Manager, Governmental Affairs

Reporting to the Director of Government Affairs, the Manager of Government Affairs partners with the Director of Government Affairs to design and operationalize the department’s strategic planning, operating model, and cross-functional execution, while supporting stakeholder relationships and business needs. Furthermore, this role involves shaping departmental objectives into actionable strategies; spearheading and calibrating initiatives led by the department and in collaboration with other business units; and engaging and influencing key stakeholders to support business priorities and initiatives.  This role is accountable for establishing structured planning, performance visibility, and governance frameworks to ensure disciplined execution and measurable outcomes across Government Affairs.

Key responsibilities, include:

Strategic Planning 

• Develop and execute government affairs comprehensive roadmap involving high-level project management performance, including:
  • Establishing and facilitating a consistent planning and coordination cadence
  • Define escalation paths and decision thresholds
  • Maintaining clarity on roles, ownership, and boundaries across the department
• Analyze legislative, regulatory, and political developments to assess business impacts and recommend proactive strategies
• Identify emerging risks and opportunities, ensuring departmental objectives and that overall company goals are positioned for long-term success
• Ensure priorities, capacity, and extremal commitments are balanced holistically
• Prepare concise executive-level briefings on priorities, risks, and upcoming activity
• Design and implement the Government Affairs operating model, including planning cadence, governance structure, and performance tracking frameworks 
• Establish and maintain KPI dashboards and reporting to provide visibility into legislative activity, stakeholder engagement, and enterprise risk

Cross-Functional Execution 

• Synchronize and collaborate across business units to establish synergies and alignment among legislative, regulatory, and company operational priorities 
• Lead the development and execution of integrated project plans, governance structures, and enterprise alignment mechanisms to ensure successful delivery of cross-functional initiatives
• Ensure outreach, messaging, and engagement occur only when readiness thresholds are met as established by the department lead and originated plans

Business Demands

• Create department presentations, talking points, reports, and any other needed materials or resource/references for internal and external use
• Support internal and external stakeholder needs through structured communication, reporting, and coordination
• Attend internal and external meetings and forums assigned and as proxy to Director of Government Affairs

Operating Model & Performance Management

• Develop and maintain a centralized legislative and stakeholder tracking system (CRM or equivalent) 
• Create executive dashboards and reporting frameworks to track priorities, risks, and outcomes 
• Establish regular governance cadence (weekly, monthly, quarterly) to drive accountability and alignment 
• Ensure clear ownership, decision-making frameworks, and escalation paths across initiatives
• Drive continuous improvement in how Government Affairs plans, executes, and measures impact across the enterprise

Stakeholder Influence & External Engagement

• Contribute in developing and delivering clear, persuasive messaging to advance company positions
• Build and maintain strong relationships with policymakers, regulators, industry associations, and community stakeholders, and collaborate with respective parties on projects and initiatives
• Represent the company in external meetings, hearings, coalitions, and industry association
• Influence policy outcomes through coordinated advocacy, trusted relationships, and department tools and resources

Qualifications

Education, Certifications/Licenses

Required: 

• B.S./B.A. degree in business, public affairs, communications or related studies

Related Work Experience

Required:

• 5+ years of management in external affairs, corporate and/or customer program implementation, utility operations, or equivalent experience and/or training
  • Experience with legislative and/or administrative process 
    • Experience as a registered lobbyist, grassroots campaigns, or equivalent experience and/or training
    • Demonstrated community/civic engagement

Preferred:

• Experience in Illinois state or municipal affairs
• Master of Business Administration degree and/or Project Management Certifications

Specific Skills& Knowledge:

Required:

• Excellent written, verbal and effective communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective interpersonal relationships
• Marketing, communications, influencing, and/or negotiation skills
• Sound Judgment and decision making
• High ethical competence and personal character strengths
• Strong commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
• Proficiency at MS Word, SharePoint, MS Excel and PowerPoint.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:

• Travel Requirements
  • Must be able to travel to Springfield, IL, as needed
  • Must have valid driver’s license and access to transportation to attend meetings/events in-state and occasionally out-of-state travel.
• Physical Demands
  • Office environment 
• Work Environment
  • In-office 4 days a week
  • Evening and weekend commitments, as needed

Disclaimer: This information describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this job. The description is not designed to be a comprehensive inventory of duties, responsibilities and qualifications required in the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to qualified disabled individuals for performance of essential duties and responsibilities.