Public Affairs Manager

The Boston Foundation

Job Description

The Boston Foundation believes that one of the great strengths of the Greater Boston community is the rich diversity of its residents in race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age and physical abilities. The Foundation seeks to enhance and support that diversity, not only by its grant making, but also by adopting and implementing employment policies and practices designed to recognize and respond to such diversity.
 
The Boston Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experience.
 
All applications should be submitted online. Go to https://www.tbf.org/who-we-are/careers and select “Public Affairs Manager” to complete our online application process.
 
Job Description
 
Title: Public Affairs Manager
Department: Communications
Reports To: Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs
FLSA Classification:Exempt   FTE: 1
Supervises: None
 
Position Summary:
Work with Vice President and staff to develop and implement public policy strategies & goals of the Foundation; to oversee government relations activities; to craft and pursue range of public affairs strategies and activities, including writing and editing research reports and planning public forums; and to interact with civic, community and public sector leaders.     
 
Essential Functions:
  • Help to identify and prioritize public policy goals that flow from TBF’s strategic priorities;
  • Serve as TBF contact with state and federal government, and a regular contact with city government in conjunction with colleagues;
  • Build proactive relationships with federal, state, and local officials and develop and implement annual public affairs outreach and briefing plans; 
  • Identify, track, and monitor the movement of key legislation and policy proposals;
  • Serve as one of TBF’s primary registered lobbyists and ensure TBF is properly registered and reports its lobbying activities with the state in a timely and accurate manner in conformance with the law;
  • Staff action-oriented task forces and coalitions of cross-sector leaders to create public policy action agenda informed by TBF research; 
  • Work within TBF’s programs and initiatives as the policy liaison; and
  • With the VP, lead the Foundation’s advocacy agenda.
 
 
Other Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Individuals assigned to this position may perform other duties as assigned.
 

Qualifications
Preparation, Knowledge, Previous Experience:
 
  • Bachelor's or Associate’s degree, or equivalent experience; and
  • 2 to 5 years’ experience working with government, preferably at the state and local level, either directly in government or as a lobbyist or public affairs practitioner.
 
Skills, Abilities, Competencies:
  • Superior relationship and networking skills, ability to work as part of a team, and serve as a team leader; 
  • Excellent knowledge of public policy issues and project management skills;
  • Ability to work under the pressure of tight deadlines and manage own workload;
  • Ability to shift gears seamlessly and be able and know when to represent the Foundation and when to defer to President and VP;
  • Ability to steward key relationships and partnerships with elected officials, staffers, partners, and nonprofit leaders;
  • Ability to build consensus around a legislative issue including contributing to various coalitions and working groups;
  • Ability to serve as policy expert for entire organization, ready to present at any time with an appreciation of broad agenda and multiple stakeholders typical of a community foundation;
  • Sense of humor;  
  • Knowledge of the Massachusetts State House workings preferred; and
  • Connections to key partners in the non-profit sector a plus.
 
Working Conditions & Physical Demands:
  • Ability to work at workstation for long periods of time;
  • Ability to use a computer keyboard for extended periods of time; 
  • Ability to commute to the Massachusetts State House in person; and
  • Ability to work remotely and onsite as required.
 
 
 
The content is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by persons assigned to this job.  It is not intended to constitute an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.
 
External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents, who are or become disabled as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act or applicable state law, must be able to perform the essential functions of the job (including those listed above) either with or without reasonable accommodation.  Reasonable accommodation, if any, will be determined by management in consultation with the employee on a case-by-case basis.
 
This job description is intended to be general and may be revised from time to time.  At management’s discretion, the employee may be assigned different or additional duties from time to time.