Government Affairs Manager

Position Title: ​Government Affairs Manager​

Department:  ​Advancement​

Reports to: ​Director of Corporate, Foundation, & Government Relations​

Pay Class: ​Full-time Regular​

FLSA Status: ​Hourly, Non-Exempt​  

Position Summary

A community of more than 15,000 donors, members, and volunteers generously support Pacific Science Center’s mission. Their investment enables PacSci to deliver award-winning science education experiences that open doors to a lifetime of possibility. Among these donors, the investment of government partners helps ensure that PacSci continues to ignite curiosity in every child and fuel a passion for discovery, experimentation, and critical thinking in all of us.

The Corporate, Foundation, & Government Relations team helps grow and nurture PacSci’s community of investors by driving the continuum of strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward support from government agencies at the city, county, state, and federal level. The Government Affairs Manager works collaboratively with the Director of Corporate, Foundation, & Government Relations, Executive Leadership, and Development team to develop and implement an advocacy strategy with government partners at the city, county, state, and federal levels to leverage new funding opportunities.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities       

Raise Funds

• Develop, coordinate, and implement a comprehensive advocacy strategy to leverage government funding opportunities at the city, county, state, and federal level that advance PacSci’s mission and strategy.
• Work with consultants/lobbyists to develop strategies for identifying and cultivating key officials as prospective supporters.
• Generate impact communications to key officials, including researching and drafting case statements and requests for support, aggregating supporting constituent testimonies, and managing collateral design processes.
• Draft, coordinate, and manage government contracts to ensure successful fulfillment of obligations.
• Manage the process for government grant opportunities from start to finish, including researching funding opportunities, preparing proposals, completing submissions, and reporting on awards secured.
• Lead in evaluating government outreach, including identifying goals and metrics, and using data to recommend strategies to increase engagement and support.
• Implement regular reporting to Executive Leadership and Board of Directors on the status of key initiatives, status updates on key official relationships, and opportunities for outreach. 
• Facilitate process for Board of Directors and constituent direct outreach to key officials on behalf of PacSci initiatives.
• Collaborate with Marketing Communications Manager to develop talking points for Executive Leadership when speaking to elected officials.
• Identify, analyze, and provide internal guidance on legislative actions with potential to impact Pacific Science Center. 
• Coordinate with external, related advocacy groups on shared legislative goals.
• Coordinate with external, related organizations on shared community service goals.

Relationship Management

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with key officials and staff at the city, county, state, and federal level.
• Support Executive Leadership and Board of Directors in maintaining relationships with key officials and staff.
• Develop stewardship strategies for city, county, and state legislators and their staff that highlight PacSci’s impact, both at Pacific Science Center and within districts of key officials.
• Maintain customer relationship database by tracking projects, communications, activities, and relationships with government officials, staff, and agencies.
• Other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

• Knowledge of local, County, State, and Federal legislative processes
• Excellent interpersonal & relationship building skills.
• Verbal communication skills in both presentations and individual communications.
• Persuasive communications tailored to a variety of audience segments.
• Project management skills.
• Strong computer skills, including Office 365 products, email marketing platforms, project management software, and Customer Relationship Management software,
• Demonstrated commitment to center equity and inclusion practices to advance PacSci’s commitment to enabling science access for all.
• Strong initiative and ability to independently lead multiple projects to completion.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and inspire elected officials to support the mission.
• Ability to collaborate across departments to enthusiastically support the work of our colleagues, experience and understand PacSci’s impact in the community, and contribute to the culture of philanthropy.
• Ability to propose and test new strategies in engaging government officials and staff; evaluate results.
• Ability to identify opportunities for increased collaboration division-wide to better leverage overall support for the growth in PacSci’s long-term impact.
• Ability to solve problems and execute them with a high attention to analysis.

Qualifications

Required

• 3+ years of experience working in a legislative environment, public policy, or lobbying role.
• 1+ year experience supporting fundraising, grant writing, or grants/contract management.
• Bachelor’s degree in political science, public affairs, education, or STEM; or equivalent experience.
• Experience with customer relationship management systems.

Preferred         

• Experience in lobbying.
• Experience working with City of Seattle, King County, or State of Washington elected officials.
• Experience managing local, state, or federal grants.

Physical Demands & Working Conditions

• This position requires availability to work onsite at Pacific Science Center three days per week.
• Majority of the work will take place at a desk in an office and use a computer. 
• Must occasionally be able to maneuver around the PacSci campus to facilitate tours.
• Local and State travel required: estimated at 30%
• Access to transportation for travel to city, county, and state government meetings.
• Availability to work evenings and weekends.

This position description generally describes the principal functions of the position and the level of knowledge, and skills typically required.  It does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee, and it is subject to change as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.