Job Summary
Join the NJEDA and help lead New Jersey to sustainable economic growth, fostering equitable opportunities and vibrant communities. We offer hybrid work, a supportive culture, and robust benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and extensive wellness programs. Make a tangible impact and shape New Jersey's future with innovative economic development at NJEDA.
Job Overview
- Serving as a cornerstone of the NJEDA’s outreach and engagement efforts, the Senior Advisor of State and Local Government Affairs will lead the Authority’s strategic initiatives to enhance statewide understanding of NJEDA programs and products, with a particular focus on municipal-level elected officials.
- This position is integral to advancing NJEDA’s strategic goals through targeted engagement, timely reporting, and strategic communication by serving as the forefront of fostering robust relationships with local government stakeholders, ensuring that the Authority’s offerings are effectively communicated and leveraged across New Jersey.
- We are seeking a dynamic leader with a passion for government relations, a deep understanding of local governance, and the ability to translate complex programs into actionable insights for stakeholders.
Salary Range: $99,120 - $123,900
Note: The NJEDA currently offers a hybrid work schedule for up to 2 days of telecommute work from home. To participate, you will be required to have high-speed home internet access and a manager's approval. This program does not supersede the "New Jersey First Act", which requires newly hired NJEDA employees to establish and then maintain, principal residence in the State of New Jersey.
Responsibilities
Daily Tasks and Responsibilities:
- Leads the development and maintenance of highly productive and strategic external relationships and partnerships for the benefit of the organization with New Jersey elected officials and municipal governments.
- Drives strategic outreach initiatives that align with NJEDA’s mission, advancing economic development goals across New Jersey.
- Plans and executes engagement events and meetings with key stakeholders to promote NJEDA programs and address local government needs.
Projects:
- Prepares reports, tracks engagement metrics, and provides analysis on outreach efforts to inform and refine the Authority’s strategic government affairs approach.
- Responds to inquiries from elected officials and their constituents in a timely and effective manner, ensuring clear communication and resolution of issues.
- Prepares frequent written correspondence, including but not limited to reports, letters, newsletters, memorandum, and policy position statements for internal and external distribution.
Goals and Objectives:
- Educates and markets the EDA’s products and services to elected officials across the state through meet and greets, public speaking events and presentations.
- Identifies new opportunities for partnerships that support NJEDA’s policy and business objectives. Builds, maintains, and strengthens relationships with New Jersey government and municipal organizations, including those focused on economic development.
- Tracks public policy issues at the federal and state levels with impact on EDA and general economic growth, keeping relevant internal partners informed and involved as needed.
Collaboration and Cross-Divisional Interaction:
- Promotes teamwork and communication to encourage an interactive, cooperative, collaborative and customer focused work environment among division, EDA staff and external partners.
- Works collaboratively with internal, cross-functional teams.
Reporting Structure:
- The Senior Advisor – State and Local Government Affairs will report into the Managing Director – Policy, Research, and Government Affairs, or a delegate determined by the Chief of Staff.
- This role is highly autonomous, with the Senior Advisor spearheading outreach plans, communications, and overall municipal engagement strategy, subject to approval by the Managing Director Policy, Research, and Government Affairs and the Chief of Staff.
- Must complete annual self-assessment as required.
- Performs other duties and special projects, as assigned.
Qualifications
Skills and Qualifications
Technical Skills:
- Ability to utilize the GovNet software for legislative tracking and comment.
Soft Skills:
- Ability to multi-task and manage deliverables with time-sensitive deadlines.
- Demonstrates a commitment to achieving goals.
- Knowledge of public policy, policy analysis and government relationship management.
- Strong relationship building, cross-functional team and leadership skills.
- Demonstrated policy analysis skills.
- Exceptional organization skills.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Proven track record with building and maintaining relationships to advance shared goals and objectives.
- Must be highly organized, detail-oriented, able to manage various tasks simultaneously and work independently within limited time constraints with little or no supervision.
- Must be able to maintain confidentiality.
- Must be able to deal effectively and diplomatically with business professionals and EDA staff.
- Demonstrates respectful behavior and promotes teamwork and communication to encourage an interactive, cooperative, collaborative and customer focused work environment among division, EDA staff, and external customers.
Experience:
- 7+ years of professional job-related experience.
- Minimum four (4) years of experience working in a local, county, state or federal district office or nonprofit organization.
- Advanced degree or industry specific certification may be substituted for 1 year of experience.
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent experience; preferred degree field of Political Science, Jurisprudence, Pre-Law, Business, Communications or related fields.
Software/Tools Proficiency:
- NJEDA utilizes Microsoft as the core application platform and proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite is preferred.
Additional Information
- Minimal physical demands and ability to work out normal business hours.
- Travel expected when necessary for business operations.
Certificates and Licenses Required
- Staff are required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essentials duties of the position.
Position Requirements
- Foreign degrees/transcripts must be evaluated by a reputable evaluation service at your own expense and must be submitted prior to a start date. If this cannot be provided within 21 days of an offer the offer will be rescinded.
- Must comply with the “New Jersey First Act” which requires employees hired after September 1, 2011, to reside in New Jersey. Non-New Jersey resident employees must relocate to New Jersey within one year of their date of hire and provide proof of residency to Human Resources.
- Must complete an Outside Activity Questionnaire (disclosure of outside office or employment) on an annual basis.
- Must review the required NJ State Ethics Guidelines found on the state website.
- Selected candidates must be authorized to work in the United States per the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations. Note: The State of New Jersey does not provide sponsorship for citizenship to the United States.
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