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California School Boards Association

Senior Director, External Affairs, Governmental Relations

California School Boards Association, West Sacramento, California, us, 95798


SUMMARY

Under supervision of the Chief, Governmental Relations, this position is responsible for the oversight of CSBA’s grassroots program; to oversee state and local outreach, establish and coordinate membership training efforts; supervise team of grassroots professionals; supervise grassroots programs and outreach to association members and other partnering industries; assist with Political Action Committee fundraising efforts; coordinate CSBA’s efforts relating to statewide ballot measures including signature gathering and “get out the vote” efforts; promote CSBA legislative priorities, develop, summarize, and maintain various reports and records; foster cooperative working relationships among Association staff and act as liaison with various legislative, educational, community, public, and government agencies; and perform related work as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervises a team of regionally based public affairs and community engagement representatives (PACERs) across the state of California.

Executes CSBA’s grassroots programs designed to identify and train local school and county board of education members for grassroots political action.

Fosters and supports legislative and political allies and facilitates the interaction between state and federal legislators and candidates with school board members at the local, county and regional level.

Coordinates grassroots efforts throughout California to maximize the political effectiveness of CSBA statewide and in Sacramento and Washington D.C.; coordinates state and federal legislator participation in CSBA’s local, county and regional activities.

Oversees association grassroots program, including educating school board members on the importance of advocacy work.

Identifies and implements successful grassroots motivation, activation and management systems.

Supervises team of grassroots professionals throughout the state; including hiring, training and supervising professional staff who work in assigned territories throughout California.

Develops strategic grassroots engagement activities designed to enhance the association’s advocacy program on legislative, political and statewide ballot issues.

Identifies opportunities within key legislative and congressional districts to engage local school board members to participate in local, county and regional policy meetings.

Collaborate with CSBA departments on communications, services and marketing strategies.

Maintains key relationships with political and legislative insiders at the state and federal level.

Advises on strategies to be used to forward the political and legislative priorities of the Association at the state and federal levels.

Plans winning campaign strategies to achieve CSBA’s legislative agenda and priorities; develops work plans, tactics and budgets for such campaigns.

Assists with Political Action Committee fundraising and reporting activities.

Travels throughout the state of California.

Develops methods to effectively communicate Association positions on proposed legislation to congressional members, legislators, legislative committees, Association leaders, Legislative Committee, CSBA staff, community groups, and others.

Assists in the development and implementation of the Association’s legislative strategy; contributes to the development of the Association’s position on bills, issues, and policies.

Writes background papers, letters, action alerts, and presentations for advocacy at the Federal and State levels.

Contributes to Association publications and reports.

Represents and advocates for the Association on statewide and national campaigns, committees, and advisory groups; develops collaborative relationships with policy makers, government officials, school districts, county offices of education and other representatives, and community groups to support the Association’s mission, vision, and goals; participates on a variety of interdisciplinary committees and represents the Association to a variety of community and stakeholder groups.

Serves as a liaison to employees, the public, private organizations, community groups, and government and local educational agency officials; consults on legislative and political issues, programming, and planning; receives and responds to concerns and questions relating to assigned area of responsibility; reviews concerns and recommends solutions.

Participates in the development and implementation of new or revised grassroots and legislative action programs, systems, procedures, and methods of operation; compiles and analyzes data and makes recommendations.

Communicates orally, in writing, or through graphic representations and technical summaries with grassroots staff, colleagues, managers, the public, organized employee groups, and representatives of various organizations in a variety of settings, including large and small group meetings.

Prepares and submits Board of Director s and Delegate Assembly agenda reports and various other committee and staff reports and correspondence regarding assigned program activities, and special projects as assigned by the Chief, Governmental Relations.

Participates in the development and administration of the department’s annual budget; assists in the forecast of additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies.

Participates in and makes presentations to the Board of Directors, Delegate Assembly, and a wide variety of committees, and boards; performs review of matters in areas of expertise pertaining to the various committees and boards.

Reads and demonstrates an understanding and adherence to CSBA values, policies, and practices.

Demonstrates respect, honesty and professionalism at all times.Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIESThis position provides for a wide variety of independent decision-making, within legal and general policy and regulatory guidelines. This position is required to manage and direct other staff, with the responsibility of overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of those roles. This position will carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and all applicable laws. Overall responsibilities of this position include, but may not be limited to, interviewing, training, timekeeping and wage & hour management, planning, assigning, and directing work, appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees, addressing and resolving complaints.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Any combination of training and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree or higher with major coursework in business administration, public administration, government, legal, or political sciences, or related field with at least 5 years of experience in campaign consulting, political fundraising, grassroots development, legislative representation, research, analysis, and evaluation or a related field.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

Political and grassroots campaign development strategies.

Legislative practices and processes; principles, practices, and trends in public, elementary, secondary, and post-secondary education.

Political Action Committees: structures, laws, rules and regulations, and fundraising strategies.

Organization and function of non-profit organizations, boards, and commissions.

Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility; principles, practices, concepts, and methods of Federal and State legislation research, development, analysis, and evaluation; methods techniques, and procedures of effective Federal and State legislative advocacy.

Sources of information related to a broad range of education policy and programs.

Research design, methods, analysis, and reporting.

Public relations techniques.

Principles and practices of business letter writing, report formatting and preparation, data collection, information management, record keeping principles and procedures, and business mathematics and statistical techniques.

Modern office management practices and methods, including the use of standard office equipment, computer equipment and applications, including word processing, spreadsheet applications, report writing and business correspondence/writing.

English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.

Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the CSBA members and staff, the public, vendors and contractors.Effective communication skills for use in one-on-one settings as well as in small and large groups.

Ability to:

Perform responsible and difficult legislative research, development, analysis, and evaluation involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative.

Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present technical and legal information and data in an effective manner; prepare clear and concise speeches, articles, reports, correspondence, procedures, and other written materials.

Interpret, apply, and explain Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations.

Effectively represent the Association in meetings with education institutions, Federal and State governmental agencies, community groups, and various businesses, professional, and regulatory organizations

and

in meetings with the public.

Travel throughout the state of California.

Maintain a professional appearance and demeanor at all times.

Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record keeping, and tracking systems.

Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities and meet critical deadlines.

Operate and maintain modern office equipment, including computer equipment and specialized software application programs.

Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, in writing, and electronically, including social media.

Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural and legal guidelines; establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of performing duties and responsibilities.Work remotely and set and monitor Association objectives, duties and communications.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Employee’s work will involve travel; primarily in a car in a sedentary sitting position over extended periods of time.

Must be able to travel to various locations throughout the state of California, which may include occasional overnight stays.

Employee is personally responsible for following health and safety guidelines, instructions, and policies.

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and computer screen, and hearing and speech to communicate in person, and over the telephone; must be able to bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push and pull drawers open and closed in the execution of duties.

Must be able to sit at computer for long periods of time and have the dexterity to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator, and operate standard office equipment.

Employee must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds, hand truck available to assist.Must have the dexterity and mobility to facilitate or present information to a group, access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator, and operate standard facilitation equipment.

LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS

Possession of, or ability to obtain a valid California Driver’s license by time of appointment.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $120,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Paid time off

Work Location: In person

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