Government Relations & Stakeholder Outreach Director

Education Verification

The work you'll do is more than just a job. At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

Job Summary

Job Summary Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) has been administering pension coverage to Minnesota educators for decades, with a mission to help members and their beneficiaries plan for an independent and financially secure retirement. We are currently seeking job candidates who have exceptional knowledge of government process and a strong background in building solid professional relationships with colleagues, customers, and community partners for our Government Relations & Stakeholder Outreach Director role.

Our Government Relations & Stakeholder Outreach Director position exists to oversee and direct legislative activities, internal and external stakeholder outreach, and statutory initiatives that are central to the governance, administration, and long-term sustainability of the TRA. The Government Relations & Outreach Director provides leadership, management, and coordination of TRA’s government relations and policy functions with the Governor’s office, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB), members of the Minnesota Legislature and staff, the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement (LCPR), members of the Minnesota’s congressional delegation and staff, and other appropriate state and federal government agencies.

The incumbent represents TRA in legislative matters by providing policy direction, coordinating legislative initiatives and budgets, and advancing interests of the organization. The position also plays a leadership and decision-making role in the TRA biennial policy and budget-setting process from development to enactment. Management of all employer, member, and external special interest group outreach and education is further required of the role, in order to ensure these groups are well informed of new legislation impacts, as well as to ensure TRA is well informed of all internal and external stakeholder legislative initiatives and agendas.

This position is located at our St. Paul, Minnesota office, and will require the incumbent to work a schedule that includes regular in-office work in order to perform the essential job duties. Substantial business travel will be required throughout Minnesota, up to 50%.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications Four (4) years of progressive work experience in government relations, legislative affairs, and/or stakeholder outreach. A Bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies, Business Law, Public or Business Administration, Political Science, or a related field can substitute for one (1) year of experience. Work Experience Must Also Demonstrate The Following

• Experience in a leadership or supervisory role guiding, coaching, providing constructive feedback, and motivating others. Leadership can include training staff, acting as a lead worker, and/or serving as a high-level subject matter expert of a complex program.
• Experience in collecting and evaluating programmatic data in order to inform decision-making, streamline operational workflows, and enhance standard operating procedures (SOPs) to support organizational efficiency and regulatory compliance.
• Proven ability to develop a comprehensive understanding of complex state and federal financial and/or retirement laws and regulations, as well as state government data privacy requirements, policies, and procedures.
• Proven ability to monitor, review, analyze,…