Manager, Government Affairs

Summary

This position leads the Association's government affairs activities and represents and protects Association interests before local, state, and federal legislative bodies, regulatory agencies, and other government entities. The position develops and executes the annual legislative and government affairs plan; evaluates legislative, regulatory, and policy developments; advises Leadership on organizational impacts and recommended positions; and builds effective relationships with industry, government, and community stakeholders. The position also coordinates with Corporate Communications on employee and public communications initiatives.

Essential Functions

• Develop and execute the annual legislative plan.

• Develop and maintain an issues-management framework, stakeholder engagement plan, legislative calendar, and reporting cadence.

• Identify and analyze legislative, regulatory, and policy issues affecting the Association; develop response options and recommend positions or actions.

• Communicate Association views and work collaboratively with other utilities and trade associations to achieve common interests.

• Represent the Association in legislative hearings, regulatory and agency proceedings, public forums, coalition meetings, and other external engagements as assigned.

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with elected officials, legislative and agency staff, regulators, community leaders, industry representatives, and other key stakeholders.

• Coordinate government engagement activities of project managers and internal subject matter experts with local, state, and federal entities.

• Participate with trade associations and industry committees and pursue leadership roles.

• Develop and coordinate advocacy strategies with internal subject matter experts, utilities, trade associations, coalitions, and other aligned stakeholders.

• Coordinate and oversee external government affairs consultants or contract lobbyists, when engaged, including work plans, deliverables, budgets, and alignment with Association positions.

• Maintain required lobbying, ethics, and disclosure records and coordinate applicable registrations and filings with Legal or other responsible departments.

• Assist with grant procurement efforts, research various types of grants available, and the criteria to qualify in coordination with department managers.

• Track relevant federal and state funding programs and coordinate advocacy, letters of support, and government engagement related to priority grant opportunities.

• Coordinate internal and external communications initiatives with Corporate Communications.

• Assist with development of public relations materials and social media content.

• Monitor and interpret legislation, regulations, agency proceedings, and public policy developments that could affect the Association, its operations, or member-owners.

• Coordinate with Leadership to identify priority legislative, regulatory, and government relations issues and assess potential operational, financial, legal, strategic, and member impacts.

• Draft testimony, position statements, briefing materials, public comments, and responses regarding proposed legislation, regulations, agency actions, and local ordinances.

• Brief and educate lawmakers, regulators, agency staff, and other stakeholders on the anticipated effects of proposed bills, regulations, policies, and local ordinances.

• Develop and maintain division materials and documentation.

• Act as the Association board representative on the Electric Reliability Organization/Railbelt Reliability Council.

• Establish government affairs initiatives and manage objectives aligned with Chugach's strategic goals.

• Support continuous improvement and operational efficiency by identifying areas of opportunity and sharing recommendations with management.

• Serve as the Association's principal internal advisor on legislative and government affairs matters and prepare and deliver timely briefings, risk assessments, recommendations, and reports to Leadership and the Board of Directors.

• Develop and monitor the government affairs budget and authorize expenditures within delegated authority.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Relationships

Internal

• Chief Executive Officer: Report to, receive direction from and guidance from.
• Managers and Leadership: Confer with, give and receive information.
• Corporate Communications: Confer with, give and receive information.
• Board of Directors: Confer with, give and receive information.

External

• Other Utilities: Collaborate with and exchange information.
• Local Government and Community Councils: Exchange information and develop relationships relative to assigned duties.
• Trade Associations: Collaborate with and exchange information.
• Railbelt Reliability Council/Electric Reliability Organization/Railbelt Transmission Organization: Collaborate with and exchange information.

Competencies

• Knowledge of the political process and key players in Alaska.

• Knowledge of communication tools and tactics and how to apply them to align with strategic goals.

• Effective written and oral communication skills.

• Networking skills to establish, develop and maintain collaborative relationships.

• Demonstrated ability to organize workflow, manage multiple priorities and effectively utilize resources.

• Detail-oriented, with a high level of accuracy in legislative, regulatory, and policy analysis.

• Proven ability to be self-motivated and work independently with minimal supervision.

• Knowledge of legislative, regulatory, and administrative processes applicable to electric utilities.

• Ability to analyze complex policy proposals, synthesize technical information, assess organizational impacts, and present clear recommendations to executive and Board audiences.

• Ability to advocate, negotiate, and influence effectively while maintaining credibility with stakeholders holding differing viewpoints.

• Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive, confidential, or politically significant matters.

• Proven ability to uphold ethical and professional conduct.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position does not have any supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment

Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment. Regular travel, networking, public speaking, and attendance at meetings outside normal business hours are required. Periodic travel outside Anchorage and outside Alaska may be required.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications, political science, public administration or related field, required.

Experience

Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in government relations, legislative affairs, public policy, regulatory affairs, public administration, or corporate communications, required. Experience in the electric utility, energy, infrastructure, or another highly regulated industry, preferred.

Substitution

Additional professional experience in a similarly complex government affairs role or related field, above the five-year minimum, may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Chugach Electric Association is a member-owned cooperative, headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska''s largest city. Anchorage itself sits at the base of the Chugach Mountains. Chugach is pleased to provide reliable, affordable power to more than 92,000 members from Anchorage to the northern Kenai Peninsula, and from Whittier on Prince William Sound to Tyonek on the west side of Cook Inlet. We service over 113,000 locations with 3,782 miles of transmission and distribution lines. We have many services that make it easy to power homes and businesses with Chugach.

A little more about us: Chugach has been around for a long time, recently celebrating 75 years! We are a stable company, in a stable industry. And while we may have stability, we are modern, sustainable and forward-thinking to ensure that we provide reliable services for generations to come. We also pride ourselves on the longevity of our employees. We have several 20, 30 and 40 + year tenured employees who continue foster an inclusive, innovative corporate environment. Find your spark!

Chugach''s corporate vision:

Responsibly developing energy to build a clean, sustainable future for Alaska.

Chugach''s corporate mission:

We provide safe, reliable, and affordable electricity through superior service and sustainable practices, powering the lives of our members.

Chugach''s corporate values:

Guided by our values of safety, accountability, and sustainability, we are committed to serving our members, the community, and the Chugach team.

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is a policy of Chugach Electric Association, Inc., to recruit, hire, train, promote, and compensate persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, physical or mental disability, veteran''s status, age, or any other classification protected by applicable, federal, state, or local law.

Chugach is also an affirmative action employer.

Chugach Electric does not sponsor employment visas. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. at the time of application and throughout employment. Employees must be able to provide documentation to Chugach Electric to show their identity and authorization to work.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Premium & Deductible are paid for by Chugach Electric. The plan includes coverage of:

• Medical, RX, Dental & Vision
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Telemedicine

FINANCIAL SECURITY

• 401K Plan
• Defined Benefit (Pension)
• Retirement Investment services
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance paid for by Chugach Electric
• Supplemental Life Insurance
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Flex Spending Account (Health, Limited Use, Dependent Care)

WORK, LIFE & HEALTH

• 20 days vacation for first year of employment
• 10 Paid Holidays + 3 Float Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• MetLife Will Preparation