Government Affairs Associate
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, United States
Job Description
The Government Affairs Associate will support MassTech’s public policy function by providing information about MassTech’s programs and funding to policymakers and their staff through individual legislative engagement and events. They will track and analyze legislation; prioritize legislative and policy matters for MassTech’s attention; and identify emerging legislative priorities at both the state and federal level. The Government Affairs Associate must be able to translate and communicate legislation and initiatives clearly and succinctly in writing and verbally to MassTech staff, state and federal Legislators and their staff, and the Governor’s administration.
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. External: Maintain a positive and mutually beneficial work relationship with the Legislature, the Administration, and various state agencies.
- Utilize existing relationships and develop new ones to proactively reach out to legislative staff for briefings on MassTech programs and priorities.
- Review all relevant state and federal legislation filed, and track legislation pertaining to MassTech and its various initiatives.
- Track the release of relevant state and federal regulations and policies.
- Work with the Legislature on constituent matters, as requested.
- Work with key parties during state budgetary process to promote MassTech initiatives and serve as a resource for policymakers.
- Assist with preparation of written testimony and scripts for oral testimony for MassTech leadership on legislation.
- Work with MassTech Communications Team on events where state and federal legislators are invited
- Represent agency at meetings, conferences, and other forums to promote and explain agency objectives to state government and other interested parties.
- Work with executive government agencies to answer questions about MassTech priorities and initiatives.
- Coordinate with industry stakeholders to provide programming for the Legislature’s TechHub Caucus.
2. Internal: Keep MassTech's staff informed of relevant legislative and policy initiatives.
- Set the agenda and provide support for bi-weekly Government Relations Meeting with MassTech leadership.
- Provide ongoing state government updates to MassTech leadership.
- Brief staff on relevant changes to legislation, the state budget, and regulations, as needed.
- Communicate matters in an accurate and timely manner.
3. Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the MassTech Executive Director
Requirements
Education
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in technology, economics, government, public administration, political science, or related field.
Experience
- 2-4 years of experience in positions of increasing responsibility involving public policy issues, with significant exposure to Massachusetts state government, and the state legislative and budget process.
- Experience working in the Massachusetts House or Senate preferred
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Established working relationships with key legislative state government stakeholders with a thorough understanding of the legislative and state budgetary process
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively to cultivate relationships with internal and external constituencies, stakeholders, state organizations and special interest groups
- Demonstrated ability to understand complex public policy issues and the ability to communicate these issues orally or in writing. Knowledge of public policy issues related to the tech sector and/or economic development, preferred
- Demonstrated organizational skills
- Demonstrated ability to implement short and long-range goals
- Demonstrated ability to take direction and work independently and manage multiple priorities effectively
- Ability to write proposals and make strong oral presentations in one on one meeting or in group settings. Precise and succinct written documents, well presented, under difficult time constraints.