Government Affairs Manager

Iowa PBS is Iowa's statewide public broadcasting network. It employs approximately 100 full- and part-time staff who serve our audiences with local programs, broadcast services, and educational and outreach initiatives that support our mission. We value a diverse, highly-qualified workforce and provide robust career development opportunities.

Iowa PBS seeks an experienced and strategic Government Affairs Manager to serve as the organization’s lead advisor on governmental relations, legislative affairs, and public policy matters. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, this Executive Officer 3 position provides leadership in monitoring, analyzing, and responding to legislative, regulatory, and governmental activities that affect Iowa PBS, public broadcasting, education, and communications policy.

The Government Affairs Manager serves as an Iowa PBS legislative liaison and works collaboratively with the Executive Director, leadership team, and staff across the organization to identify policy opportunities and risks, develop legislative strategies, coordinate governmental reporting and communications, and advance the organization’s mission to educate, inform, enrich, and inspire Iowans.

The Government Affairs Manager contributes to strategic planning efforts, provides executive-level policy analysis and recommendations, and helps ensure Iowa PBS remains a trusted and effective public service organization serving communities across the state.

Government Relations and Legislative Affairs

• Serve as an Iowa PBS legislative liaison, coordinating with and advising the Executive Director on legislative, governmental, and public policy matters affecting the organization.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with legislators, congressional staff, government officials, and external stakeholders.
• Represent Iowa PBS before legislative committees, government agencies, and other governmental bodies on behalf of the organization.
• Coordinate Iowa PBS engagement with Iowa’s federal congressional delegation on issues affecting public broadcasting, education, telecommunications policy, and federal funding priorities.
• Develop and implement strategies that advance Iowa PBS’s legislative, regulatory, and public policy objectives.

Policy Analysis and Executive Advising

• Monitor legislative, regulatory, and governmental developments and coordinate organizational review of issues that may affect Iowa PBS operations, funding, services, and strategic priorities.
• Advise the Executive Director and leadership team on emerging policy issues and recommend organizational responses and strategies.
• Collaborate with the Business Office and other divisions to evaluate fiscal, operational, and programmatic impacts of proposed legislation and policy initiatives.
• Participate in organizational strategic planning and leadership initiatives and help position Iowa PBS to effectively respond to emerging legislative, regulatory, and public policy developments.

Reporting, Compliance, and Organizational Communications

• Lead the coordination and submission of Iowa PBS state and federal governmental reporting responsibilities, ensuring the timely, accurate, and effective preparation of reports, filings, and official communications required by legislative, executive branch, regulatory, and oversight entities.
• Coordinate the preparation and submission of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reports, filings, compliance requirements, and related communications, working collaboratively with appropriate Iowa PBS divisions and subject matter experts.
• Develop executive briefings, policy analyses, testimony, and other materials that support decision-making and communicate Iowa PBS’s public service impact.

• Experience serving as a legislative liaison or leading governmental affairs, government relations, public policy, or intergovernmental relations activities for a public, nonprofit, educational, media, or governmental organization.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze legislation, regulatory actions, and public policy issues and develop strategic recommendations for organizational…