Director of Government Relations and Community Engagement

Job Summary/Basic Function:

The Office of General Counsel is seeking a Director of Government Relations who will have primary responsibility for developing and managing strong relationships between the College and federal, state, and local elected officials. The Director will coordinate and facilitate these relationships and related government affairs activities.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Policy Design/Development/Advice/Monitoring
- Design and implement a college-wide political strategy that leverages the strengths of TC faculty, staff, students, and alumni and demonstrates TC's impact in the city, state, and federal government.
- Advise the President, the Cabinet, Senior Administrators/Staff, and other TC officials of public policy affecting the College's relationship with local, state, and federal government entities.
- Monitor and analyze all legislative and other governmental initiatives that are likely to have a significant impact on the College.
- Collaborate with TC administrators, faculty, and staff to develop programs that align with current or potential funding opportunities.

Collaboration and Partnerships
- Collaborate with TC faculty, program directors, and administrators to identify and creatively match TC's programs with potential governmental support.
- In collaboration with the College's public strategy advisors/counsel, identify resource opportunities for Teachers College from governmental sources and work with government officials and their staff to acquire resources for TC.
- Collaborating with Marketing and Communications, Alumni Relations, and other TC entities to mobilize the TC community around pressing issues of the day to amplify the College in advocacy conversations concerning health, psychology, and education.
- Collaborate with local, state, and national education associations to position TC as a leader and a contributor to coalitional advocacy.
- Develop cooperative and helpful relationships with elected officials and agencies of government that improve the image and position of the College.
- Deepen partnerships with governmental officials by disseminating TC research, connecting TC experts to governmental conversations such as committee testimonies, and by inviting officials to speak at on-campus events.

Management and Administration
- Manage a team of lobbyists at the city, state, and federal levels.
- Provide oversight for the development of information and support materials necessary to advance initiatives and legislation important to the College.
- Manage a doctoral fellow and multiple master's-level students to implement a civic fellows initiative in which students work in local community-based organizations and elected offices.
- Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree required and master's degree preferred.
- The position requires detailed knowledge of political environments, government/university interaction, legislative processes at all levels of government, constituency relations, and the complexities of higher education finance and government appropriations processes.
- Knowledge of New York City, New York State, and/or Federal government/government officials.
- Informed political judgment and interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral, are necessary.
- The inclination and talent to meet, greet, and cultivate a plethora of relationships on behalf of the College.
- Ability to set priorities, accomplish goals, and work effectively as a member of the College.
- A willingness to travel as necessary.

Preferred Qualifications:
- Background in higher education preferred.
- Candidates with an understanding of preK-12 education, psychology, and/or related health and community issues are particularly welcome.
- Understanding of and familiarity with key federal research agencies such as DOE, NSF, NIH, DOD/DARPA, NEA, and NEH is a plus.

Work Modality: Hybrid

Teachers College maintains a hybrid work environment, which provides employees with flexible work arrangements while ensuring we preserve the important aspects of our unique in-person college-campus culture. Depending on role and business needs, colleagues will either work onsite or in a hybrid model (a combination of in-office and virtual days). Employees are expected to live within a 150-mile radius of the College.