Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

The Government Relations Specialist serves as a liaison between the university and local, state, and federal government entities; advocates for the mission and priorities of the University through the development of strategic relationships with government officials, agencies, and policymakers; monitors legislative developments in order to determine impact to the University; initiates action committees, briefings, and panels to ensure University relevance and impact in the political sphere; works collaboratively across academic and administrative departments to ensure that the university's interests are effectively represented in the public policy arena.

• Foster partnerships with government officials and policymakers to advocate for the interests of the University; represent the organization with federal, state, and local agencies; establish strategic relationships that strengthen legislative influence
• Monitor, analyze, and interpret legislation, proposals, policies, emerging issues, and regulations; determine impact to the university; present updates and recommendations to leadership
• Influence government policy and legislative direction to advance University goals related to research, education, and service
• Develop and execute initiatives, action committees, panels, and outreach events
• Assist in the development and execution of advocacy strategies, including preparation of briefing materials, fact sheets, policy statements, talking points, and presentations; draft reports, memos, and correspondence to policymakers and stakeholders
• Engage advocacy groups and community-based organizations that have complementary objectives in order to gain stakeholder interest, government support, and enhance organizational goals
• Identify and pursue grant opportunities that align with the university's mission and strategic strengths
• Collaborate with university leadership to uncover and develop parallel funding opportunities that complement institutional goals
• Coordinate campus visits and events involving public officials, including town halls, roundtables, and recognition ceremonies
• Represent the university in external coalitions, higher education associations, and regional government affairs networks
• Ensure compliance with lobbying disclosure and reporting requirements at the federal and state levels

Level:

– Principal Professional

Base Description:

– Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Displays mastery of defined skill areas/applications, principles, theories and practices. Evaluates and enhances existing practices. Recognizes emerging trends in area of expertise. Works independently on complex or strategic assignments. Directs and delegates appropriate tasks to others. Implements strategies to ensure achievement of initiatives. Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and deliver to broad audiences. Identifies and implements innovative solutions to important, highly complex strategic and/or operational issues.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Indirect supervisor for other full–time employees
– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers, volunteers, or a full–time employee

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– Validates and pays invoices
– Monitors and tracks budgets and funding
– May plan and forecast budgets

Problem Solving:

– Encounters complex and novel problems
– Applies policies, practices, specialized knowledge, and skills to resolve problems
– Understands benefits, limitations, and impact of potential solutions
– Anticipates potential problems and recommends possible solutions within general guidelines

Independence of Action:

– Works independently on complex or strategic assignments
– Uses existing practices as guidelines as well as working knowledge to determine specific work methods
– Carries out work activities independently, with supervisor available to resolve problems
– Reviews work of others to verify technical soundness

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates with both internal and external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members and area leads across the University
– Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and delivers to a broad variety of audiences
– Establishes and maintains networks to facilitate successful communication among units

• Comp Grade – 15
• Minimum – $109,300.00
• MidPoint – $136,600.00
• Maximum – $164,000.00

• Compliance
• Document management
• Financial analysis
• Grant writing
• Legal research
• Negotiation
• Policy analysis
• Research administration
• Stakeholder engagement