Director of Federal Government Relations

at  UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE

Overview:
Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.
To learn more about UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.
https://cgr.uci.edu/
Responsibilities:
This position is a full-time, Washington DC-based position with regular requisite travel to California. Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Community & Government Relations, the Director of Federal Government Relations supports and engages in direct legislative and policy education and advocacy activities with members of the California congressional delegation, as well as other legislative and committee offices, and other federal departments, offices and agencies. Provides support and service to the UC Irvine campus, UCI Health and to the University of California Office of the President.

Primary responsibilities of the Director of Federal Government Relations include:

• Support and provide recommendations to the Assistant Vice Chancellor and organizational executive leadership in the expansion and implementation of outreach/education and legislative advocacy programs.
• Directly engage California congressional and other legislative offices to advance UCI legislative and policy priorities.
• Build and maintain alliances with UCI stakeholders, partners, and other affiliate organizations.
• Develop and maintain trusting relationships with campus leaders, faculty, researchers and staff to identify areas of potential collaboration to support campus-wide research priorities.
• Monitors and tracks federal budgets, legislation, regulations, and/or proposed actions by federal government entities that can have an impact on the campus. Provides analysis and advises campus leadership and appropriate campus professional staff of potential solutions.
• Provide legislative analysis and policy briefing papers, backgrounders and other communications on topics affecting UCI.
• Establish strong relationships with elected officials, leadership from key agencies, and their staff members.
• Maintain regular communications with staffers to provide updates on UCI accomplishments.
• Schedule briefings and meetings with elected officials for faculty and leadership visits, and support UCI leadership in visits as appropriate.
• Host elected officials on site at the main campus and its affiliated locations in California for tours and meetings with campus leadership, experts at UCI, and community stakeholders.

Uses advanced concepts and campus and / or medical center objectives to resolve highly complex issues. Plans, develops and implements strategies for government outreach, to include specifically developing and advancing policy positions through liaisons with governmental staff. Assignments are typically complex or large and include controversial and / or politically sensitive issues or content. Works autonomously while also understanding who and when to involve others.
Qualifications:

• Support and provide recommendations to the Assistant Vice Chancellor and organizational executive leadership in the expansion and implementation of outreach/education and legislative advocacy programs.
• Directly engage California congressional and other legislative offices to advance UCI legislative and policy priorities.
• Build and maintain alliances with UCI stakeholders, partners, and other affiliate organizations.
• Develop and maintain trusting relationships with campus leaders, faculty, researchers and staff to identify areas of potential collaboration to support campus-wide research priorities.
• Monitors and tracks federal budgets, legislation, regulations, and/or proposed actions by federal government entities that can have an impact on the campus. Provides analysis and advises campus leadership and appropriate campus professional staff of potential solutions.
• Provide legislative analysis and policy briefing papers, backgrounders and other communications on topics affecting UCI.
• Establish strong relationships with elected officials, leadership from key agencies, and their staff members.
• Maintain regular communications with staffers to provide updates on UCI accomplishments.
• Schedule briefings and meetings with elected officials for faculty and leadership visits, and support UCI leadership in visits as appropriate.
• Host elected officials on site at the main campus and its affiliated locations in California for tours and meetings with campus leadership, experts at UCI, and community stakeholders