Government Relations Director

Legislative Advocacy & Association Leadership

• Act as the University’s primary Registered Lobbyist, maintaining active engagement in the Ohio Statehouse and with federal agencies.
• Serve as the principal liaison to key advocacy organizations, including the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) Government Relations Network and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio (AICUO).
• Represent the university officially on political and public-policy issues to external stakeholders and news sources.
• Coordinate and promote the university’s legislative agenda through direct communication with internal and external partners.

Community Affairs & Stakeholder Engagement

• Direct the university’s community-engaged roles and cultivate relationships with civic leaders in the city, region, and state.
• Identify, plan, and lead community engagement projects that align with the university’s strategic goals.
• Support institutional advancement by leveraging political and community connections for fundraising and partnership opportunities.

Institutional Impact Measurement & Reporting

• Design and execute a data-driven framework to quantify the university’s socio-economic and educational impact within the Greater Cincinnati region and the State of Ohio.
• Author the Annual Xavier Impact Report, a high-profile publication detailing the university's economic contributions, volunteerism, research impact, and regional partnership outcomes.

Administrative & Division Leadership

• Manage the administrative operations of the GCR office, including website maintenance and program coordination.
• Supervise student workers or interns in the administration of political engagement activities.

Requirements & Skills

Education & Experience

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Required: 1–3 years of experience in government relations, public policy, or a related field.
• Preferred: Master’s degree or higher (with an expectation of completion within two years of hire).

Core Skills

• Analytical: Advanced ability to reformulate complex problems and recognize the implications of legislative decisions.
• Communication: Highly proficient written and oral communication skills; ability to negotiate and facilitate collaboration at the highest level.
• Lobbying & Negotiation: Demonstrated ability to resolve conflict and collaborate on major projects with political leaders.
• Project Management: Proven ability to manage project schedules, accountabilities, and deadlines independently.
• Technical: Intermediate proficiency in spreadsheet analysis models and database/website maintenance.

Independence and Decision Making

• Independence: The incumbent sets own goals and determines how to accomplish results with few guidelines; the supervisor provides broad direction.

Decision Making: Decisions have significant implications for the management and operations of the division and contribute to the overall strategy of the entire organization.

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Benefits - applies only to full-time positions:

Xavier University offers a wide array of complementary and affordable benefit options to meet the financial, educational, health, and wellness needs of you and your family. Eligibility varies by position and employment class:

• Comprehensive insurance plans including medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage.

• Tax advantaged accounts including health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, and dependent care account.

• Financial security via life and long-term disability insurance, accident and illness insurance, and retirement savings plans.

• Generous paid time off work options including vacation, sick leave and holidays.

• Tuition remission for employees and their eligible dependents.