Director of State & Local Government Affairs

Salary Range: $135,000-$165,000

About The Milken Institute

The Milken Institute is a globally minded, publicly supported, non-partisan, and nonprofit think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, with offices in Washington, DC, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. For the past three decades, the Milken Institute has served as a catalyst for practical, scalable solutions to global challenges by connecting human, financial, and educational resources to those who need them. Guided by a conviction that the best ideas, under-resourced, cannot succeed, we conduct research and analysis and convene top experts, innovators, and influencers from different backgrounds and competing viewpoints. We leverage this expertise and insight to construct programs and policy initiatives. These activities are designed to help people build meaningful lives, in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities.

About The Position

The Director of State & Local Government Affairs at the Milken Institute is responsible for engaging with state and local government officials and external stakeholders to support the overall mission of the Milken Institute by advancing its policy priorities through policy initiatives, research, and events. The role will focus on advancing policy implementation with state and local government by working closely with the Institute ’s programmatic Finance and Health Pillars on issue areas relevant to those constituencies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the engagement strategy with state & local government and relevant external stakeholders to advance the Institute’s policy priorities through its policy initiatives, research, and events;
• Lead the engagement with Governors and Mayors at Institute-hosted conferences and summits to advance Institute research and policy objectives by working closely with the Institute’s Finance and Health Pillars;
• Identify and communicate key state & local policy issues relevant to the Institute’s Finance and Health policy priorities and research;
• Coordinate internally on identified policy issues and develop a strategy to implement.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in government, public policy or a related field required; advanced degree preferred;
• Minimum 10-12 years of experience in government and public policy organization focused on state & local government affairs;
• Experience working in and/or with state & local government required;
• Significant knowledge and strong relationships across multi-state / local levels;
• Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills are requisite; strong research skills with the ability to synthesize complex issues into concise and digestible information;
• Exceptional attention to detail and high standards of excellence.
  
  

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

This position will work in a professional office environment. This person will also be required to travel occasionally to other offices and/or venues to assist with events as needed, requiring occasional work outside of traditional hours. Additionally, this position requires interacting virtually on a regular basis with Milken Institute staff based in other locations in the United States and around the world.

Note

We are interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in the United States. Please note, we are not sponsoring visas at this time, being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.

This position will work a hybrid schedule consisting of three (3) days per week reporting in-person to your respective office location (Tuesday – Thursday), with the remaining two (2) days working remotely. Please understand, this schedule is subject to change in the Institute’s sole discretion.

The statements herein are intended to describe the overall nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Please submit resume and cover letter illustrating how your experience and skills will contribute to the department and any unique qualities you bring to the position. If applying via Indeed, please upload your resume and any supporting documentation as one attachment. Any application that does not include both a resume and cover letter will be rejected. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact our Human Resources department to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Our Culture

The Milken Institute is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.

Every person at the Milken Institute is treated with respect, supported with resources and training, and exposed to a broad range of experiences. We foster a space for growth with opportunities to share knowledge and passion with both clients and colleagues. We are committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Our leadership is actively involved in our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and fostering a culture that creates opportunities for everyone.

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan - 403b (5%)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity & Paternity)
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)
• Training & Development:
• LinkedIn Learning –over 10,000 classes offered, self-guided.
• Mentor Program
• Wellness Resources:
• Employee Assistance Program
• CALM app membership