American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota Director of Government Affairs St. Paul, MN · Full time Company website

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ACEC Minnesota is the statewide professional association for consulting engineering firms doing business in Minnesota. Our member firms plan, design, and deliver the transportation, water, energy, environmental, and building infrastructure that supports Minnesota's communities and economy. We advance the business of engineering through advocacy, business resources, and leadership development, and we serve as Minnesota's member organization of the American Council of Engineering Companies, the national federation representing consulting engineering across the United States. Our work spans three strategic directions. Advocacy engages state and federal policymakers on issues that affect how engineering firms operate and how Minnesota invests in its infrastructure. Business resources help member firms navigate industry changes, build connections, and grow their businesses. Leadership development supports engineers and firm leaders at every career stage. ACEC Minnesota is a small, member-driven organization where all staff positions collaborate across functions. Each role on our team owns a meaningful share of the work, and staff routinely contribute beyond their primary function as needed. We rely on a close partnership between staff and the member volunteers who help us deliver our advocacy, programming, and events. We look for team members who are energized by variety, comfortable taking ownership of multiple workstreams, and willing to evolve with the organization.

The Director of Government Affairs is the principal owner of ACEC Minnesota's legislative, regulatory, and public agency advocacy. The role exists to advance the business interests of member firms in law and rule. In coordination with the CEO, the Director sets and executes the organization's advocacy strategy, owns its relationships with legislators and agency leadership, and is accountable for advocacy outcomes.

Core Responsibilities

• Legislative strategy and session management
• Develop the annual legislative agenda in coordination with the CEO and own its execution through session
• Analyze and prioritize legislation affecting the engineering industry, including procurement, qualifications-based selection, professional licensure, liability, and infrastructure funding
• Represent ACEC Minnesota at the Capitol, including direct engagement with legislators and staff, testimony, and coordination of CEO and member testimony
• Produce the end-of-session summary and interim analysis
• Lobbying and compliance
• Maintain working knowledge of Minnesota campaign finance and lobbying law
• Report all campaign finance activity (contributions and expenses) on a weekly basis
• Regulatory and agency advocacy
• Co-own with the CEO ACEC Minnesota's working relationships with MnDOT, the Metropolitan Council, state licensing boards, and other agencies whose rules and procurement practices affect member firms
• Monitor rulemaking dockets and policy changes and represent the organization in rulemaking proceedings
• Draft comment letters
• Advise on coalition responses
• Convert member firm concerns about agency practice, including procurement and contract terms, into defined advocacy objectives
• Coalition and stakeholder management
• Build and manage coalitions with allied organizations on shared legislative and regulatory priorities
• Serve as ACEC Minnesota's principal in coalition settings, with authority to speak to positions the CEO has approved
• Committee leadership
• Staff the government affairs committee and connect committee activity to the legislative agenda
• Support the PAC and campaign fund committees with fundraising, candidate evaluation, event planning, and compliance awareness
• National coordination
• Align state advocacy with ACEC National priorities
• Coordinate federal fly-in participation twice per year
• Maintain relationships with the Minnesota congressional delegation's staff
• Executive and member communication
• Brief the CEO on legislative and regulatory developments with analysis that supports decisions
• Produce member-facing advocacy communications

A successful candidate for the position of Director of Government Affairs owns advocacy outcomes. They define what ACEC Minnesota wants from a relationship or an issue and are accountable for whether the organization gets it. The Director operates independently at the director level, with work

product reaching the CEO in final, publishable form. To be successful in this position, they must manage multiple concurrent issues through session and between sessions without dropped commitments to members, legislators, coalition partners, or agencies. This position must maintain complete records of positions taken and commitments made so institutional knowledge survives the role holder.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Demonstrated experience owning a legislative or regulatory portfolio, including direct lobbying and coalition leadership
• Working knowledge of Minnesota legislative process, administrative rulemaking, and public procurement
• Ability to translate technical member firm concerns into positions legislators and agency staff can act on
• Strong analytical writing under deadline, with a demonstrated record of accuracy
• Judgment to know when to commit the organization and when to escalate to the CEO

Compensation and Benefits

The starting salary range for this position is $95,000 to $115,000. Placement within the range reflects demonstrated experience owning a legislative or regulatory portfolio, including direct lobbying and coalition leadership. This is a full-time, exempt position based in downtown Saint Paul.

Medical, dental, and vision. Coverage begins the first of the month following 30 days of employment. ACEC Minnesota pays 80 percent of the employee-only premium and 50 percent of dependent premiums.

Retirement. The ACEC Minnesota 401(k) Plan makes a 3 percent safe harbor employer contribution, fully vested immediately. You receive it whether or not you contribute. Eligibility begins on your date of hire, with plan entry the first of the month that follows. Pre-tax and Roth deferrals are available.

Parking. Covered parking in the World Trade Center ramp at no cost.

Review and bonus. Compensation is reviewed annually in July, aligned with the fiscal year. The position is eligible for a discretionary annual performance bonus based on organizational and individual performance.