KEY IN-HOUSE GR POSTS

1. Vice President for Government Relations

The Vice-President for Government Relations is ultimately in charge of representing his/her company with both state and national  lawmakers, but he/she has many other responsibilities as well. Some responsibilities include managing government relations operations, implementing and keeping an eye on various plans, overseeing budgets, overseeing and reviewing assigned staff members, developing and maintaining relationships with government policymakers, being a featured speaker at most company events, ensuring ties with company affiliates, meeting performance standards, and serving as a liaison when needed.

Important skills needed for this position include strong communication skills, an understanding of both national and state laws, the ability to organise and show strong leadership, the ability to adapt and be flexible, strong attention to detail, and great ethics. The Vice President for Government Relation usually works closely with a large variety of people, including coworkers, national and state policymakers, and people close to the company.   

Educational requirements include a bachelor's degree in business or political science, a minimum of 7 years work experience within government relations or a trade environment, a minimum of 5 years with managing two or more employees, experience with legislative and lobbying, and a track record of advancing a company or organisation.

Vice President (VP), Government Relations Tasks

• Developing the organisation's response to legislation.
• Building relationships with national ,state and local authorities, regulatory agency heads and key policymakers.
• Developing government relations strategies and enhancing the organisation's image among authorities.
• Evaluating pending legislation and surveying legislation's impact on the organisation.
• Writing testimony and talking points for campaigns.

2. Director of Government Relations

Changing regulations, new laws, and entirely new government initiatives can greatly affect the way a company does business. Larger companies that expect to deal closely with these changes often employ a Director of Government Relations . This person examines how new and changing government regulations will affect a business, as well as suggests and forecasts ways to manage these changes. Additionally, the Director of Government Relations represents the company to the government, attempting to generate positive outcomes in legislation and the application of regulation.

As a high-level executive, the Director of Government Relations typically supervises analysts who collect and gather pertinent internal and external data. The Government Relations Director then assesses how the company is likely to be affected by changes in legislation and regulation. They then forecast the best position for the company to take going forward and ensure that all directors and departments are prepared for these impacts. Additionally, the Government Relations Director is expected to identify policymakers who can best help with creating and propagating a company-friendly government environment, working to provide support and information to these individuals.

A Director of Government relations typically has at least a bachelor's degree, with post-baccalaureate education in public affairs and business often being preferred.

Director of Government Relations Tasks

• Aiding in the communication of the company's position on proposed policies.
• Managing relationships with key policy-makers.
• Collaborating with other department members to develop and implement policy strategies.

3. Manager of Government Relations

The Manager of Government Relations is responsible for effectively managing all aspects of government relations for their organisation. He/she handles  government communication efforts, creates detailed reports based on current government positions, and coordinates and schedules government events and activities. He/she uses a personal computer to keep accurate records of interactions with individuals, corporations, and other government officials. The Manager of Government Relations needs to have experience working in a broad range of policy, regulatory, and legal environments.

He/she works with other managers, sharing crucial government affairs information. He/she acts as a liaison between individuals and government officials, as well as oversees the development and recommendation of policies changes. He/she participates in business meetings to contribute ideas, prepares public testimony, and makes presentations on behalf of his/her organisation. He/she develops strong business relationships with external partners, as well as cultivates positive relationships between companies and governments at local, state, and national levels. Additionally, the Manager of Government Relations translates complex issues and systems into clear, concise, and engaging documents and presentations. He/she needs to follow strict privacy procedures to avoid disclosing sensitive information to the public. 

A bachelor's degree in political science, public administration, management, marketing, or a related field is required for this job. Previous experience in a similar position is needed as well. The Manager of Government Relations must be a motivated, result-oriented individual that pays close attention to detail. He/she needs to be organised and uses his/her time-management skills to multitask effectively on a variety of projects. Additionally, he/she should have strong interpersonal skills, perform well in a team environment, and work effectively on his/her own with minimal supervision.

Manager of Government Relations Tasks

• Reaching out to and developing relationships with local government, business, and regulatory bodies.
• Managing and monitoring regulatory activities, applications, proceedings, and filings.
• Monitoring legal environment and proposing legislative activities to encourage business objectives.
• Being an internal expert for compliance, regulations and requirements, including advising other departments.
• Lobbying on behalf of the organisation.

4. Director of Public Policy

The operations of many for-profit and non-profit agencies are impacted by the decisions made by governments and legislatures. These organisations often have a Director of Public Policy at the board-executive level who deals with this aspect of operations. The Director of Public Policy helps the board form a strategy for how it will attempt to influence and participate in making or blocking regulations and laws, and then works to implement these endeavours.

The Director of Public Policy must be aware of which regulations, government agencies, and funding sources directly impact the organization he or she represents. Working with other board members, the Director develops a strategy that defines goals related to changing existing regulations, maintaining the status quo, and/or promoting new initiatives that positively impact the organisation. The Director then budgets funding and typically works with a team of lobbyists (and/or works directly) to meet with policymakers and attempts to persuade them.

The Director also focuses on the impact of an organisation's political outreach on the impressions of consumers or supporters. The Director may need to work with public relations teams at times to ensure that potential negatives are mitigated and that positives are emphasized in such a way as to create the best possible image of the organisation.

A Director of Public Policy typically has a strong background in government policy and likely needs a law degree for consideration for this role. Many Public Policy Directors also will possess some academic background in public policy as well

Director, Public Policy Tasks

• Establishing relationships with local, state, and national lawmakers in order to influence policymaking.
• Presenting the policy positions and opinions of the organisation to the public, government officials, and other organisations.
• Tracking the activities of policymakers and researches policy issues in order to draft reports and keep the organisation up to date.
• Working with organisation leaders to develop public policy agendas and strategies for advocating those agendas.
• Assisting with preparation of policy budget, and identifies and pursue fundraising opportunities.

5. Policy Analyst

The Policy Analyst works by trying to change, adjust, or implement new public policies, regulations, and laws. He/she often works either directly in government or for non-government organisations which extensively lobby for policy adjustments. Even some for-profit companies use policy analysts to help steer regulation and political action in favorable ways.

While some policy analysts are specialists within defined areas (such as energy policy and how it affects the energy industry), other analysts focus on the general political functions which take place daily in government and advise legislators and government executives. The analyst will suggest possible areas where an adjustment to regulation or existing law may be helpful to his/her employer, and then devise various strategies to enact that change.

Policy analysts who work with government are expected to have a strong understanding of how political factions work and interact with one another, and their analysis is expected to incorporate compromise and multiple paths to achieve a policy goal.

Analysts who work for non-government organizations in lobbying will seek out politicians who may be amenable to the organisation's philosophy and ideals; the analyst and the organization will then work to persuade action on whatever changes in government policy the group or industry would like to see and offer similar advice on paths to achieve that goal.

To work as a policy analyst, one should have a strong background in formal political education (such as a political science or public policy degree) or a specific special interest area which crosses over into politics. Most policy analysts work with the government at junior levels to acquire experience and develop a strong network of contacts before being considered for this role.

Policy Analyst Tasks

• Gathering, analyzing, integrating, and reporting on quantitative and qualitative data.
• Formulating policy reports that synthesize information, benefit constituents, and display evidence.
• Reviewing, evaluating, and monitoring policies and legislation to determine their benefits, flaws, and impacts.
• Liaising with stakeholders to understand and document needs, concerns, and viewpoints.