Manager, State and Local Affairs

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Associated Builders and Contractors is a national construction industry trade association established in 1950 with 67 chapters and more than 23,000 members. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC helps members offer a robust employee value proposition, develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work.

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Reporting to the Senior Director of State and Local Affairs, the Manager of State and Local Affairs will lead ABC National’s engagement with state and local governments and coordinate across the broader government affairs team. This role requires a strong understanding of the association’s policy priorities, the legislative process, and the ability to build and maintain productive relationships with lawmakers, association partners, and industry stakeholders across the country.

• Carries out ABC National’s state and local government affairs program under the supervision of ABC National’s Senior Director, State and Local Affairs and Vice President, Government Affairs.
• Promotes the merit shop agenda to state and local political organizations, private construction owners/users/contractors and state and local lawmakers via educational outreach and direct lobbying.
• Manages and works with contract lobbyists assisting ABC chapters at state and local level.
• Engages in state political groups in which staff has membership and access alongside other members of the ABC National Government Affairs team, developing relationships with state elected officials and other industry stakeholders to promote ABC’s mission and augment chapter and ABC National policy and political advocacy efforts.
• Identifies and monitors key legislation and alerts ABC National and ABC chapter staff about legislative, regulatory and political developments in a timely manner.
• Produces ABC National state and local government affairs publications.
• Addresses state and local government needs and requests from ABC members and chapter staff related to core ABC issues.
• Partners with National and ABC chapter staff on efforts to eliminate project labor agreements and other discriminatory requirements on federal, state and local projects.
• Assists chapters and ABC National staff with advocacy campaigns and other long-term initiatives alongside ABC chapters and membership around core ABC issues.
• Monitors the development and upkeep of key ABC National resources, including a blog and several publications.
• Guides ABC chapters in developing outreach materials, including creating and managing grassroots advocacy campaigns.
• Monitors government proposals and media for stories related to core ABC issues, engages in social media, relays intelligence and suggests strategy to appropriate stakeholders.
• Ensures ABC stakeholders have necessary resources and expertise to address core ABC issues.
• Contributes to fundraising efforts for ABC National’s PAC and Free Enterprise Alliance advocacy activities.
• Stays informed about federal legislation and regulations that will impact state and local governments, members and chapters.

• Demonstrated working knowledge of legislative process at the state and local levels.
• Ability to research and analyze issues related to governmental actions and policy proposals.
• Public speaking before industry and association stakeholders and lawmakers.
• This position is based in Washington, D.C. and requires a moderate amount of travel to ABC National and chapter conferences, industry events, state legislative conferences and state legislatures.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• At least three (3) years of demonstrated success in a Congressional or state legislative office, a legislative monitoring/consulting firm, a public policy advocacy organization, or a government/Congressional affairs office.
• Ability to travel up to 30% of the time, including local and out-of-state travel, by ground or air as needed.
• Experience working with a trade or professional…