Job Description

Director, Government Relations

The Illinois Bankers Association (IBA) is seeking an experienced and relationship-driven Director, Government Relations to join our Government Relations team and help advance the priorities of the Illinois banking industry.

The Director, Government Relations plays an important role in advancing IBA's approved legislative, regulatory, and public policy priorities. Reporting to the Chief Policy Officer, this position leads day-to-day advocacy efforts on assigned issues and portfolios, develops relationships with policymakers and other key stakeholders, and serves as a representative of IBA and the banking industry.

This is an opportunity for a skilled government relations professional to make a meaningful impact through advocacy, policy analysis, coalition engagement, grassroots activity, and member relations. The successful candidate will be comfortable working independently within established advocacy positions while keeping leadership informed of significant developments and emerging issues.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead Government Relations & Advocacy
• Lead day-to-day advocacy on legislative, regulatory, geographic, relationship, or issue portfolios assigned by the Chief Policy Officer.
• Lead day-to-day Illinois General Assembly, Chicago, Cook County, or other local government engagement when assigned.
• Represent IBA in meetings, negotiations, hearings, regulatory proceedings, coalition discussions, and other advocacy forums.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with legislators, congressional offices, executive branch officials, regulators, local officials, legislative and committee staff, coalition partners, and industry stakeholders.
• Advance approved IBA priorities before the Illinois General Assembly, state and federal agencies, the Illinois congressional delegation, and relevant local governments.
• Participate in key IBA advocacy events, including Washington Visit, Springfield Lobby Day or Economic Investment Day, Let's Talk Banking meetings, hearings, briefings, and conferences.

Analyze Policy & Legislative Developments

• Monitor and analyze legislation, regulations, administrative actions, policy proposals, hearings, and emerging issues.
• Evaluate potential operational, financial, competitive, legal, and member impacts in collaboration with IBA leadership, legal counsel, member bankers, and subject matter experts.
• Prepare testimony, comment letters, issue briefs, talking points, correspondence, presentations, and other advocacy materials.
• Identify emerging opportunities and threats and provide timely recommendations to the Chief Policy Officer.
• Translate complex legislative and regulatory issues into clear implications, recommendations, and messages for members and leadership.

Engage Members & Build Grassroots Advocacy

• Develop policy content, target audiences, recommended actions, and follow-up plans for assigned grassroots campaigns.
• Engage bankers whose relationships, expertise, and community perspectives can strengthen IBA's advocacy efforts.
• Brief members for policymaker meetings, hearings, testimony, action alerts, and other advocacy activities.
• Respond to member inquiries on assigned policy matters and elevate legal, strategic, or politically sensitive matters as appropriate.
• Work with the PAC and Grassroots Coordinator to execute approved advocacy communications and evaluate campaign response.

Support Leadership, Committees & Communications

• Prepare analysis, recommendations, presentations, and reports for the Government Relations Committee, Executive Committee, Board of Directors, PAC Board, and other groups.
• Collaborate with Communications staff on advocacy-related press statements, editorials, issue briefs, member alerts, social media content, and media materials.
• Serve as an IBA spokesperson on assigned public policy matters when authorized.
• Monitor media and public discussion surrounding assigned issues and identify emerging communications needs or reputational risks.

Manage Priorities & Collaborate Across IBA

• Develop work plans and measurable objectives for assigned priorities and provide concise progress, outcome, and risk reporting.
• Maintain accurate policy files, relationship notes, testimony, correspondence, coalition records, and other work product.
• Lead cross-functional projects and coordinate event or campaign work and outside resources as assigned.
• Collaborate with colleagues across IBA departments and provide functional guidance on assigned initiatives.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in government, political science, public policy, law, communications, business, or a related field.
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in government relations, legislative affairs, public policy, advocacy, regulatory affairs, or a related field.
• Experience working with legislative or regulatory processes and developing relationships with elected officials, government agencies, policymakers, coalitions, or other external stakeholders.
• Strong policy analysis, advocacy, negotiation, writing, public speaking, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to translate complex legislation and regulations into clear implications, recommendations, messages, and actions.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple time-sensitive priorities, and appropriately escalate significant issues.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion with sensitive member, political, regulatory, and strategic information.
• Ability to travel throughout Illinois and periodically to Washington, D.C., and other locations.
• Willingness to attend evening, early-morning, overnight, and occasional weekend meetings and events.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Illinois government relations experience.
• Financial services or banking industry knowledge.
• Advanced degree in a relevant field.

Pay range: $100,000-$150,000 annually with a generous benefits package that includes employee health insurance, life insurance, and LTD paid by employer; dental, STD and vision offered; 401(k) with match; FSA available; PTO and paid holidays.

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