Executive Director, Governmental Relations

Job Description:

Monroe Community College (MCC) is a public, comprehensive community college in the Rochester, New York, region and a proud member of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. MCC is one of only nineteen community colleges across North America selected for membership on the League for Innovation in the Community College board. Founded in 1961, MCC serves as a primary entry point to higher education for a diverse population of learners, offering open access to affordable, high-quality academic and workforce programs.

MCC operates two main campuses located in Brighton and Downtown Rochester along with a range of online and off-site learning options designed to meet students where they are. The College offers associate degrees, certificates, and micro-credentials across a wide array of academic and career fields, with strong pathways for transferring to four-year institutions and for employment in high-demand sectors.

In 2024-25, the College served more than 23,500 credit and non-credit students. The student body includes traditional-age learners, adult learners returning to school, working professionals, and individuals pursuing new career paths, many of whom balance education with work and family responsibilities. Equity, access, and student success are central to MCC's mission. The College is deeply committed to closing opportunity gaps, strengthening academic and career pathways, and ensuring that students earn credentials that lead to economic mobility.

MCC is guided by a strong culture of shared governance, in which faculty, staff, administrators, and students contribute to decision-making and institutional planning. This collaborative approach promotes transparency, inclusive leadership, and sustained engagement across the college community.

MCC maintains strong partnerships with local employers, community organizations, and higher education institutions, enabling it to align programs with regional workforce needs and support the economic vitality of the Finger Lakes region. Through student-centered design, data-informed decision-making, and a culture of continuous improvement, Monroe Community College plays a critical role in expanding opportunity and advancing social and economic progress throughout the region.

Function of Position:

The Executive Director for Government Relations (EDGR) serves as Monroe Community College's senior liaison to federal, state, and local government entities and functions in a high-level advisory capacity as a direct report to the President. In this role, the ED provides strategic counsel and guidance on governmental affairs, public policy, and external engagement priorities that advance the College's mission.

Operating within the SUNY system, the EDGR's responsibilities extend beyond traditional legislative monitoring and include active engagement, relationship building and management, and strategic alignment with a broad network of governmental and quasi-governmental entities. This includes interaction with local municipalities, Monroe County, New York State agencies, federal partners, system-level SUNY leadership, and state and national organizations interfacing with government agencies.

The EDGR is not limited to tracking legislation; rather, the role is proactive and strategic?shaping policy discussions, influencing outcomes, building coalitions, and positioning the College as a key partner in regional, statewide, and national initiatives.

The Executive Director plays a central role in advancing Monroe Community College's strategic plan by aligning government relations efforts with institutional priorities and measurable outcomes. This includes positioning MCC as a key driver of economic and workforce development within Monroe County, across New York State, and in alignment with federal priorities. Through strategic engagement at the local, state, and national levels, the EDGR ensures the College is competitively positioned to influence policy, secure resources, and contribute to regional, statewide, and national workforce competitiveness.

Examples of Duties & Responsibilities:

Strategic Responsibilities & Institutional Engagement

• Monitor, analyze, react, respond, and serve in relation to legislative and regulatory activity at the federal, state, and local levels impacting community colleges.
• Serve as the primary liaison between MCC and elected officials, legislative staff, government agencies, SUNY, and policy organizations.
• Capably prepare and facilitate dissemination of legislative briefings, testimony, policy analyses, and advocacy materials.
• Coordinate campus visits and engagement opportunities with elected officials and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with SUNY Government Relations and statewide advocacy organizations.
• Identify and partner with others to secure public and private funding opportunities tied to workforce development, economic development, and higher education initiatives to advance the College's strategic priorities.
• Advise the President and senior leadership on public policy developments, political risk, and strategic positioning.
• Support the President and Board of Trustees with government relations briefings, strategic communications, and related risk management matters.
• In support of the President, execute institutional strategy through engagement with external strategic partners, including government entities, economic development organizations, and community stakeholders.
• Partner with others to align government relations strategy with MCC's strategic plan by advancing initiatives that support economic development, workforce readiness, and student success at the local, state, and federal levels.

Strategic Impact & Performance Expectations

• Collaborate with internal constituencies, including faculty governance groups, student leadership organizations, collective bargaining units, the MCC Foundation, and community-based organizations to support institutional advocacy priorities.
• Collaborate with Institutional Advancement, Marketing, and Communications personnel to ensure coordinated messaging related to legislative affairs, advocacy initiatives, and government relations activities.
• Support institutional advocacy efforts related to operating aid, capital funding, workforce development appropriations, and other public and private funding priorities impacting the College.
• Collaborate across Institutional Advancement, Institutional Research, Compliance, and related administrative divisions to ensure government relations strategies are informed by institutional data, regulatory considerations, and coordinated external engagement efforts.
• Develop and execute government relations plans that are aligned with MCC's strategic priorities.
• Secure and/or support the acquisition of external funding through legislative appropriations, grants, or government-supported initiatives aligned with institutional priorities.
• Partner with the MCC Foundation to secure private philanthropy aligned with the College's strategic priorities.
• Partner with the President, Board of Trustees, and College Officers to preserve and elevate MCC's positive reputation and prominence in local, state, national, and international contexts.
• Establish and sustain strategic partnerships with key internal and external stakeholders at the local, state, and federal levels that advance MCC's role in workforce development and higher education.
• Position the President and Board of Trustees to influence public policy and legislative outcomes for positive impact on the College in fulfillment of its mission.
• Enhance MCC's visibility and positioning as a leader in regional, statewide, and national workforce competitiveness through coordinated government relations efforts.

MCC Expectations:

• Adheres to the College Code of Conduct.
• Contributes to, supports, and maintains an equitable, inclusive, and collaborative College environment.
• Maintains technological competencies utilized by the College.
• Commits to the philosophy of a comprehensive community college.
• Commits to professional growth. which includes seeking ongoing training in diversity, equity, and inclusion to better serve students.

Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required in Political Science, Public Administration, Public Policy, Communications, Economics, Business Administration, Psychology, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of related work experience in government relations, legislative affairs, public policy, or higher education administration.
• Earned credentials, certifications, and/or progressive work experience in public administration, public policy, political science, or higher education administration.
• Demonstrated work experience in a state educational system, and/or executing governmental relations strategies in coordination with a state educational system (e.g., SUNY or comparable system).
• Progressive work experience and oversight for scope, scale, responsibility, and impact on governmental relations.
• Demonstrated project management expertise and execution leading to desired results.
• Experience developing proposals for and securing grants and other funding sources, independently or in collaboration with others.
• Ability to effectively work independently and with others.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills as an ambassador for the College and its President.
• Demonstrated ability in navigating governmental processes and public policy advocacy at local and state levels.
• Exceptional integrity, judgement, professionalism, and ethical conduct.
• Demonstrated commitment to and alignment with MCC Values.
• Demonstrated work experience with local municipalities, county, and state government agencies.
• Ability to travel, at times with minimal advance notice.
• Flexibility and willingness to work outside of normal business hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Current resident of Monroe County or commitment to relocate to Monroe County within three (3) months of hire date.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in a related field.
• Demonstrated ability in navigating legislative processes and public policy advocacy at the national/Federal level.
• Experience working within SUNY or New York state government structures.
• Knowledge of community college funding models in New York.
• Knowledge of workforce and economic development policy and legislation.
• Experience developing, coordinating, and executing legislative advocacy efforts for a higher education institution.
• Bilingual and able to read, write, and speak Spanish, or other languages, proficiently.

Additional Information:

Salary: Salary is determined based on experience, internal equity, and college budget. This position has a range of $115,000 to $130,000 and is based on these mentioned factors.

MCC offers a Flexible Work Policy for benefit-eligible employees. Types of flexible work arrangements include flextime/staggered shifts, remote work/telecommuting, and compressed work schedules. The availability of flexible work arrangements varies by division, department, and position, based on business and operational needs. Limitations to flexible work arrangements are outlined in the official policy.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions: The physical demands and working conditions described below are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position involves primarily sedentary work, including prolonged periods of computer use and keyboarding. The role requires the ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written form. The position may occasionally involve lifting or moving items up to 10 pounds. Work is performed in a typical office environment with no adverse conditions. Occasional travel between campus buildings or to other local or out-of-town locations for meetings or conferences may be required.

Prohibition of Remote Work Outside New York State : Remote work locations outside New York State are not authorized by the College due to out-of-state tax and regulatory implications. In limited circumstances, prompted by business or operational needs, the College may approve requests to work remotely outside of New York State, on a short-term, temporary basis.


Monroe Community College prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, familial status, gender identity or expression, age, genetic information, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, domestic violence, victim status, criminal conviction, or any other characteristic or status protected by state or federal laws or College policy in admissions, employment, and treatment of students and employees, or in any aspect of the business of the College.

Notice of Non-Discrimination
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Application Instructions:

Interested applicants must apply online and create an account by clicking on the APPLY NOW tab below. Returning applicants may login to their Monroe Community College Careers Account to apply for this position. See the FAQ for guidance on using our online system. Please contact us if you need assistance applying through this website.

Applicants MUST submit the following documents* to be considered for this position:


1. Resume/CV
2. Cover Letter


*Official transcripts will be required upon employment. Applicants with foreign degrees must submit a completed credential evaluation comparing their foreign academic accomplishments to standards in the U.S.

Please note: As part of the application process all applicants will be asked to provide the contact information for 3 professional references. References will only be contacted after interviews have occurred and only for applicants who are considered as finalists for the opportunity they applied to.


For executive-level administrative positions, the College may contact additional references that are in addition to those provided by the candidate during the application process. This process is done to gather a more comprehensive view of qualifications, work ethic and leadership capabilities.