Director of Government Relations

Our Vision

A world where no resource is wasted.

Our Mission

To ensure that no resource goes to waste by empowering people to redeem every container easily, efficiently, and effectively.

Our Values

We are loyal, resilient, trustworthy, creative, competent, and engaged.

Summary

The Director of Government Relations advances the organization's government affairs strategy and advocacy efforts with elected officials, public agencies, regulators, and policy stakeholders in close coordination with the Vice President of Strategy and Outreach. This role is responsible for advancing the organization's policy priorities, strengthening OBRC's reputation as a trusted partner and steward of Oregon's Bottle Bill, and ensuring leadership is informed and prepared on legislative, regulatory, and public policy matters that affect the organization and its mission.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Advance a proactive government relations strategy developed in collaboration with and guided by the Vice President of Strategy and Outreach, aligned with organizational priorities, strategic goals, and emerging public policy issues.
• Monitor, analyze, and summarize legislative, regulatory, administrative, and budget developments that may affect the organization.
• Represent the organization before state elected officials, state agencies, committees, coalitions, and other public policy forums in coordination with the Vice President of Strategy and Outreach.
• Build and maintain strong, bipartisan relationships with policymakers, agency staff, legislative staff, public officials, and external partners, with guidance and counsel from the Vice President of Strategy and Outreach
• Pursue, cultivate, and strengthen local government relationships, including city, county, regional, and municipal partners, in close partnership with the Director of Community Relations and Strategic Engagement to advance shared priorities, coordinate local relationship-building, and identify opportunities for collaboration.
• Coordinate with the Vice President of Strategy and Outreach on policymaker outreach, including tag-teaming travel and in-person meetings to strengthen relationships, reinforce shared messages, and ensure appropriate executive presence.
• Draft and coordinate testimony, policy briefs, talking points, letters, budget requests, public comments, and other advocacy materials with counsel and guidance from the Vice President of Strategy and Outreach.
• Prepare executive leadership, board members, and subject matter experts for meetings, hearings, testimony, public appearances, and stakeholder engagements in coordination with the Vice President of Strategy and Outreach.
• Identify policy opportunities, legislative champions and coalition strategies that support the organization's mission and long-term objectives.
• Collaborate with the contract lobbying team to execute the legislative strategy, coordinate advocacy activity, align messaging, and ensure timely follow-through on legislative priorities.
• Lead Bottle Bill coalition meetings in partnership with the contract lobbying team, ensuring coalition members are informed, aligned, and prepared to support the legislative strategy.
• Coordinate with internal teams to ensure government relations activities are accurate, consistent, legally compliant, and aligned with communications, operations, legal, and executive priorities.
• Manage relationships with consultants, lobbyists, coalitions, and advocacy partners as assigned.
• Track, document, and report government relations activity, relationship development, policy risks, and advocacy outcomes to leadership, including preparing board presentation materials for the Vice President of Strategy and Outreach to share.

Education/Experience

• Bachelor's degree in public policy or a similar field of study.
• Minimum of 5 years of high-level leadership experience in public policy, lobbying, government relations, communications, public relations, or community relations.
• Knowledge of, and relationships with, the Oregon Legislature, local elected officials, lobbying and advocacy organizations and their representatives.

Requirements - Skills, Job Knowledge & Abilities

• Strategic policy analysis and advocacy planning.
• Relationship-building and stakeholder engagement.
• Collaborative strategy execution with executive counsel and guidance.
• Political acumen and sound judgment.
• Bottle Bill fluency and legislative relationship development.
• Clear, persuasive writing and public communication.
• Coalition development and partnership management.
• Executive preparation and briefing.
• Issue tracking, prioritization, and follow-through.
• Proficiency and professional knowledge of MS Office Suite including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• A current driver's license and acceptable driving history is required.

Supervisory Responsibility

• None

Travel

• Frequent travel throughout Oregon is required, as well as other travel as needed.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements

• Perform work in an indoor professional office environment.
• Use standard office equipment and supplies.
• Sit/stand for continuous periods of time at a desk and work on a computer, walk occasionally.
• Use arms, wrists, hands and fingers to reach, grasp objects, use tools, and for writing and keyboarding.
• Read, write, and speak to communicate effectively with others.
• Listen to interpret comments and instructions received.
• Visual abilities to be able to read printed documents and computer screens.
• Lift, carry and push/pull to move office products and supplies up to 20 pounds.
• Sit in a vehicle for extended periods when traveling between job sites.