Government and Community Relations Manager

 

Job Title: Government and Community Relations Manager

Reports To: Chief Operating Officer

FLSA Status: Exempt

Department: Administration

 

Summary

The Government and Community Relations Manager (GCRM) will develop, implement and support a multi-faceted advocacy program for the older adult population at all levels of government.  The GCRM will position the President/CEO and COO for maximum leverage on aging policy initiatives with elected/appointed officials, other advocates and the general public. 

 

Responsibilities

  • Prepare written and oral advocacy communication including, talking points for the media and meetings with elected officials, testimony, speeches, presentations, policy papers, website links, social/traditional media, blogs, letters/emails and op-eds.
  • Recommend policy positions, legislative or administrative action, and implement advocacy strategies. 
  • Coordinates periodic meetings/tours for President/CEO and COO with elected officials at all levels of government in all Serving Seniors’ service areas.  
  • Maintain ongoing relationships with key staff members of elected officials.
  • Attends community meetings, appointments with elected officials (e.g., City Councils) on behalf of Serving Seniors.
  • Conducts presentations on behalf of Serving Seniors at community events, engagements.
  • Establish new strategic advocacy partnerships while managing on-going relationships.
  • Develop strategies to leverage the advocacy potential of the Serving Seniors’ Board.  Provide advocacy training as required.
  • Organize grass-roots advocacy efforts that effectively utilize our clients and their stories.
  • In collaboration with the Director of Activities and Volunteers, provide guidance to the agency’s civic engagement group on how to effectively communicate with civic leaders
  • Regularly send out advocacy alerts on key policy issues with specific “calls to action” via e-blast and social media.
  • Other responsibilities as assigned.

 

Education/Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Three-five years direct Political/Government/Public Policy experience
  • Excellent public-speaker with demonstrable communication, writing and networking skills
  • Public Relations and/or Fundraising experience preferred

 

Skills

  • First-hand experience working with the legislative processes of government
  • Knowledge of aging policy issues
  • General awareness of current events, legislative activities and governmental calendars
  • Sets priorities to meet set deadlines and changing agendas 
  • Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail
  • Ability to develop and maintain community relationships
  • Rapport-building while elevating issues and concerns with the older adult population
  • Communicates with staff, government bodies, general public with professionalism and diplomacy
  • Effectively leverages both traditional and social media to disseminate messaging (Facebook, YouTube, etc.)
  • Proactive, creative, “out-of-the-box” thinking
  • Experience using camera, video camera and editing software

Other Skills Include

  • Excellent oral and written communication
  • Writing, proofing and editing skills
  • Excellent time management
  • Works well under pressure with competing priorities and deadlines
  • Initiative to recognize and anticipate problems, then resolve them
  • Maintains tact and professional demeanor under adverse circumstances
  • Diplomatic and tactful
  • Advanced proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Adobe Acrobat
  • Ability to work independently with general supervision

 

 

Physical Demands and Work Environment

 

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and

stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

 

Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly exposed to normal risks of working in an office environment (e.g., risks due to heavy computer use). Environment is subject to change based on appointments and meetings.

 

To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to employment@servingseniors.org with the position title in the subject line.

Serving Seniors offers competitive salaries, a generous PTO package, paid holidays, and a retirement savings plan to all team members. Health, dental, vision, life insurance, legal insurance, FSA, and more are offered to qualifying staff. Serving Seniors is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on ethnicity, national origin, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or expression, age, or disability.