Position Summary:The Assistant Vice President, State Government Relations (Western Region) role serves as APCIA's advocate and strategist for state government relations, leading legislative, regulatory, political, and public policy efforts on behalf of the property and casualty insurance industry in assigned states in the western region. The position develops and executes state and regional advocacy strategies, represents member companies before lawmakers and regulators, negotiates policy outcomes, and provides executive-level counsel on emerging political and regulatory risks and opportunities. It also builds coalitions and stakeholder relationships, aligns diverse member interests into unified policy positions, and directs grassroots, political, and communications campaigns to advance APCIA's objectives. In addition, the role oversees external advocacy resources, ensures compliance with lobbying and ethics requirements, and manages budgets.
Principal Responsibilities:- Identifies legislative and regulatory issues that affect the business of property and casualty insurance and communicates regularly with APCIA members and other affected APCIA staff regarding legislative and regulatory activity.
- Leads APCIA policy managers, APCIA public affairs and APCIA members to develop strategies and tactics for dealing with state issues.
- Develops working relationships with APCIA members, legislators (and their staff), regulators (and their staff) and other industry lobbyists.
- Drafts and provides testimony and written comments in support of APCIA's position on pending legislation and regulations.
- Manages APCIA's retained lobbyists in each state.
- Comprehends sound fiscal, political and management judgment and instincts and displays such judgment in day-to-day activities/efforts.
Additional Responsibilities:- Establishes and maintains relationships with the news media and serves as spokesperson for association to external audiences.
- Engages, as appropriate, in direct lobbying.
- Forms or participates in coalitions designed to further APCIA's public policy position(s).
- Identifies key political races and strategically participates as appropriate.
- Interacts with other trade associations and unaffiliated companies, and remains aware of their activities.
- Welcomes role of leadership-internally, with home office and fellow regional team members (support, public affairs); and externally with member companies, coalition partners and elected officials.
- Focuses on key issues and communications.
- Prepares annual operating budgets, as well as budgets for corporate and individual political contributions and manages such budgets.
- Provides prompt response/service, complete answers/information and accurate information to membership.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:Educational Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Business Administration or related field.
Experience:- Minimum 5 years experience in state legislative, regulatory and/or government relations' matters, including direct lobbying; insurance knowledge desired.
- Strong familiarity with government processes, specifically in the legislative branch and in the executive branch or an agency responsible for insurance regulation.
- Excellent written/oral communication skills--ability to communicate clearly on legislative, regulatory and substantive issues to multifaceted audiences.
- Ability to multi-task.
- Self-starter with strong initiative and follow-through.
- Command of insurance issues.
- Travel as required.
