Regional Director of State Government Affairs

Are you interested in getting involved with an organization making a difference in today’s challenging political climate? Can you lead the regional legislative and non-legislative strategy at one of the nation’s premier issue advocacy organizations? Everytown is seeking a Regional Director of State Government Affairs to lead the development and execution of complex, targeted legislative and non-legislative strategy for states in a designated U.S. region. 

A key part of the Regional Director’s role will be to lead and leverage the collective expertise of an internal, cross-departmental team to develop, advise on, and implement a complex, multi-state strategy in a region. This includes managing multiple direct reports and project managing complex cross-departmental work. You will also need to work in collaboration with state legislators, advocacy organizations, lobbyists, and other influencers to seize opportunities to pass and protect lifesaving gun violence prevention laws at the state level. 

Ideal candidates are entrepreneurial, collaborative, and passionate, with proven success as leaders in issue advocacy campaigns. Working in close collaboration with Everytown's Communications, Law & Policy, Research, Field, and Digital teams, this individual will report to the Director of State Government Affairs and directly manage members of the State Government Affairs Department within the region. 

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

State Legislative and Campaign Strategy Management 

• Formulate and refine overall strategy for your designated region, leveraging data as appropriate and available. 
• Personally direct high-profile state and local campaigns in select states, developing and executing each campaign's strategic and tactical plans.
• Cultivate relationships and partner with stakeholders at the national, state, and local level, including partner organizations, law enforcement, elected officials, coalitions, networks, and influencers, building grassroots and grasstops capacity.  
• Become steeped in firearm policy in order to promote and defeat policies effectively.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of each state's legislative agenda, and the overall political environment, with an eye towards delivering gun violence prevention legislation and other appropriate interventions.

Staff Management 

• Manage, mentor, and support the professional development of a regional team of State Affairs personnel who, in turn, act as project managers for specific states within the region. 
• Hire and manage contracts of state-based consultants, lobbyists and other vendors.

Cross-Functional Team Management 

• Direct legislative campaigns in collaboration with internal teams. 
• Facilitate the integration and execution of other organizational priorities that have impact at the state and/or local level in your region and serve as an advisor to other teams on likely impacts and outcomes of their plans. 
• Reallocate resources to address unplanned or unanticipated opportunities and developments that are organizational priorities. 
• Lead the development of project scope in consultation with other departments, including executive level leadership. 
• Develop detailed project plans and work with others to build consensus when there are competing or conflicting priorities in order to improve efficiencies and drive results. 

A strong candidate will be able to effectively balance state, staff, and cross-functional team management to achieve regional and state-specific goals. 

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

• 5 or more years of experience working in or directing issue advocacy legislative campaigns; 2+ years experience leading campaigns 
• Strong management skills, with a demonstrated ability to coach and mentor individuals and teams to meet ambitious goals
• Demonstrated experience managing partnerships and relationships at the state and local level
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with demonstrated success communicating complex strategies to diverse audiences (both internal and external)
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations, resolve conflicts, and address employee concerns, issues, and situations
• Maturity, humility, strong work ethic, sense of humor, and “roll‐up‐my‐sleeves” attitude
• Ability to successfully lead projects with those at, above, and below your level in the organization 
• Highly developed strategic problem solving and execution skills
• Willingness to work with a growing team in a fast-paced environment (sometimes unpredictable hours and crisis situations)
• Basic proficiency in Google Suite and the ability to quickly learn new systems
• Ability to travel on behalf of the organization throughout the region as needed
• Ability to work successfully on both sides of the aisle on a widely controversial, challenging issues

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Everytown for Gun Safety provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

Candidates who identify as members of historically underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. A diverse workforce and open culture are at the heart of our organization and vital to our success