Director of Government Relations

The expected hiring range for this position is:

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such the scope and responsibilities of the position, qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

About the Role:

The Director of Government Relations under general direction, engages with all relevant levels of government (federal, state, regional, local) and industry with an emphasis on building enduring, productive partnerships that support the Laboratory’s mission. Serve as the chief liaison to select government officials, think tanks, D.C.-based science organizations, and government relations staff from universities and industry. Lead engagements, briefings, and outreach with federal and state officials regarding key Lab activities and initiatives. Provide timely advice, information, and analysis to senior lab management from intelligence and resources gathered through regular engagement with external partners and audiences.

What your day-to-day as Director of Government Relations at Fermilab will look like:

• Serve as a strategic advisor within the Laboratory on evolving government landscape.
• Develop and implement tactical outreach strategies to raise awareness of the laboratory’s mission, key initiatives and capabilities with decision makers and key stakeholders in Illinois, South Dakota, and Washington, D.C.
• Provide relevant analysis and perspective on federal budget process and insights into government policy changes and priorities to inform Fermilab’s annual and strategic planning processes.
• Support research communication by translating complex scientific research findings into understandable language for policymakers, highlighting the potential impact of the Laboratory's work on national priorities.
• Provide advice on a broad spectrum of strategically significant and highly complex issues relating to federal, state, and local partnerships and opportunities.
• Track the federal and state legislative and budget process to inform laboratory decision-making and serves as chief liaison for Fermilab’s programs, capabilities, and funding requirements and priorities.
• Prepare briefing materials, analysis of congressional hearings, and presentations to visiting or interested government officials on laboratory mission, activities, and emerging issues.
• Build and maintains strong relationships with stakeholders within the laboratory and external partners across local, state, and federal levels of government.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Abide by and is responsible for performing all duties in accordance with all environmental, health and safety regulations and practices pertinent to this position.

Skills and Attributes for Success:

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, public policy, or other related discipline with 10+ years of experience in public policy, preferably focused at the federal level. Master’s degree and/or experience with science and technology or higher education policy position preferred.

Applicable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Knowledge of federal, state, and local government executive and legislative structures, bodies, and processes, including a demonstrate strong command of the federal and Illinois state legislative and budget process.
• In-depth knowledge of policy issues and a demonstrated ability to analyze and communicate complex science and technology policy matters to elected officials and industry leaders.
• Ability to work collaboratively with the Laboratory’s senior management team
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills for a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to understand and effectively convey the value of science, technology, and research to diverse audiences.
• Proficient in enterprise systems to assist with presentations and communications.

Work Arrangement:
Please note that the described work arrangement is subject to change based on business needs and is not guaranteed to be final.

Onsite: This is an onsite role, and the candidate must be able to work from our Batavia office.

Benefits/Perks:
Fermilab offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program, including:

Medical, Dental, Vision and Flexible Spending Accounts
Paid time off
Life insurance
Short and Long-term disability insurance
Retirement benefits
Onsite day care

Why Fermilab:
Fermilab is America’s premier laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. We support discovery science experiments in Illinois and locations around the world, including deep underground mines in South Dakota and Canada, mountaintops in Arizona and Chile, CERN in Europe and the South Pole.

Drug-Free Workplace & Pre-Employment Screening

Fermilab is dedicated to fostering a safe, productive, and drug-free work environment. As part of the hiring process, candidates must successfully complete a background check and drug screening. Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of these screenings.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Fermilab is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.

REAL-ID Requirement for access to Fermilab Campus
Fermilab requires all members of the public to produce a REAL-ID, or equivalent, to access the Fermilab Campus for interviews or career events. A list of acceptable forms of ID can be found here: https://get-connected.fnal.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/REALID-Documents.pdf. If a candidate is selected for an interview but does not possess any of the equivalent documents, we may schedule a virtual interview.

What To Expect Next:
We’ll be in touch! If your qualifications are in alignment with the position requirements, one of our recruiters will be reaching out to schedule a phone interview to learn more about your career interests and goals. In the meantime, we encourage you to check us out on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, or our About Us page.