Now Hiring - Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce - Management And Consulting Director of Business Advocacy & Community Development in Eugene, OR

Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce

Position: Director of Business Advocacy & Community Development

Reports to: President & CEO

Status: Full time exempt

Salary Range: $65-70K, DOE

Benefits:100% Employer-paid health insurance, short and long-term disability, life insurance, paid holidays, vacation, maternity leave and sick leave, eligible for 401K employer contribution after 6 months

Organization Overview: The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce is a catalytic leader helping to champion a positive future for our community. The Chamber encourages collaboration, and drives growth and leadership that develop our regional economy and improve life for everyone in our community. As a 1200-member organization, we work to build leaders, engage members on important issues, and provide a platform through which the chamber and its members advocate for solutions that move our community forward.

Position Overview: The Director of Business Advocacy leads the Chamber’s public policy and advocacy efforts, which include staff support for the Local Governmental Affairs Council and the Board of Directors in the arena of public policy. Additionally, this individual will monitor legislative activities by various units of government, oversee policy research, lobby on behalf of the organization, and help develop and manage issues campaigns.

Responsibilities:

Business Advocacy

• Responsible for the development and implementation of effective issues campaigns on behalf of the business community and chamber membership. This includes strategy development, communication planning & writing, volunteer outreach and management, and government and elected official relations.
• Responsible for scheduling and managing the Local Government Affairs Council as a strong, engaged, action-oriented volunteer component of the Chamber’s advocacy efforts.
• Responsible for representing the Chamber on committees undertaking policy work and attending a variety of public meetings. This may require early morning or evening meetings.
• Regularly monitors City, County and State issues to ensure that the Chamber is engaged on issues impacting business and the local community.
• Manage and oversee the Government & Community Relations Manager role.

Community Leadership Development

• Oversee the development and execution of a formal strategy to encourage business-friendly individuals to run for elected office and apply for boards & commissions.
• Oversee the Government & Community Relations Manager’s execution of the joint Leadership Eugene/Springfield program that is developed and produced in partnership with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

Communication

• Lead efforts to proactively communicate to members, and the larger business community, about the critical issues that impact business and the actions the Chamber has taken.
• Consult and assist with content development for Chamber publications and online communications strategies.
• Connect on a regular basis with elected and appointed officials, as well as key stakeholders, to communicate the positions and initiatives of the Chamber.
• Write and deliver testimony to elected bodies and public presentations on issues relevant to the Chamber and business community.
• Serve as a member of the staff leadership team and collaborate with fellow leadership team members to best support the organization, its team, and growth.

Miscellaneous

• Assist, when needed, in sponsor recruitment, event execution, member outreach, and membership sales to ensure annual revenue goals are met.
• Other duties as assigned by the President or COO.

Experience & Skills Desired:

• Advanced education and/or broad experience in public policy or government relations
• Established relationships with local elected officials and/or community stakeholders
• Ability to clearly and objectively articulate the aims and activities of the Chamber in spoken and written forms of communication
• Research skills and experience developing policy proposals and/or issue campaigns
• Attention to detail, hyper-organized and able to multitask
• Ability to interact effectively with diverse groups of people and organizations
• Strong time management skills to balance new tasks and routine workload
• Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills and creative ideas
• Knowledge of database management or aptitude to quickly learn systems
• Willingness to maintain flexible hours, both early morning and evening, to assist at special events and ensure Chamber duties are completed to satisfaction
• Proficient in Microsoft and/or Google software
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment under minimal supervision while coordinating multiple projects

The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce is an equal opportunity employer. We are striving to create a diverse workforce and prioritize making sure all employees feel safe and welcome. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications.