Government Affairs Director

Brief Description

Responsible for representing SME in federal and state legislative and regulatory matters while communicating the organization’s interest and ability to provide expertise on workforce talent development and the role of technology in manufacturing to lawmakers to support national agendas. This role develops and executes advocacy strategies, cultivates strategic relationships with policymakers, influencers, and coalitions, and creates opportunities for SME to shape industry conversations through policy briefs, public commentary, and speaking engagements. Additionally, this position serves as a lead in proactively identifying, evaluating, and positioning SME to successfully pursue federal and state funding opportunities.

Internally, this individual builds the systems and processes that enable organization-wide alignment on policy priorities and funding opportunities. This includes establishing work groups, facilitating cross-departmental collaboration, and working closely with executive leadership to ensure unified positions and coordinated action. By mapping federal and state funding priorities to SME’s capabilities, this role helps identify, evaluate and position the organization to pursue appropriate funding opportunities. This role will bridge SME’s internal expertise with external needs, to ensure that the organization’s insights and funding engagement is strategic, credible, and impactful while also producing results.

MAJOR FUNCTIONS:

• Conceive, refine and execute integrated legislative strategies at the federal and state levels aligned with the organization’s strategic goals of providing insights and expertise on relevant topics while also tracking government funding flows and aligning them with SME’s capabilities.
• Build internal systems and processes that facilitate cross-departmental collaboration and internal stakeholder consensus-building.
• Work directly with executive leadership to ensure advocacy strategies and funding agenda align with organizational priorities.
• Establish and facilitate internal work groups or task forces that draw on SME’s expertise and internal knowledge base to evaluate issues, develop positions, and recommend coordinated actions.
• Impact SME positioning by coordinating internal and external discussions and providing strategic recommendations that facilitate decision-making in a dynamic environment; ensure SME’s positions are informed by evidence, aligned across the organization, and compellingly communicated in external policy conversations.
• Advance SME goals by organizing and initiating organization’s representation before Congress, state legislatures, federal and state agencies and key stakeholders.
• Manage outside consultancy and resources to ensure operation within scope, budget and time dimensions.
• Facilitate organization-wide input into legislative strategies, initiatives and funding efforts through informal committees, advisory groups, and collaboratively created structured consultation processes.
• Support the appropriate information flow among full leadership and full staff.
• Monitor legislative developments, analyze potential impacts and opportunities, and communicate timely updates to appropriate stakeholders.
• Translate complex technical or regulatory information into concise, actionable advocacy materials and funding opportunity briefs for both internal and external audiences.
• Identify and evaluate federal and state grant, contract, and partnership opportunities that align with SME’s expertise; advise leadership on prioritization and coordinate with program leads on pursuit strategies.
• Draft policy briefs for federal and state initiatives.
• Contribute to the development of white papers, reports and public commentary that highlight SME’s expertise and elevates its profile.
• Build and maintain relationships with partner organizations, industry associations, and coalitions to advance shared positioning objectives.
• Coordinate outreach efforts with allied organizations at national and state levels to build broad-based initiative support.
• Represent SME in coalition meetings, ensuring positions are effectively communicated and supported by strategic allies.
• Engage with state-based associations and advocacy networks to strengthen influence in priority states.
• Create persuasive written materials that support interactions with policymakers and influencers. These materials include position papers, fact sheets, testimony, and correspondence.
• Represent SME at key meetings, briefings, and public forums where key, relevant, industry discussions are occurring concerning federal and state policy issues.
• Track, monitor, and report on legislative and regulatory developments, ensuring findings are factored into SME decision-making processes and outcomes.
• Serve as a general liaison and project catalyst among internal teams and executive leadership to ensure coordinated action, consistent messaging, and strategic pursuit of funding opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Requirements

MINIMUM EDUCATION, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree required; degree in political science, public policy, law, or related field preferred
• At least 8 years’ experience in government relations or policy advocacy at the federal and state level with demonstrated experience identifying, analyzing, or pursuing government funding opportunities including grants, contracts, appropriations and other mechanisms.
• Proven experience designing and implementing internal processes for decision-making and consensus-building.
• Strong understanding of legislative and regulatory processes at both federal and state levels and of federal and state funding mechanisms with a focus on workforce development and manufacturing ecosystems.
• Ability to work effectively with executive leadership.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills with policymakers, coalitions, and grassroots stakeholders.
• Excellent writing and communication skills with the ability to simplify complex topics for diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with demonstrated political judgment and organizational acumen.
• Ability to manage outside consultants/resources with confidence and assertiveness.
• Ability to regularly think outside the given parameters to determine a more effective way to accomplish a task than the incumbent method.
• Appetite for creating effective and flexible structure with an eye toward results.
• Project management skills.
• An acumen and sensitivity to handling confidential information, an ability to maintain confidences and generate trust.
  
  

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Government & Regulatory Acumen
• Government Funding Strategy & Alignment
• Policy Analysis & Strategic Insight
• External Relationship Management
• Influence Without Authority
• Executive-Level Communication
• Collaboration Across Functions
• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
• Internal Stakeholder & Executive Alignment
  
  

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Normal office environment
• Regular, in-person attendance
• Primary office location: Southfield, MI
• Travel required (up to 25%)
  
  

Summary

POSITION TITLE: Government Affairs Director

GROUP: External Affairs

FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

SME is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applicants must live in the United States and legally be authorized to work there without sponsorship.

The salary range for this position is $120,000 - $150,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications. Offers typically fall within this range based on individual qualifications and budget availability. In addition to base salary, SME offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 403(b) with company matching, generous paid time off and holidays, professional development and training opportunities, and additional wellness and work-life balance benefits. Certain positions may also be eligible for bonus/incentive compensation, subject to role and company policies.