Senior Government Affairs Manager

Salary Range: $90,950 – $107,000 annually

The Senior Government Affairs Manager will lead WRA’s legislative, regulatory, and administrative advocacy efforts in Nevada. The role involves working closely with program, marketing, and communications staff to advance policy solutions addressing climate change challenges across WRA’s three program areas. The candidate will be a strategic thinker with strong judgment, decision‑making skills, and political acumen, and may supervise members of the Government Affairs team.

Western Resource Advocates (WRA) fights climate change and its impacts to sustain the environment, economy, and people of the West. Our team of policy experts, scientists, economists, and attorneys has a 30‑year history of working with decision makers, creating evidence‑based solutions, and holding them accountable. Our work advances clean energy, protects air, land, water, and wildlife, and sustains local livelihoods.

The position can be remote from the Carson City‑Reno or Las Vegas metropolitan areas, based in WRA’s Reno office, or a hybrid remote/in‑office setting.

• Lead WRA’s government affairs work in Nevada and collaborate with program and communications staff to develop and implement public policy advocacy efforts with legislators and regulatory bodies.
• Prioritize and plan activities and campaigns to advance policies in multiple decision‑making forums including the state legislature and regulatory bodies.
• Partner with WRA program leaders, staff, and contract lobbyists to develop legislative and decision‑maker targets and advocacy campaign plans.
• Coordinate with policy and marketing staff to craft communication strategies and messaging that accurately convey WRA’s advocacy positions to stakeholders.
• Serve as WRA’s senior liaison with elected leaders and other decision makers in the state.
• Identify and manage coalitions of diverse partners in the region to advance WRA’s priorities.
• Read and analyze proposed legislation and administrative policies with minimal guidance.
• Recruit and organize a diverse group of opinion leaders to engage with decision makers in support of WRA’s positions.
• Manage contract lobbyists and consultants retained by the Government Affairs department.
• Communicate complex policy concepts to diverse audiences.
• Monitor and track relevant state and local policies, rules, and regulations.
• Frequent travel to the state capital during legislative sessions.

• Supervise interns, fellows, and other government affairs staff.
• Assist with hiring and training of interns, fellows, and staff.
• Provide constructive feedback and performance evaluations for direct reports.

• At least seven years of experience in a government‑affairs capacity for an elected official, government agency, private entity, or nonprofit advocacy organization.
• A minimum of four years of proven experience leading, developing, and executing strategic government‑affairs, external‑affairs, communications, and/or advocacy campaigns.
• Experience managing consultants and providing guidance to team members.
• Extensive understanding of Nevada state politics and policy makers, especially in conservation and climate change.
• Substantial experience building and maintaining relationships with decision makers to advance WRA’s policy objectives.
• Broad experience building coalitions with diverse stakeholders to achieve public‑policy goals.
• Comfortable communicating with a variety of constituencies and audiences.
• Excellent persuasive communication skills on complex subjects.
• Strong organizational, time‑management, and detail orientation.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building skills.

• Experience lobbying or advocating with decision makers.
• Experience centering equity in policy development.
• Existing relationships with decision makers and influencers in WRA’s region.

A typical office environment with minimal exposure to excessive noise or adverse environmental issues. Prolonged periods at a desk and working on a computer. Some travel by automobile,…