Roundtable seeks applications for vice president position     

November 14, 2011

Submit resumes to contact@waroundtable.com

The Organization:

The Washington Roundtable is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization comprised of senior executives from large Washington state companies.  Since 1983, the Roundtable has worked to create positive change on critical policy issues that foster economic growth, generate jobs and improve quality of life for Washingtonians.  The Roundtable determines its involvement in issues carefully, choosing to concentrate its resources and influence where it can contribute most effectively to positive, long-term public policy results.

In recent years, the Roundtable has been at the forefront of issues such as K-12 reform, funding critical infrastructure investments, funding higher education and advocating for sound state fiscal practices. Roundtable members have been active participants on numerous policy boards including the Global Competitiveness Council, Washington Learns, the Regional Transportation Commission and the Higher Education Task Force. The organization has also played a lead role in a number of ballot campaigns, including “No on I-912” in 2005, “No on 1098” in 2010 and “No on 1125” in 2011. 

The Position:

This position reports to the Roundtable president, and is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to successfully advocate for Roundtable priority issues in a flexible, team-oriented environment.  Specific responsibilities include:

• Government Relations:  Develop and implement the Roundtable’s advocacy strategy in coordination with government affairs contractors and Roundtable member company lobbyists.  Collaborate with communications staff and contractors on aligned advocacy and communications strategy.
• Roundtable member relations and coordination: Build strong working relationships with Roundtable members, particularly deputies, lobbyists and government relations representatives.  Drive collaboration and outreach, including facilitating status and strategy meetings, managing formal coordination processes, and aligning advocacy efforts with communications.
• Liaison with Other Organizations:  Act as a liaison with other organizations of importance to the Roundtable, including the Association of Washington Business, Washington Research Council, Partnership for Learning and Enterprise Washington.
• Policy Development and Analysis:  Analyze policy options, develop draft positions and coordinate the organization’s approval process in conjunction with Roundtable president.
• Committee Staffing:  Staff Roundtable committees and associated working committees. Also staff Roundtable members who serve on boards and commissions related to Roundtable priority issues.
• Support to the President:  Provide counsel to the Roundtable president and complete special projects or other duties assigned by the president.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have at least eight years of experience in positions of increasing responsibility in public affairs/government relations. In addition, s/he will have:

• Excellent political instincts and understanding of public policy, with specific experience in Washington state.
• Ability to network, nurture relationships and develop consensus with varied audiences including policymakers, key stakeholders and partner organizations.
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively with CEO-level business executives and Washington state opinion leaders.
• Familiarity with key Washington state issues, with a special understanding of their business implications.
• Superior writing, editing, speaking and presentation skills.
• Organizational skills necessary to successfully prioritize, coordinate, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Campaign and / or grassroots communications experience a plus.

Compensation and Benefits:

The total compensation package for the vice president is excellent.  Its details will depend on the background and experience of the candidate.

To Apply:

Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest and resume to contact@waroundtable.com.