Director of Government Affairs

ACEC Minnesota is the statewide professional association for consulting engineering firms doing business in Minnesota. Our member firms plan, design, and deliver the transportation, water, energy, environmental, and building infrastructure that supports Minnesota's communities and economy. We advance the business of engineering through advocacy, business resources, and leadership development, and we serve as Minnesota's member organization of the American Council of Engineering Companies, the national federation representing consulting engineering across the United States.

Our work spans three strategic directions. Advocacy engages state and federal policymakers on issues that affect how engineering firms operate and how Minnesota invests in its infrastructure. Business resources help member firms navigate industry changes, build connections, and grow their businesses. Leadership development supports engineers and firm leaders at every career stage.

ACEC Minnesota is a small, member-driven organization where all staff positions collaborate across functions. Each role on our team owns a meaningful share of the work, and staff routinely contribute beyond their primary function as needed. We rely on a close partnership between staff and the member volunteers who help us deliver our advocacy, programming, and events. We look for team members who are energized by variety, comfortable taking ownership of multiple work streams, and willing to evolve with the organization.

The Director of Government Affairs is the principal owner of ACEC Minnesota's legislative, regulatory, and public agency advocacy. The role exists to advance the business interests of member firms in law and rule. In coordination with the CEO, the Director sets and executes the organization's advocacy strategy, owns its relationships with legislators and agency leadership, and is accountable for advocacy outcomes.

Legislative strategy and session management

• Develop the annual legislative agenda in coordination with the CEO and own its execution through session
• Analyze and prioritize legislation affecting the engineering industry, including procurement, qualifications-based selection, professional licensure, liability, and infrastructure funding
• Represent ACEC Minnesota at the Capitol, including direct engagement with legislators and staff, testimony, and coordination of CEO and member testimony
• Produce the end-of-session summary and interim analysis

Lobbying and compliance

• Maintain working knowledge of Minnesota campaign finance and lobbying law
• Report all campaign finance activity (contributions and expenses) on a weekly basis

Regulatory and agency advocacy

• Co-own with the CEO ACEC Minnesota's working relationships with MnDOT, the Metropolitan Council, state licensing boards, and other agencies whose rules and procurement practices affect member firms
• Monitor rule making dockets and policy changes and represent the organization in rule making proceedings
• Convert member firm concerns about agency practice, including procurement and contract terms, into defined advocacy objectives

Coalition and stakeholder management

• Build and manage coalitions with allied organizations on shared legislative and regulatory priorities
• Serve as ACEC Minnesota's principal in coalition settings, with authority to speak to positions the CEO has approved

Committee leadership

• Staff the government affairs committee and connect committee activity to the legislative agenda
• Support the PAC and campaign fund committees with fundraising, candidate evaluation, event planning, and compliance awareness

National coordination

• Align state advocacy with ACEC National priorities
• Coordinate federal fly-in participation twice per year
• Maintain relationships with the Minnesota congressional delegation's staff

Executive and member communication

• Brief the CEO on legislative and regulatory developments with analysis that supports decisions
• Produce member-facing advocacy communications

A successful candidate for the position of Director of Government Affairs owns advocacy outcomes. They define what ACEC Minnesota wants from a relationship or an issue and are accountable for whether the organization gets it. The Director operates independently at the director level, with work product reaching the CEO in final, publishable form. To be successful in this position, they must manage multiple concurrent issues through session and between sessions without dropped commitments to members, legislators, coalition…