Job
Description
The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) is hiring a State Government Affairs Director to lead our efforts to shape policy and build legislative relationships in a portfolio of southeastern states (AL, AR, GA, LA, MS, TN, SC). This is not a role for someone who is content to coast or sit on the sidelines—in this role, you’ll be in the front seat, driving FGA’s policy agenda in your portfolio of states. You’ll become a go-to confidante and strategist for policymakers, in the rooms where deals are cut and big decisions are made. You’ll not only be well-versed in our policy issues and able to speak on them at length to engage lawmakers with our reforms, but you’ll also take the lead on crafting the strategy and building the relationships that will help take FGA reforms from policy idea to law. As a trusted advisor to state lawmakers, you’ll play a key role in advancing meaningful reforms that improve lives. When legislative battles heat up, you’ll take command of the war room—coordinating strategy, rallying partners, and helping drive outcomes in high-stakes environments. This is a travel-heavy role, so the ideal candidate will be able to maintain a frequent in-person presence in their portfolio states throughout the legislative session and beyond. This role will also require you to prioritize rapidly and effectively tracking and reporting on state progress. If you’re a skilled communicator and a savvy political operator who can build trust and maintain relationships, manage and thrive in a fast-paced workload, and take initiative to craft winning strategies and seamlessly pivot when necessary, you may be the right fit for the job. CULTURE AND FIT The people who consistently succeed at FGA are those whose actions and behavior reflect our five Core Values. If you adhere to these values and answer “yes” to each of these questions, you may be a fit. 1. Candid to Solve: Being willing to have tough conversations in order to solve issues and build trust. Do you seek out constructive feedback—and provide it to others—to solve issues and build trust with coworkers? 2. Grow or Die: We don’t have a neutral gear; we must consistently challenge ourselves and each other to grow in our talents and skills. Are you aware of your strengths and weaknesses, and do you seek out complementary skills and growth in order to mitigate your weaknesses? 3. Politically Savvy: Policy doesn’t change in a vacuum, but in a political reality that we must understand and account for. Do you agree that embracing the realities of politics is necessary to change public policy? 4. Partnership-Oriented: Internal and external relationships are not transactional. That starts with our team members and the perspective that we need the rest of the team to succeed in order to win personally. Are you comfortable creating your own structure for work, such as setting work hours, your own priorities, and creating clarity and a workplan from a broad goal? Do you tend to be the one who initiates conversations with colleagues, rather than waiting for them to come to you? 5. Bought in to Win: We’re at FGA because we want to change policy. No one is counting hours or widgets, we are here to get results, and sometimes that will require going the extra mile or doing a job that isn’t technically ours. Do you wholeheartedly agree with the policies that we advocate and the underlying principles that people’s lives are made better through work, not government welfare, and that a free market creates greater freedom and equality than any command-and-control government system? The vast majority of those who don’t get hired (or don’t last) at FGA are due to a lack of fit with these values. Be prepared to have very candid conversations about them in our interview process. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES This State Government Affairs Director role will have four primary roles, broken down into key responsibilities. They are: Create and execute a sales strategy for each state in the portfolio For a portfolio of southeastern states, you’ll be responsible for creating and executing a sales strategy that will engage key stakeholders and partners and turn our policy ideas into legislative wins. This role will require you to evaluate each unique political environment, identify key stakeholders and build relationships, manage collateral needs, and shepherd initiatives through the legislative process. The ideal candidate will be highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to skillfully manage competing priorities, and will be expected to quarterback all the moving parts of multiple issue reform campaigns in their portfolio states, including legislative calendars and hearings, policymaker communications, asset management, and collateral needs. You’ll be expected to regularly track and report on important details of your state visits to the broader organization, so this role places a heavy emphasis on the ability to communicate rapidly and effectively. Cultivate and maintain relationships with relevant legislative, executive, agency, and allied third-party organizations in portfolio states You will represent FGA in statehouses, building our brand and maintaining our reputation as a reliable, trusted partner and expert in our reform areas. You’ll need excellent communication skills—both written and interpersonal—and a demonstrated understanding of state government and the policymaking process. This role will require you to become a resource for governors’ offices, legislators, legislative and executive staff, and allied third-party groups. You must be capable and willing to respond quickly to legislator requests and to spend extensive time in person in your portfolio states. Manage contractors in states This role will require you to manage our contract lobbyists in each of the portfolio states. You’ll partner with them to build and leverage relationships, identify opportunities, and advance our long-term policy agenda to drive policy wins. The ideal candidate will be able to provide candid feedback and lead a team of contractors and internal FGA staff in achieving state-specific priorities and goals. Serve as the internal point person for portfolio states In this role, you’ll not only become a trusted partner of external stakeholders, but internal ones, as well. You’ll be the point of contact for all government affairs relating to your portfolio states within FGA. The ideal candidate will strive to quickly become a trusted partner right off the bat and work seamlessly with our federal, development, policy and research, and communications teams to achieve policy wins. REQUIREMENTS Minimum of five years of relevant experience Substantial work experience may be a substitute for a bachelor’s degree. The candidate must reside in one of the following states and be willing to travel frequently to them: AL, AR, GA, LA, MS, TN, and SC. Heavy weekly travel is expected during the legislative season, typically from January to May (up to 75 percent travel during that time frame). From June to August, the travel expectation is closer to 25 percent. Knowledge of the state policymaking process and political dynamics is essential. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a deep comprehension of and experience with the legislative and executive policymaking processes and will possess an understanding of how politics impacts policy. This includes being able to identify key decision-makers and influencers in and around state governments. Must exhibit a comfort level with using multiple technology platforms to organize and track data, manage projects, and communicate internally, and be able to maintain rapid responsiveness and communication with internal and external stakeholders even while traveling. Match FGA’s Core Values (described above) TIMING, LOCATION, AND COMPENSATION FGA is seeking to fill this position as soon as possible. FGA’s headquarters are in Naples, FL, but nearly all of FGA’s staff work remotely. The candidate must reside in one of the following states: AL, AR, GA, LA, MS, TN, and SC. FGA has built a highly successful remote work culture over the past decade with systems and structures designed for clarity, flexibility, and great communication. Key elements of the environment include: Quarterly in-person team meetings at which you’ll build deeper relationships, set clear goals aligned with FGA’s big vision, and brainstorm how to seize new opportunities An intensive 90-day orientation to familiarize you with the FGA team, our policies, and how we operate Home office setup, including equipment and communication tools you need to hit the ground running FGA offers a competitive salary of between $100,000 to $130,000 for this position, depending on experience, education, and qualifications, and a benefits package including a six percent retirement match, health benefit, and a generous paid leave plan.
