frequent travel to Columbus and regular travel to Washington D.C. The GRD furthermore collaborates with AJCU and AICUO presidents and other representatives to draft, recommend, and directly advocate on behalf of the university to the Governor as well as other elected city, state and national officials.

The GRD will have primary responsibility for the political and community-engaged roles within the PPP undergraduate Honors program including working closely with the Director and faculty of PPP to identify and oversee the planning and leadership of the associated political engagement projects; overseeing the Washington DC trip; assisting student recruitment for the PPP program; and raising funds for these programs. This person should have an advanced degree in order to teach undergraduate courses.

The GRD will take primary responsibility for the development of the John A. Boehner Institute, including responsibility for communication with Speaker Boehner and his staff, for developing fund-raising strategies and overseeing their implementation.

High levels of confidentiality and integrity are essential, as the GRD routinely advises the President, Direct Reports, and Cabinet-level staff on sensitive matters.

Responsibilities include:

• Providing advice and analysis on government affairs to the university’s academic and other leaders as requested
• Participation in Xavier Master Plan and Acquisition Plan
• Represent university on political and public-policy issues.
• Contribute strategic direction for the applied and experiential elements of the Honors PPP program, and lead fundraising efforts to support them
• Provide strategic direction and oversight to the development of the John A. Boehner Institute
• Recruit, train, and supervise team of student workers to administer political engagement activities of Government Relations and PPP program. This includes the students’ coordination of events, alumni relations, and maintenance of websites.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Experience or field of academic study related to content of PPP curriculum
• 3-5 years of experience building relationships in local, state, and/or national government
• Experience dealing with highly varied, complex, and non-recurring problems that require novel and creative problem solving approaches.
• Experience making decisions that have broad implications.
• Strong written and oral communication skills. Must be able to provide cogent summaries of complex political and policy issues, at times on short notice, to inform decisions of the university's leaders, including the President.
• Ability to work independently on multiple projects.
• Ability to do intermediate to advanced work with spreadsheets, presentations, and creation of documents.

Preferred Qualifications, in addition to all of the above:

• Master’s degree in progress or completed
• Three years or more administrative experience
• Ability to develop and maintain databases
• Ability to develop and maintain websites
• Experience interacting with diverse communities (e.g., religious, racial, ethnic, income levels)
• Experience with event planning.

Xavier is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to enhancing equity, inclusion and diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, skin color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.

Xavier University requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Newly hired employees will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination upon onboarding. Vaccine exemptions may be granted for medical or religious reasons.

To ensure prompt consideration, applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and the names and contact information of three professional references on Xavier University's website by July 7, 2022 . Applications will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled. Candidates are also asked to include in their cover letter a brief statement on how they might support/contribute to Xavier’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Position Summary

This person provides advice and analysis on government affairs to the university’s academic and other leaders as requested. Active monitoring of local, state, and federal policy related to higher education is essential, as is maintaining and cultivating relationships to key local, state, and national political leaders. The person will at times represent the university to external audiences on issues related to public policy.

They will also have primary responsibility for the political and community-engaged roles within the PPP undergraduate Honors program. Duties include: working closely with the Director and faculty of PPP to identify, plan, and lead the associated political engagement projects; planning and leading the Washington DC trip; assisting student recruitment for the PPP program; and supporting Development staff to raise funds for these programs.

This person will take primary responsibility for the development of the John A. Boehner Institute, including responsibility for communication with Speaker Boehner and his staff, for developing fund-raising strategies and overseeing their implementation.

This person should have attained or be actively pursuing an advanced degree in order to teach undergraduate courses.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Providing advice and analysis on government affairs to the university’s academic and other leaders as requested . This includes oral and written summaries of policy, legislation, and funding (e.g., grant) opportunities. The amount of time dedicated to this essential duty will vary according to circumstances based on the judgement of the GRD and the needs of the President, Provost, VP of Administration, General Counsel, Deans and other university representatives. Duties includes participation in monthly Master Plan and Acquisition Plan.
2. Represent university on political and public-policy issues : Maintain a visible presence for the university in the public sphere, for example by participating in public policy and other discussions or events (especially in the local and regional area), providing interviews to news sources on issues of public policy, and developing relationships with political leaders in the community. Advocate and (as appropriate and with required registration) lobby directly on behalf of the university on issues that the GRD determines to be important to the university’s interests. This may require registration as a state-level lobbyist and necessitate the reporting required by this status.
3. Contribute strategic direction for the applied and experiential elements of the Honors PPP program, and lead fundraising efforts to support them . Duties include: Alumni relations; developing relationships with donors and solicit gifts; teaching, co-teaching, and leading courses and activities related to political engagement in the PPP program as assigned by the program director and Dean of CAS. This includes preparing classes, setting up practical exercises, maintaining good working relationship with a range of civic leaders in the city, region, state, and nation. Also responsible for overseeing the Washington D.C. trip that forms parts of the blocked course each spring.
4. Provide strategic direction and oversight to the development of the John A. Boehner Institute . Communicate on behalf of the university with Speaker Boehner and his staff, develop fund-raising strategies, oversee their implementation, and write reports of activity to Speaker Boehner and the CAS Dean. Provide direction, oversight and evaluation of one or more external contractors, including a professional fundraiser.
5. Recruit, train, and supervise team of student workers. Build team of students to administer political engagement activities of Government Relations and PPP program. This includes the students’ coordination of events, alumni relations, and maintenance of websites.