Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs

Position Summary

The Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs serves as the architect and steward of the company's external reputation, strategic narrative, and public policy agenda. Reporting directly to the CEO, this executive will lead the development and execution of an integrated corporate affairs strategy spanning external communications, public relations, government affairs, public policy, coalition building, and community engagement.

This leader will help redefine and strengthen the company's brand, enhance trust among key stakeholders, shape public discourse around the company's role in government services, and advance legislative and regulatory priorities that support and ignite growth and mission success.

As a key advisor to the CEO and other senior leaders, the SVP, Corporate Affairs will anticipate and navigate emerging political, regulatory, and reputational risks; educate and shape policy making; coordinate with industry and community stakeholders; and ensure the company maintains a strong, credible, and differentiated position with customers, investors, employees, government leaders, and the communities it serves.

Key Responsibilities

Corporate Reputation and Strategic Narrative

• Develop and execute a comprehensive corporate affairs strategy that strengthens and protects the company's reputation.
• Lead the development of the company's strategic narrative, clearly articulating its mission, value proposition, societal impact, and differentiation.
• Partner with the CEO and senior leaders to establish consistent, compelling messaging across all external stakeholder groups.
• Drive thought leadership initiatives that position the company and its executives as trusted voices within the government services sector.
• Monitor and proactively manage issues that could impact stakeholder trust, corporate reputation, or business performance.

External Communications and Public Relations

• Lead all corporate communications, media relations, executive communications, and external messaging.
• Cultivate strong relationships with national, regional, industry, and trade media.
• Serve as a strategic advisor and spokesperson during significant corporate events and issues.
• Oversee crisis communications planning and response.
• Guide executive visibility strategies, including speaking engagements, media appearances, and industry participation.

Government Affairs and Public Policy

• Develop and execute government affairs strategies that advance the company's and its customers’ legislative and regulatory priorities.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with elected officials, policymakers, regulators, and government stakeholders at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Monitor and assess legislative, political, and regulatory developments affecting the company's markets and customers.
• Partner with legal and business leaders to shape policy positions and advocacy strategies.
• Direct lobbying and stakeholder education activities, trade association engagement, and public policy initiatives.
• Ensure government affairs and public policy activities are compliant with applicable law, regulation, policies.

Coalition Building and Stakeholder Engagement

• Build strategic coalitions across industry, government, nonprofit, and community organizations.
• Identify and establish partnerships that enhance the company's influence, credibility, and impact.
• Represent the company in key industry forums, associations, and stakeholder alliances.
• Identify opportunities to unite external stakeholders around common policy, social, and economic objectives.

Community Engagement and Corporate Citizenship

• Develop community engagement strategies that reinforce the company's purpose and commitment to the communities it serves.
• Lead corporate citizenship, community partnership, and social impact initiatives.
• Strengthen relationships with civic leaders, community organizations, and local stakeholders.
• Ensure community engagement efforts align with the company's overall reputation and business objectives.

Executive Leadership

• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to the CEO and senior leaders.
• Lead and develop a high-performing Corporate Affairs organization.
• Manage internal team members, external agencies, consultants, public affairs advisors, and lobbying partners.
• Establish key performance indicators and regularly report reputation, policy, stakeholder, and communications outcomes to executive leadership and the Board.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic and politically astute
• Exceptional executive presence and credibility
• Outstanding communicator and storyteller
• Influential relationship builder
• Strong judgment in high-pressure situations
• Skilled coalition and consensus builder
• Courageous advisor willing to challenge conventional thinking
• Highly collaborative and mission-oriented

Success in the First 12 Months

The successful candidate will:

• Candidate will have a Bachelors Degree; graduate degree preferred.
• Reposition and strengthen the company's external reputation.
• Establish a clear and differentiated corporate narrative embraced across key stakeholder groups.
• Increase trust, engagement, and credibility with policymakers, regulators, and government leaders.
• Build a robust policy and advocacy platform aligned with long-term growth objectives.
• Expand the company's influence across key coalitions and industry organizations.
• Develop a proactive reputation management and crisis readiness capability.
• Position the company as an Integrity First, ethical, respected and essential partner in delivering its technology, products, and services.
• Travel: Frequent travel, up to 50%