Salary: $129,439.00 - $184,451.00 Annually
Location : Carbondale, Illinois
Job Type: Administrative Professional
Job Number:Department: Office Of The Chancellor-SIUC
Opening Date: 10/23/2026
Closing Date: 11/2/2026 11:59 PM Central
FLSA:: Exempt
Security/Safety Sensitive:: Security sensitive (subject to pre-employment criminal background investigation)
FTE: 1.0
Description Director of Government and Community Relations will be responsible for developing and maintaining strong, purposeful relationships with external stakeholders, including municipal, county, and state-level community-based organizations, community partners, school districts, and elected officials. Incumbent must reside in the Southern Illinois Region.
Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.
Examples of Duties - Serve as the Chancellor's Office main representative to elected officials, community organizations, and civic leaders across the municipal, county, state, and federal levels.
- Strengthen ties with key stakeholders and agencies to advance SIUC's priorities and long-term goals.
- Educate decision-makers and community partners about the issues that matter most to SIUC - from higher ed access to regional development; work closely with other university leaders to align strategy with relationships.
- Promote the mission, vision, and strategic initiatives of SIUC with authenticity, and enthusiasm.
- Will coordinate with the SIU System Office of Governmental and Public Affairs.
QualificationsMinimum Qualifications:- Master's degree in business, public administration, political science, higher education, or other degree related to the position
- A minimum of 5 years of experience in government relations, public affairs, or a related field, preferably in higher education
- Proven experience building and maintaining relationships with government officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders -Demonstrated knowledge of legislative processes and policy development at local, state, and federal levels
- Excellent critical thinking, organizational, multitasking and communication skills
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Must be able to exercise diplomacy with grace and professional dignity
- Ability to work in high pressure, high stakes, fast-paced environment while maintaining a high level of professionalism
- Ability to follow-through and follow-up to ensure the completion of critical tasks
- Commitment to preparation and the idea of being prepared
- Experience managing multiple high-level, high-stake tasks simultaneously
Preferred Qualifications:- Proven experience building and maintaining relationships with government officials
- Demonstrated knowledge of legislative processes and policy development at local, state, and federal levels
Required Documents: Please submit a letter of application, CV/resume, and three references.
Contact: Jodi Boese,
Supplemental InformationOffice of the Chancellor
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is an R1 Opportunity University with a statewide economic impact of $2.7 billion dollars. We offer 200+ undergraduate degrees, minors and specializations, 79 master's degrees, and 40 doctoral degrees. Our main campus is 1,136 acres, with additional acreage in University Farms, Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, and other facilities. The university is an essential part of the city of Carbondale and an important contributor to the culture of the entire region. While Carbondale includes many of the amenities of urban life, it retains its small-town flavor. Cost of living is considerably lower in the region than similar areas elsewhere, and many employees commute from nearby counties.
The Southern Illinois region is distinct from the rest of the state, boasting considerable natural beauty including the Shawnee National Forest, many state parks, national wildlife areas, and several lakes beloved for recreation. Local foods are readily available in the area, with a variety of eateries and a growing specialized food truck presence. The area is home to the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, an official wine appellation designation. The wineries extend the cultural reach of the community, hosting live music and continual art exhibits. The campus itself is a microcosm of the area, with a lake and forest on campus, as well as traditional collegiate architecture, quad, and residential halls. Students enjoy outdoor study areas as well as specialized computer labs scattered across campus, including in the three million volume Morris Library. To learn about , , and find resources about Carbondale and the Southern Illinois region, visit:
