Government Relations and Engagement Liaison

Government Relations & Engagement Liaison

Job Summary:

The Government Relations & Engagement Liaison is responsible for developing relationships to leverage resources and significantly increase our organization's scale and long-term sustainability. This position will work closely with stakeholders such as the Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Cook County and the City of Chicago to foster strong partnerships with both public and private sectors. The role of government relations and engagement is vital in promoting the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (The Partnership) to new and current partners, contributing to our growth, program development, and overall success through collaboration with internal and external partners.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as an ambassador for the organization to share its vision with the key internal and external partners.

• Develop and execute strategies that positively impact the community through the Partnership’s programs and initiatives.

• Meet regularly with government stakeholders and serve as the primary point of contact and liaison for the Partnership's portfolio of partners.

• Develop systems and procedures to identify, engage, and develop strategic partnerships.

• Develop and implement a partnership strategy to increase the reach and impact of our ongoing efforts in advancing the Partnership's focus areas.

• Establish, coordinate, maintain, and nurture relationships with key individuals, organizations, and neighboring businesses at a local, regional, and national level and leverage those relationships to a more significant collective impact.

• Develop and implement strategies with the leadership team to build cross-functional relationships and maintain programs that positively impact the community.

• Attend relevant events to represent the organization

• Respond to inquiries from potential and current partners.

• Ensure effective communication between internal teams and external partners.

• Develop and manage partner agreements.

• Provide timely and accurate reporting of pipelines, strategic partnerships, and activities.

Required Skills:

• Possess strong public relations experience with the ability to cultivate and manage key relationships/stakeholders, as well as to lead and facilitate group processes.
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills, which includes public speaking.
• Strong ability to effectively build a logical approach to address problems or opportunities; independently manages those situations to create solutions that benefit the community and the Partnership.
• High level of professional and ethical judgment.
• Knowledge and demonstrated use of principles and practice of management including areas of program planning and evaluation, and grant management.
• Experience with diverse communities focusing on racial equity and keenly sensitive to the use of culturally appropriate messaging.

Education and Experience:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Public Relations, Community Development, or a related field

• Minimum of 3 years of community engagement and workforce development experience

• Minimum of 5 years of related experience in program development, grant funding life cycles, and program outcome data analysis within nonprofit or philanthropic sectors

Physical Requirements:

• Frequently required to stand, walk, and sit.
• Frequently required to utilize hand and finger dexterity using a keyboard.
• Frequently required to talk or hear.
• Occasionally required to lift/push/carry items up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to travel to various Partnership network sub-grantees, partners, funders, and other stakeholders within the Cook County area and may need to travel nationally on occasion.