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Conservation Colorado

Government Affairs Director

Conservation Colorado, Denver, Colorado, United States, 80285


Government Affairs Director

Location: Denver Metro

Work Schedule: Non-exempt, Full-time

Deadline for submission: November 29, 2024

Conservation Colorado is seeking a Government Affairs Director based in Denver to lead the organization’s efforts to deliver nationally-leading and equitable policy victories to protect Colorado’s climate, air, lands, water, and communities.

About Conservation ColoradoAs the largest statewide environmental organization in Colorado, we work to protect our state’s climate, air, land, water, and communities. We play a unique role in Colorado as our work is at the intersection of policy and politics and focuses on organizing communities, influencing decision-makers, and electing conservation-minded leaders. We believe that achieving racial, social, and environmental justice are critical to our mission.

What You’ll Do

This position is a member of our Executive Team, reports to the VP of Programs and oversees a team of seven staff. The government affairs team develops, leads and works with coalitions, decision makers and community leaders to shape the agenda and influence people, policies, structures, and systems in order to bring about change.

Lead strategy to build and share power:

Develop the overall strategy to identify and cultivate relationships with current and future decision makers at the legislature, state agencies, the governor’s administration, and the federal delegation.

Work with issue campaign managers, the Community Engagement and Political Departments to ensure that Conservation Colorado is a strong and helpful partner to environmental, social justice, progressive, local, and other groups.

Support issue managers in growing their advocacy skills, building coalitions and relationships with partners.

Act as a key consultant to the political team in making high-level political decisions including recruitment, education, endorsements, candidate contributions, etc.

Lead the coordinated-side strategy to help elect pro-conservation candidates.

Lead policy campaigns:

Facilitate the design and implementation of policy campaign strategies and tactics.

Work to set and manage policy campaign goals in service to our long term program plans and goals.

Maintain a sophisticated understanding of policy issues especially as they relate to equity and racial justice and disproportionately impacted communities.

Work with issue campaign managers and Community Engagement team to convene partners and stakeholders to determine priorities for the legislative session.

Work in collaboration with the Vice President of Programs, Director of Community Engagement and Political Director to develop a community informed framework for key policy campaigns.

Team development and management:

Hire and manage a team of staff and outside lobbyists & contractors to support the development and execution of the team strategy.

Develop a results-oriented team through inspiring and motivating others to take action and meet goals.

Oversee the day-to-day activities of the government affairs team including budgeting, planning, staff development, and ensuring the Community Engagement team has the resources needed to succeed.

Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach.

Qualifications

To do any of our work, our staff need to be natural relationship builders, have the resilience to handle tough situations, have excellent problem-solving skills, and bring an equity analysis to the work. For this position, we want someone who has the experience and passion to develop and win nationally-leading policy.

Strong People Manager:

Experience managing a team with a supportive & collaborative approach.

Build & exercise power effectively:

Ability to build pressure and leverage to drive decision-makers to act in our favor.

Campaign Mindset:

Strategic and goal-oriented approach focused on achieving specific outcomes.

Advocacy or Lobbyist Experience:

Experience working as a lobbyist and/or in passing policies through various governmental venues.

Equity Analysis:

Understanding of systemic inequities and their impacts on people’s lives.

Strategic Thinking:

Experience taking complex issues and turning them into understandable and actionable ideas.

This position does not have an undergraduate education requirement. Spanish/English bilingual is a skill we value, but it is not a requirement. This is a full-time job, but there can be some flexibility in the exact daily schedule.

Compensation and BenefitsThe full-time salary range for this role is between $95,000-$110,000 based on a wage analysis across the organization. We provide high-quality health insurance and a strong benefits package that includes a SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with a match, at least 35 days of vacation & holidays in addition to six physical & mental wellness days in your first year, and parental leave.

This position does require in-person work in the form of meeting with decision makers and partners. Therefore, we do require our staff to be vaccinated against COVID. We have embraced a hybrid work model and this position generally will need to be in our office or otherwise in person between one and four days a week.

We are committed to building a more diverse and inclusive organization and conservation movement to fully represent and engage all Coloradans. We encourage applicants from all cultures, race, ethnicity, geographies, political affiliation, sexual orientations, gender identities, and all other identities represented in Colorado.

To Apply

If this job speaks to you, please submit a cover letter & resume and answer a few short questions. If you have a disability and need accommodation or assistance with our online application process, please tell us how we can help.

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