Director, Governor Transitions, Engagement & Leadership Development Programs

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TITLE
:
Director, Governor Transitions, Engagement & Leadership Development Programs
ORGANIZATION
:
National Governors Association
LOCATION
:
Washington, DC (onsite)
DURATION
:
Full Time
POSITION STATUS
:
Exempt
COMPENSATION
: A competitive compensation package will be made to the qualified candidate
REPORTS TO
:
Chief Operating Officer

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND
Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association is the bipartisan organization of Governors from the 55 states, territories and commonwealths. NGA’s mission is to share best practices, address issues of national and state interest, and drive innovative solutions that improve state government and support the principles of federalism.

NGA’s Center for Best Practices is the policy and research arm that helps Governors develop and implement solutions to public policy challenges. NGA’s Government Relations group assists in ensuring the voice of Governors are heard in Congress, and the Executive Branch and NGA’s Communications team collaborates with Governors’ offices to amplify bipartisan messaging and strategy.

Throughout the year, NGA convenes Governors and senior advisors for meaningful discourse, problem-solving and thought leadership.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR, GOVERNOR TRANSITIONS, ENGAGEMENT, & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
The National Governors Association (NGA) seeks a Program Director of Governor Transitions, Engagement, and Leadership Development to design and lead a comprehensive, proactive strategy to onboard, and support newly elected governors and their senior teams. With more than twenty gubernatorial transitions anticipated in the next election cycle, this role will ensure NGA establishes trusted relationships early, provides high-value transition guidance, and prepares governors and their teams to fully engage with NGA programming from day one.

This position will oversee a national, distributed transition network composed of former gubernatorial chiefs of staff, senior advisors, and select graduate students through strategic academic partnerships.

The Program Director will be responsible for early engagement in open-seat races, structured onboarding post-election, and the design and delivery of NGA’s New Governors education and leadership development pathway, culminating in NGA’s Seminar for New Governors in Deer Valley, Utah.

Other important responsibilities of the Program Director include:

New Governor Strategy and Early Engagement

• Implement NGA’s end-to-end new governor engagement strategy, beginning at the primary through post-election transition.
• Monitor gubernatorial election cycles nationwide, with particular focus on open-seat races and competitive incumbent races.
• Coordinate early, appropriate relationship‑building with candidates and senior advisors once primary elections conclude, ensuring alignment with NGA’s bipartisan role.
• Serve as a trusted point of contact for transition teams, providing guidance on early governance priorities, staffing considerations, and NGA engagement opportunities.

Transition Support and Onboarding

• Coordinate with NGA’s Membership Division to execute a structured onboarding process for newly elected governors and their senior teams.
• Develop and disseminate transition guidance, playbooks, and briefing materials tailored to first‑time governors and experienced executives alike.
• Ensure governors‑elect are fully prepared and positioned to participate in NGA’s Seminar for New Governors and early NGA convenings.
• Coordinate closely with all NGA teams to deliver a seamless onboarding experience.

Leadership Development and New Governors Curriculum

• Coordinate with the Membership Division on the design, refinement, and delivery of the Seminar for New Governors curriculum.
• Ensure curriculum reflects real‑world executive leadership needs, state sovereignty, bipartisan problem‑solving, and effective governance practices.
• Prepare and brief governors‑elect and their senior staff on NGA and value…