Senior Vice President, Government Affairs

National Automatic Merchandising Association

Senior Vice President, Government Affairs - Position Description

Reports to President & CEO

FLSA Status Full-Time, Exempt

Department Government Affairs

Supervises Staff of 4: Director Federal Affairs, Director State Affairs, Federal Affairs Coordinator, State Affairs Coordinator

Compensation Competitive, commensurate with experience

About NAMA

Founded in 1936, NAMA is the national trade association representing the $25 billion convenience services industry including vending, coffee service, and food service management in the away from home market. With more than 1100 member companies, including many of the world’s most recognized brands, NAMA provides advocacy, education, research, and business development forums to its membership.

Summary of Position

NAMA is seeking a Senior Vice President, Government Affairs (SVP) to lead the government affairs team (state and federal) with a particular focus in the near term on building and leading a field-first, state-based advocacy operation—establishing, activating, and expanding NAMA's state-level networks and coalitions—while proactively positioning our members and their interests in the regulatory and legislative processes that affect them. The SVP serves as a key member of NAMA’s executive leadership team and will lead all political advocacy efforts related to legislation, regulations, and government policies affecting the industry, with particular emphasis on the state and local level, where most of NAMA's highest-impact advocacy opportunities arise.

The SVP will lead strategy development, advocacy, and campaign management for NAMA’s engagement on all appropriate issues impacting NAMA’s membership and broader industry channel.

The SVP will manage NAMA’s Government Affairs team, outside consultants, and committees.

The SVP will work closely with the VP of Communications to create and implement effective campaigns supporting NAMA’s advocacy agenda.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Establish and deliver on the vision, strategy, and tactics necessary for high-impact advocacy wins for NAMA members and the broader industry that generate measurable ROI, competitive advantage, and value, and that drives financial support for the Association.
• Oversee all aspects of NAMA’s government affairs, including the legislative strategy on the Hill and among the states, while collaborating closely with the President & CEO, Board of Directors, government constituencies, members, and other key audiences.
• Build and establish strong relationships with state councils and their lobbyists as a force multiplier for NAMA Staff.
• Establish, maintain, and deploy effective grassroots and grass tops networks in support of NAMA’s priorities. This is a field-first role: success depends on spending substantial time engaging members directly at their facilities, offices, and industry trade shows. This includes proactively identifying and building networks in states and regions where NAMA does not yet have an established presence, not solely maintaining existing relationships.
• Develop and maintain support from NAMA members and industry influencers at the state and local levels for industry impacting legislation and/ or regulatory developments.
• Develop and maintain baseline advocacy specific funding from members to maintain the core advocacy infrastructure and assets.
• Establish a culture of giving that facilitates geographically specific fundraising programs to address geographically specific issues.
• Collaborate, coordinate, and build coalitions with peer associations and other like-minded organizations to achieve NAMA’s goals.
• Oversee and coordinate federal and state lobbying strategies and manage external consultants.
• Advise NAMA’s senior leadership, Board, and members on developments in key issue areas and serve as the primary staff contact for inquiries on these issues.
• Build and cultivate strong relationships with state policymakers whose activities impact the industry.
• Coordinate advocacy campaigns involving federal lobbyists and other federal focused assets.
• Coordinate advocacy efforts on relevant issues, both directly and through strategic alliances with members and other organizations.
• Oversee the maturation and operation of NAMA’s Political Action Committee (NAMA PAC) including fundraising and strategic relationship building.
• Develop and maintain a system to reliably monitor federal, state, and municipal regulatory activities affecting the industry.
• Provide legislative assistance as needed for special projects.
• Serve as the primary government affairs advisor to NAMA’s President and CEO and senior team.

Other Duties

• Other duties as assigned by President & CEO

Technical Requirements – Education, Areas of Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree required; Masters or JD degree is a plus.
• A minimum of 15 years of experience dealing with complex and high-profile legislative and regulatory matters, within political fundraising, campaign management, association advocacy, or complex regulatory/legislative environments; deep familiarity with the retail and/or convenience services industries is a plus but not required.
• Strong political acumen and deep experience on the political process at the state level, including fluency with state legislative calendars, committee cycles, and election timing across multiple states, and the judgment to know when a window for action is open.
• Exceptional leadership skills, including:

1. the ability to craft a vision and engage others in it.
2. the ability to motivate and inspire others; strong team building skills.
3. relationship development skills; and sound judgment

• Ability to develop and oversee completion of an annual and long-term Government Affairs Strategy.
• Ability to manage multiple high-level programs and projects.
• Sound strategic thinking acumen and strong analytical skills combined with the ability execute a plan and allocate resources appropriately.
• Proven experience with fundraising campaigns involving members, stakeholders, and constituents.

Behavioral Requirements - Personal Skills and Competencies

• Well-developed interpersonal skills, political acumen, maturity, credibility, confidence, and unquestioned integrity.
• Strong ability to develop consensus and support among disparate groups of stakeholders, influencers, and beneficiaries.
• Deep appreciation for politics and the political process.
• Command presence and credibility with all internal and external constituents.
• Strong communication and organizational skills, as well as the professional seasoning, credibility, and judgment necessary to gain the respect and confidence of NAMA’s senior management and its members.
• Creative, capable of generating ideas, establishing direction, and obtaining commitment.
• Not willing to take “NO” for an answer.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements of the Job

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers, handle and/or feel objects, handle tools, and/or controls, and talk and/or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is required to engage in extensive walking at multiple trade shows throughout the year. In addition, long periods of standing are required.
• Ability, willingness to travel to effectively achieve organizational objectives.

The above is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities for this job, nor is it intended to be an exhaustive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Rather, it is intended to describe the general nature of the job. Employees may, from time to time and on an as-needed basis, be required to perform duties outside of the responsibilities listed here

How to Apply

This search is being led by Stock Executive Search. Nominations, applications, and inquiries are welcome.

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and any other relevant materials via the link below:

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