Director, State Government Affairs – Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

Ready to advance a growing industry that provides essential digital infrastructure?

The Data Center Coalition (DCC) is the membership association for the data center industry, empowering and championing the data center community through public policy advocacy, thought leadership, stakeholder outreach, and community engagement.

Data centers are the backbone of the modern economy, and our members are investing tens of billions of dollars in capital in new data center facilities across the country to meet unprecedented demand for the digital services that have become increasingly central to Americans’ daily routines and how we live. The way we work, learn, shop, bank, and even access medical care now occurs online. Data centers make this possible by enabling the apps, platforms, and services individuals and organizations of all types increasingly rely on every day to keep us connected in our modern digital lives.

DCC represents and advances the interests of the data center industry by aggregating industry expertise and thought leadership, partnering with policymakers and other collaborators, and supporting communities where data center teams live and work through active engagement.

To learn more, go to http://www.datacentercoalition.org.

About the Role and Opportunity

The Director, State Government Affairs – Northeast and Mid-Atlantic will facilitate DCC’s legislative advocacy efforts across key states and markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic U.S. They will work with DCC’s State Government Affairs Team and DCC members to identify, organize, and build consensus around key policy issues and positions and facilitate development and execution of DCC’s legislative strategy across multiple states. The Director, State Government Affairs will serve as staff leader for designated DCC state policy-focused work groups and initiatives.

The Director, State Government Affairs will build relationships with key stakeholders across multiple markets and engage with state and local policymakers to advocate for DCC’s priorities on issues of importance to the data center industry, including energy, tax and regulatory policy, environmental sustainability, project development, and workforce policy.

The Director, State Government Affairs, will serve as staff leader for DCC state level work groups and initiatives on legislative policy. They will provide written legislative reports and updates, advocate for the organization’s policies and priorities, and ensure that DCC members have awareness of market risks and opportunities.

We are growing and looking for a hard-working and ambitious candidate, willing to help build DCC as we continue to scale our engagement in key markets. This position reports to DCC’s Executive Vice President of State Policy and Government Affairs.

This is a remote position for candidates based in the Mid-Atlantic or Northeast with travel (up to 40%) in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic U.S., particularly during state legislative sessions.

Responsibilities

Lead DCC’s advocacy efforts before state and local policymakers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Lead industry advocacy on-the-ground in assigned state capitols during legislative sessions, including meeting in-person with state lawmakers, testifying at hearings, and coordinating engagement among members and stakeholders.
Engage with DCC members to identify and prioritize issues and engagements.
Research, identify, and track current and emerging policy issues across multiple states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Support Executive Vice President of State Policy and Government Affairs with engaging DCC members to determine industry position, priorities, and risks.
Support Executive Vice President of State Policy and Government Affairs in implementing annual policy strategy.
Synthesize member input and manage work streams to facilitate a strong industry voice on policy matters in designated states and venues.
Coordinate regular briefings and report to members on issues in designated markets.
Manage and develop strategy related to DCC state and local Political Action Committees.
Draft position statements and external-facing documents, prepare slide decks and talking points for internal and external meetings, and manage briefings for members, partners, and external stakeholders.
Build and organize policy-focused coalitions with key stakeholders.
Organize and run DCC policy-focused meetings, work groups, and initiatives, including meeting agenda development and execution.

Basic Qualifications:

A successful candidate will have:

Experience in state policy advocacy, including working directly with state legislatures in one or more Northeastern or Mid-Atlantic states.
Experience managing third-party lobbying consultants to accomplish organizational objectives.
Ability to work closely, in a bipartisan fashion, with state legislators and their senior staff, as well as policymakers in the executive branch of state governments.
Ability to draft legislative comments, provide testimony, and represent DCC with state-level policymakers.
Strong strategic, analytical, and communication skills (oral and written).
Experience in and an understanding of politics, advocacy, and the legislative process, and the ability to quickly learn numerous policy issues.
A member-services mindset and an aptitude for building and maintaining relationships.
The ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team and capable of balancing multiple projects and/or policy issues at a time.
Attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience managing advocacy efforts in multiple state legislatures.
Trade association and/or technology industry experience.
Solid understanding of policies related to data centers, such as energy, tax and regulatory policy, environmental sustainability, project development, and workforce policy.
Experience planning and executing events, such as one-on-one meetings, policy roundtables, and state legislative fly-ins.

Additional Details:

Full-time position with a growing benefits package, which currently includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, life, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 401K matching, and vacation and sick leave that starts accruing on Day 1!
This is a virtual position with the ability to work from a home office. DCC may provide office space at a co-working or shared office facility if preferred.
Travel (up to 40%) may be required, particularly during state legislative sessions.
Must be eligible to work in the United States.
Compensation is negotiable and will be based on your skills and experience. Expected salary range is $150,000-170,000.

We would love to hear from you! Email resume: hiring@datacentercoalition.org to apply.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform crucial job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.