Director of Governmental and Political Relations

1. The Director of Governmental and Political Relations is responsible for the following:

• Oversees all aspects of WNV’s state and federal lobbying efforts as well as federal and state policy work.

• Work with senior leadership to develop WNV’s near and long-term strategies to use governmental levers to achieve policy goals.

• Build and leverage strong strategic relationships at the federal and state levels, and direct team members in doing the same; represent WNV with policy-makers and their staff, as well as the staff and leadership of government agencies and departments.

• Develop and implement strategies to advance the WNV policy agenda at the federal and state level and defend against adverse legislation and executive actions

• Continually monitor and assess policy and political landscape

• Identify opportunities to push priority legislation at the state level, with an understanding that state trends are national trends. 

• Design and manage all aspects of the overall legislative programs and activities of WNV, including managing budgets, evaluating effectiveness, and setting overall goals with plans, targets, and timelines. 

• Assist in representing WNV at legislative and policy tables and coalitions

• Manage, supervise, develop and evaluate staff

• Work cross-departmentally to develop campaigns that lead to policy outcomes that improve the lives of Native Americans across Montana and elsewhere. 

• Closely coordinate with the team on elected political outreach and endorsement conversations.

• Coordinate with the organizing, campaigns, and political teams to support effective legislative advocacy campaigns.

• Work with the Executive Director and/or Deputy Executive Director to showcase WNV’s governmental strategies with donors and provide material for donor proposals and reports.

• Work with the communications team to increase visibility for WNV’s governmental relations work and priorities, including talking to the press as needed and establishing a legislative communications plan to ensure unified messaging efforts.

• Assist in representing WNV in high-level speaking engagements and prepare others to do so as well.

• Occasional travel to work with partner organizations, allies, and coalitions. 

2. The Director of Governmental and Political Relations may be assigned to one or more staff teams and may be designated the leader of one or more staff teams. Duties include:

• Participating in staff team meetings and collaborating with other staff to develop and implement plans; 

• if designated the team leader, convening meetings and ensuring that an implementation plan is developed and then following up with fellow staff members to ensure that the assigned tasks are completed; 

• as a team leader, keeping the Executive Director informed of progress, problems and potential solutions, and other issues involving membership and personnel; and 

• as a team leader, assisting the Executive Director with strategizing and managing the smooth functioning and success of Western Native Voice.

3. Like all other staff, the Director of Governmental and Political Relations is responsible for performing the administrative tasks necessary to accomplish the job.  This includes, but is not limited to:

• filling out monthly time sheets and other office paperwork, as appropriate (e.g., requests for leave, sick leave, reimbursements);

• writing newsletters and media articles (on subjects appropriate to the position);

• helping with mailings;

• helping with membership recruitment;

• participating in and assisting with training for staff, member leaders, and other members for their leadership development;

• attending staff meetings, Board meetings, and other meetings and events as requested; and

• taking on additional assignments when other staff persons are absent and as requested.