Director of Advocacy and External Affairs

Job Title

Director of Advocacy and External Affairs

Location

Hybrid

Salary

$65,000 - $75,000

Reports to:

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Direct Reports

Advocacy Interns

Independent Contractors, as necessary

Job Overview

The Director of Advocacy and External Affairs will lead the Arts Council’s efforts in advocacy, public policy, and external relations. This role involves developing and executing strategies to influence public policy, engage stakeholders, and promote the organization’s mission and goals. The Director will serve as the primary spokesperson and liaison to government agencies, policymakers, cross-sector leaders, and community partners.

What You’ll Be Working On

• Advocacy and Public Policy:
  • Develop and implement comprehensive advocacy strategies to influence public policy in alignment with the organization’s mission and goals.
  • Monitor and analyze legislation, regulations, and policy trends that impact the arts sector and its stakeholders.
  • Engage with policymakers, government officials, and legislative bodies to advocate for the organization’s positions and priorities.
  • Prepare and present testimony, position papers, and policy briefs on key issues.
• External Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement:
  • Cultivate and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders, including government agencies, community partners, industry associations, researchers, and advocacy groups.
  • Coordinate and lead coalitions and partnerships to advance shared policy goals and initiatives.
  • Represent the organization at public meetings, conferences, and events.
  • Work with the Communications Director in developing and executing media strategies to enhance the organization’s visibility and influence.
  • Solicit data and research to inform advocacy priorities, as necessary
• Strategic Communications:
  • Develop and implement strategic communication plans to support advocacy efforts and public relations objectives.
  • Oversee the creation of advocacy-centered press releases, newsletters, social media content, and other communication materials.
  • Ensure consistent and effective messaging across all platforms and audiences.
• Leadership and Management:
  • Lead and manage the Advocacy and External Affairs department, providing guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.
  • Collaborate with senior leadership and other departments to align advocacy and external affairs strategies with organizational goals.
  • Prepare and manage budgets for advocacy and external affairs activities.
  • Evaluate and report on the effectiveness of advocacy and external affairs initiatives.
  • Work with the Development department to identify funding sources to support Arts Council advocacy initiatives

What You’ll Bring to the Role

• Strong understanding of the legislative and regulatory processes.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in media relations and strategic communications.
• Leadership and team management skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Proven track record of successful advocacy and external affairs strategies.
• Demonstrated expertise or a university degree in public policy, communications, political science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in advocacy, public policy, government relations, or a related field.

Working at the Arts Council

Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt salaried position. Occasional weekend and evening work may be necessary. Salary is posted at $65,000-$75,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits include health, vision, and dental insurance. Unlimited paid time off and thirteen (13) holidays. The Arts Council offers a Simple IRA with company match.

Primarily Remote Workplace

Work for this position primarily occurs remotely, with required in-person staff meetings once a week. It is important for employees to have access to reliable transportation, whether that be a personal vehicle or consistent access to public transportation. Employees are provided an organization-issued laptop for the duration of employment. When working remotely, you are expected to maintain a high-speed Internet connection supporting collaborative work, such as Zoom meetings. All full-time staff members receive a monthly stipend to support remote work.

Our Culture

We pride ourselves on creating a fun, flexible, and creative work environment at the Arts Council. We encourage our staff to come as they are — whether in your new favorite band t-shirt, being accompanied by your pets in our Zoom meetings, or sharing your passions outside of work. The Arts Council is dedicated to uplifting all voices, and decisions are often made as a full team. Our employees are open, supportive, and inclusive. A passion for the arts is a must.

We also are in an amazing time of transition and growth. We recently completed an in-depth, six-month strategic planning process which resulted in a plan to guide our next five years as an organization. Are you interested in helping us reach our goals to support our arts community?

Our Commitment to Equity

The Arts Council values equity as essential to its mission to expand the reach, influence, and effectiveness of the region's diverse and vibrant arts and culture community by providing leadership, advocacy, capacity building, and connections. We are committed to diversity and equity in gender, age, religion, race, ethnicity, ability, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other characteristics. Differences provide varied viewpoints, ideas, and connections that strengthen and enrich Arts Council’s work with the communities in our region. Our goal is to create and maintain an inclusive, respectful, and equitable environment and to engage the talents of people with varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to accomplish our mission.

How to Apply

Application materials are due by January 15, 2025. Applicants are asked to submit their materials via the Arts Council’s application form. These materials include a Resume and an optional section for additional context. Following the submission of these materials, applicants will also be asked to submit a separate, anonymous demographics survey.

The Arts Council will begin to review applications in early February 2025.