Director of Government and Community Relations

The Minnesota Private College Council (MPCC) is an association of 18 private nonprofit Minnesota institutions of higher education who collectively educate more than 54,000 undergraduate and graduate students in Minnesota.

MPCC is seeking a Director of Government and Community Relations to lead the Council’s government relations and advocacy team as we work to expand educational opportunities for tens of thousands of students by increasing college access and affordability for low- and middle-income students and their families through our advocacy for the Minnesota State Grant program, the federal Pell Grant, and other higher education programs and policies.

Reporting to and working closely with the MPCC President, the Director of Government and Community Relations leads the implementation and advancement of government and community relations efforts at the state and federal level for MPCC’s member institutions.

The director works in support of MPCC’s public policy agenda focused on need-based financial aid and works on other legislative and regulatory matters that may affect private, nonprofit institutions of higher education.

The director advances the organization’s policy priorities by building relationships with policymakers, the Council’s member institutions and their constituencies, other educational institutions, and education advocacy organizations.

MPCC’s highest policy priority is to advocate for need-based student financial aid, and in particular, to protect and grow the Minnesota State Grant program, which helps one out of four Minnesota college students attend the public or private college of their choice.

The ideal candidate brings experience in Minnesota legislative and regulatory affairs, lobbying, grassroots advocacy efforts, and a passion for expanding educational opportunities for students who face financial barriers to education success.

This role is integral to the Minnesota Private College Council’s efforts to expand need-based financial aid for Minnesota college students and to respond to other legislative and regulatory matters that affect private nonprofit higher education in Minnesota.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Working closely with the President in all legislative and regulatory matters, including developing, coordinating, and implementing overall association legislative and advocacy activity in a manner consistent with MPCC’s goals, priorities, and values.
• Building relationships with and communicating regularly with public policy makers, including members of the Minnesota legislature and their staff, gubernatorial staff, state agency staff, staff at other higher education systems, and other governmental and educational organizations that impact higher education in Minnesota.
• Supporting federal advocacy efforts focused on the Minnesota congressional delegation in conjunction with our national advocacy partner, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
• Building and managing relationships with diverse constituent groups to foster government relations activities in support of MPCC’s public policy agenda. Groups include business and community organizations and their representatives; public and private higher education stakeholders; member campus legislative contacts and financial aid directors; students,faculty and staff; and other potential advocates.
• Monitoring, tracking, and analyzing pending and prospective legislative proposals, current legislation, and state agency regulations and assessing impact on MPCC members and their students. Produce reports and analysis as needed and disseminate to MPCC institutions or staff as appropriate.
• Preparing memos, public testimony, and advocacy materials as needed.
• Responding to requests for information, including data or analysis by governmental, legislative, industry, and academic stakeholders as required.
• Building relationships with and communicating regularly with the Campus Legislative Contacts at our 18 member institutions.
• Providing periodic updates to MPCC members and other constituencies, working with the Director of Marketing and Communications and other staff to…