Job Description
Trust for Public Land is seeking to recruit a dynamic leader to serve as Vice President of Government Relations to be based in Washington, DC.
TPL was founded in 1972 on the conviction that all people need access to nature and the outdoors, close to home, in the cities and communities where they live. TPL collaborates with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since its founding, TPL has been connecting people to the outdoors and to each other. From neighborhood parks to national parks, TPL has completed more than 5,000 projects, protected more than 3.5 million acres of land, helped to secure over 94 billion dollars of public funds for land protection and park creation, and inspired cities and towns nationwide to work towards having a park or open space within a 10-minute walk of all their residents.
Quality parks and green spaces are fundamental for sustaining equitable, resilient communities. Access to nature and the outdoors—close to home, in the cities and communities where people live—is a matter of health, equity, and justice. That is why TPL collaborates with communities across the country to create, protect, and steward nature-rich places that are vital to human well-being. TPL is driven by four commitments: equity, health, climate, and community.
TPL’s board, staff, supporters, and partners are united by a shared understanding of the extraordinary power of land for people. The latest scientific research reinforces what experience has taught us: quality parks and natural spaces are a fundamental requirement for sustaining healthy, equitable communities that are resilient and prepared for change. Land-for-people solutions are more needed now than at any point in recent memory. In this moment of polarization and increasing social isolation, parks and public land reweave our country’s frayed social fabric, reconnecting us to the places and experiences that bind us together as a nation.
Position Summary The Vice President for Government Relations reports to the Executive Vice President/Chief Program Officer. The Vice President of Government Relations has overall responsibility for development and execution of Trust for Public Land’s (TPL) national policy agenda as well as oversight and management of the Government Relations department. This is the opportunity to lead an active advocacy team that is driving a forward-looking parks and public lands agenda.
The individual in this position will be TPL’s lead representative to Congress, the Administration, and DC-based stakeholders. They will possess the leadership and strategic skills necessary to effectively lead a professional team and to help craft a successful policy and advocacy agenda. Importantly, they must possess the experience and skills enabling them to advocate successfully with Congress and the Executive Agencies on behalf of TPL.
Reporting Relationships The Vice President of Government Relations oversees the following:
- Federal Grant Management
- Senior Director of Federal Relations
- Senior Director of Federal Park Equity
- Director Of Federal Climate Change Policy
- Federal Director of Trails and Tribal Lands Policy
- Team Coordinator
- D.C. Office Manager
The Vice President of Government Relations will work closely with the leadership of TPL in helping to set the vision and strategic goals for the national policy agenda. The key goals and responsibilities facing the Vice President, include:
- Lead an internal team of seven government relations professionals, including experts in land conservation, park equity, federal funding, lobbying, and external stakeholder management; including building individual annual work plans which detail activities and set measurable goals.
- Lobby Congress and Executive Agencies; maintain strong relationships with our partners and direct the progress of TPL policies and projects.
- Oversight of federal funding and policy advocacy for TPL priorities, including TPL and partner land, trail, and park projects. This will include managing a portfolio of land conservation projects.
- Work with Philanthropy to secure support for the Government Relations Team’s work.
- Understand the motivations and drivers of TPL’s external stakeholders and their expectations for TPL. Create and maintain a dynamic mapping of impact areas from Congress, the Administration, and other external stakeholders; formulate and lead strategic relationships and opportunities for collaboration to meet broader TPL goals and to advance TPL’s reputation among external stakeholders.
- Devise and implement a coordinated approach to external communications for the Government Relations department, including via media, web, print and conference selection and partner with communications team for content development to enhance TPL’s effectiveness.
- Coordinate internal communications to key departments and groups to facilitate broader understanding of the federal relations function at TPL through newsletters, onboarding initiatives and events with state offices.
- Collaborate with subject matter experts within TPL and external advisors and coalitions, including peer non-governmental organizations, local and regional environmental equity groups, outdoor recreation community members, think tanks, and academic institutions.
- Manage the Government Relations budget, which includes selection and direction of external advisors, including lobbying firms, etc.
Professional Qualifications and Personal Attributes The Vice President of Government Relations ought to ideally possess the following professional qualifications and personal attributes:
Professional Experience: - Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
- Minimum of 10 years in federal government relations with at least 5 years management/supervisory and stakeholder engagement experience.
- Demonstrated senior-level experience with federal legislative and agency processes; demonstrated experience on Capitol Hill or in the Executive Branch preferred.
- Demonstrated management experience; ability to motivate professional staff and build healthy team culture.
- The ability to establish strong relationships with government officials and other partners demonstrated strategic advocacy skills.
- Direct experience in legislative strategy, lobbying, and external stakeholder engagement.
Personal Attributes - A commitment to the mission and vision of Trust for Public Land.
- A management style that is collaborative and goal oriented, but flexible; that respects the capabilities and independence of staff and provides them with a clear sense of direction.
- Commitment to results and an outstanding problem-solver.
- Collegial, trustworthy, and possessing the highest level of personal and professional integrity.
- Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including effective presentation and negotiation skills.
- A team builder who inspires collaboration and has demonstrated success in collaborative work with internal colleagues as well as external ones.
Compensation As a full-time exempt employee, you will be eligible for Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation, sick leave, and holidays. We also offer a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the hiring range for this position is $200,000-$250,000.
Trust for Public Land’s active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.
Job Tags
Holiday work, Full time, Local area, Outdoor, Flexible hours,