Director of Government Relations

Role Description Under the direction of the Vice President of State Government Relations, the Director of State Government Relations leads the strategic planning, day-to-day management, and execution of multi-state advocacy, funding, and public policy initiatives for Boys & Girls Clubs of America. This role provides leadership and support to State Alliances and Government Relations staff, strengthening their capacity to effectively influence state and federal policy, secure public funding, and advance organizational priorities. The Director fosters alignment and collaboration across Clubs and Alliances, enhancing their collective advocacy efforts and expanding the impact of Boys & Girls Clubs in communities nationwide. Responsibilities Serve as the primary State Government Relations lead, providing strategic guidance and technical assistance to up to 11 State Alliances to secure state funding and advance legislative priorities aligned with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Provide leadership, coaching, and ongoing communication to local Clubs, Alliance Boards of Directors, and Area Councils to strengthen advocacy efforts and deepen engagement in state government relations. Develop and lead end-to-end, multi-state advocacy and legislative strategies in partnership with Alliance Boards, staff, and contract lobbyists—mobilizing stakeholders, aligning messaging, and driving coordinated action to influence youth policy and increase public funding. Build and sustain strategic relationships with legislators, state officials, agencies, and key stakeholders to advance policy and funding outcomes. Lead the planning and execution of high-impact advocacy events in collaboration with Alliance teams, including State Legislative Days, town halls, and Youth of the Year engagements, to elevate visibility and influence. Support State Alliances in the selection, oversight, and performance management of staff, lobbyists, and consultants across multiple states; guide Alliance Boards through hiring and contracting processes to ensure alignment with strategic priorities. Monitor, analyze, and interpret state and federal policy developments; proactively identify and communicate opportunities to advance youth development priorities while providing timely, actionable insights to State Alliances to inform advocacy strategies and decisions. Provide direction and support on public grant and funding management, including proposal development, agreements, compliance, and reporting, to ensure effective stewardship of funds. Strengthen Alliance capacity by reinforcing governance and compliance practices, engaging Boards and committees to ensure effective operations, active participation, and alignment with organizational goals. Ensure timely completion of all financial, compliance, and operational requirements, including audits, reporting, board documentation, and regulatory obligations. Maintain oversight to ensure State Alliances operate in alignment with BGCA’s mission, brand standards, and bylaws as subsidiary entities. Additional Responsibilities Work collaboratively with BGCA subject matter experts to provide guidance and technical assistance to Alliances in regard to Club operations, youth development, resource development or state legislative and government funding efforts. Support Office of Government Relations initiatives at the Federal and Local levels including National Days of Advocacy, Summit for America’s Youth, Community Directed Spending consultation, local Club advocacy plans, policy issues, etc. Support statewide 501(c)3’s or state-wide strategies as necessary. Assist with other duties/projects as assigned by the Vice President, State Government Relations. Adhere to organizational policies and procedures as described in BGCA’s Employee Handbook, Ethics Policy and elsewhere. What Success Looks Like Effectively leading and executing multi-state advocacy and public policy strategies that advance BGCA’s mission and organizational priorities. Building strong partnerships with State Alliances, Clubs, and government relations teams to create alignment and strengthen collective advocacy efforts. Helping secure and sustain public funding opportunities that expand resources and support for Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide. Providing strategic guidance and leadership that increases the capacity and effectiveness of State Alliances and Government Relations staff. Successfully navigating relationships with policymakers, government agencies, and external stakeholders to influence policy and drive positive outcomes for youth. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree or education/experience equivalency. Minimum of seven years leadership experience within the Boys & Girls Club Movement or a comparable youth-serving or membership-based organization. Demonstrated success collaborating with local Clubs or professional associations, including members, boards, and staff. Experience engaging with state legislatures and government officials. Strong understanding of state funding structures and policy environments and a proven ability to leverage public funding to strengthen programs and expand impact for youth served by Boys & Girls Clubs or similar organizations. Skills Understanding of the inner workings of a State Alliance, local Boys & Girls Club or similar organization. Strong working knowledge of legislative processes, state funding streams, and advocacy strategies, with the ability to effectively leverage these to advance policy priorities and strengthen local Boys & Girls Clubs and youth development. Demonstrated commitment to high standards of ethics and integrity. Proven ability to manage time effectively, prioritize competing demands, analyze complex issues, and handle multiple responsibilities across multiple states simultaneously. Experience supporting boards and implementing effective personnel management practices, with a clear understanding of the relationship between membership bodies, governance, and staff operations. Highly detail-oriented with strong task management skills. Excellent written and verbal communication abilities. Collaborative team player with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong personal working relationships. Abilities High-energy, results-driven leader with a proven ability to manage complex, multi-state portfolios while aligning strategy and execution. Skilled at building and sustaining strong, trust-based relationships across diverse states, stakeholders, and partners. Effective player-coach who leads by example by coaching, mentoring, and motivating stakeholders while actively contributing to results. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines with focus, flexibility, and efficiency. Strong communicator with the ability to clearly and concisely convey ideas, data, and strategy in both verbal and written formats. Adept at fostering collaboration and alignment across geographically dispersed teams to drive outcomes. Travel Expectations Approximately 45% of travel is required (can be up to two weeks or more in a month, depending upon scheduling requirements). Compensation The salary range for this role is $135,000.00 to $145,000.00. BGCA takes into consideration a combination of a candidate’s education, training and experience, as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required for the role and other external and internal data when establishing a salary level. We are highly invested in every employee’s total well-being and offer a substantial and comprehensive total rewards package.