Director of State Government Affairs (Texas-based)

Description

Fortune 100 information technology company seeks a Director of State Government Affairs, reporting to the Senior Director, State Government Affairs. This Director of State Government Affairs will work with corporate leadership and business units to represent company interests before state and local government officials to advance company policy priorities and other interests in Texas, including data center facilities.  

Responsibilities

This role will support the company’s growing footprint in Texas and adjacent states, as needed, while also supporting the broader state and local government affairs team. This includes representing company interests with third party groups and at events, monitoring state and local policy impacting the company, and maintaining a strong understanding of company operations to assess how external policy decision-making may impact business initiatives. 

The ideal candidate understands the importance of the role to the success of the organization; works well across teams; understands information technology across a broad range of business and policy priorities; and, is a self-starter who can manage multiple high-priority issues at once while driving results.

QUALIFICATIONS / DESIRED SKILLS

• Minimum 5 years of experience in public policy at the state and local level with a thorough understanding of technology policy, and experience working with, serving, and influencing state and local government agencies. 
• Relationships with Texas state and local officials, including executive and legislative branch, regulators and key energy stakeholders such as ERCOT and PUCT, municipal governments, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Understanding of technology policy and public policy issues affecting data center development, including tax, energy, land use, and economic development. 
• Experience partnering with community engagement teams to build and strengthen a company’s presence in the communities where it operates and invests.
• The ability to align impact of state and local policy with business interests and develop and execute strategies to lead and shape complex initiatives and solutions.
• Ability to self-direct, including proven ability to prioritize, balance, and meet conflicting demands in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision. 
• Excellent written, oral communication and analytical skills with an ability to reduce complex terms and concepts into readily understandable concepts for policy makers. 
• Experience briefing and staffing senior-level executives.
• Experience managing contract lobbyists and representing corporate interests with other external resources (e.g. consultants, trade associations).
• Excel at representing company at external facing policy and political events.
• Commitment to always acting with the highest integrity, including strict adherence to applicable laws and company values, which go beyond legal compliance.

POSITION LOCATION:  Austin, TX strongly preferred. Open to considering qualified candidate based in other Texas locations

TRAVEL COMPONENT: Approx. 50%-75% travel may be required to be successful in this role

MISC:  This is a senior individual contributor role; no direct reports

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Qualifications

Work is non-routine and very complex, involving the application of advanced technical/business skills in area of specialization. Leading contributor individually and as a team member, providing direction and mentoring to others. BS or MS degree or equivalent experience relevant to functional area. Prefer eight years of related experience.