Government Relations Manager

Scope of Position

CVSC seeks a driven and capable individual to join our Policy and Government Relations team as a Government Relations Manager to advance conservation policy at the local government level.

The Manager will oversee a wide range of policy and advocacy tasks, including tracking local conservation policy at city and county councils, building relationships with local elected officials, staff, partners, and stakeholders, identifying opportunities that align with CVSC’s statewide goals, and executing strategies to advance conservation policy at the local level. Working under the supervision of CVSC’s Government Relations Director and in collaboration with CVSC’s policy experts, partners, and stakeholders, the Government Relations Manager will implement strategies to accomplish shared conservation goals and priorities and promote alignment on local advocacy efforts.

The ideal candidate will understand South Carolina’s state and local government landscape, can identify how conservation policies impact statewide priorities, and has the ability to build relationships with a broad coalition of partners and elected officials to accomplish shared policy goals.

The position must be based in South Carolina (non-negotiable), but may be performed remotely from within the state. This position will involve frequent day and occasional overnight travel. CVSC has a physical office in Columbia and co-work space in Charleston.

• Build and maintain a diverse set of positive working relationships local elected officials and staff, conservation partners, community leaders, state agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Work with policy staff and partners to identify conservation and environmental policies that help to tackle systemic environmental, racial, and economic inequities.
• Collaborate with coalition partners to identify campaign needs and develop strategy.
• Track, monitor, and analyze local ordinances and policies, attend hearings, council meetings, and other public engagement events.
• Identify and leverage opportunities between local and state elected officials to advance conservation policy.
• Track and report on activities and metrics, capture success stories for grant reporting and funding proposals.
• Represent CVSC within state and local government and in public settings and model behavior and expectations that support a cohesive, inclusive, impactful team culture
• Performs other duties as needed in accordance with the successful operation of a non-profit organization.

• 2+ years professional experience with advocacy campaigns, including outreach, campaign planning, lobbying, and coalition-building.
• Experience with grassroots and grasstop advocacy and how these efforts can amplify and support local government engagement efforts.
• Ability to professionally represent CVSC in written and oral communications.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to adjust strategies and workplans in real time.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, facilitation, negotiating, and public speaking skills. An ability to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner in person, over video conferencing, and over the telephone.
• Strong attention to detail, fast and willing learner, strong organizational skills and ability to follow up and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work well within a team and with individuals, both internal and external, from diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated awareness of one’s own cultural identity, views about difference, and the ability to learn and build on varying cultural and community norms. Shares our commitment to increasing racial justice and equity in our movement and organization, integrating these principles into all of the work we do…