The McCormick Group has been retained by Cengage to recruit the company’s chief government affairs professional. The company’s Senior Director, Government Affairs will direct and oversee coordination of Cengage’s relationship with federal, state, and local officials to develop and execute lobbying strategy to advance policy priorities, oversee external subject matter experts and lobbyists, work with the Corporate Communications team as well as executive leadership team and be responsible for seeking opportunities to improve Cengage’s external impact through proactive engagement.
Here is the full position description.
Position Opening: SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Company: Cengage
Reports to: Dawn Ehlers, Deputy General Counsel
Location: Washington, DC
Status: Exempt
Contact: Stephen Nelson, Executive Principal, Dave Ris, Principal, or Saadia Sultan, Consultant
The McCormick Group
(snelson@tmg-dc.com; 703-312-6744)
(dris@tmg-dc.com; 703-312-6750)
(ssultan@tmg-dc.com; 713-851-4029)
OVERVIEW OF COMPANY
Cengage, an education and technology company built for learners in 165 countries, is a leader in high-quality skills development across the education spectrum. Serving the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language learning, and library and research markets worldwide, Cengage advances the way students learn through quality, digital experiences, and welcomes every student with a variety of post-secondary education opportunities that build employable skills. The company is headquartered in Boston, MA, with employees located in nearly 40 countries.
Central to Cengage’s work is a corporate philosophy that through the power and joy of learning, students can enrich their lives and achieve their dreams – no matter their age, experience, abilities, or environment. To that end, the company’s industry-leading products and services make education more accessible and affordable.
Cengage employees blaze a new trail to transform the way people learn. Collaborating with a distributed team, they feel challenged and encouraged to do breakthrough work. The company sets the bar higher by bringing outstanding talents and points of view to the table every day. Cengage seeks professionals who put learning first in everything they do, are curious and comfortable with change, and are willing to accept the challenge to transform education for the better. The company offers an appealing environment with the opportunity to work with some of the best people in our industry.
OVERVIEW OF RESPONSIBILITIES
The Senior Director, Government Affairs will reporting into the Deputy General Counsel, direct and oversee coordination of Cengage’s relationship with federal, state, and local officials to develop and execute lobbying strategy to advance policy priorities, oversee external subject matter experts and lobbyists, work with the Corporate Communications team as well as executive leadership team and be responsible for seeking opportunities to improve Cengage’s external impact through proactive engagement.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
- Responsible for lobbying Congress and Executive Agencies on strategic imperatives.
- Seek opportunities for Cengage senior leaders to participate in speaking opportunities and/or discussions to help shape public policy around education, particularly in the higher education and skills markets.
- Responsible for direction, planning and coordination of Cengage’s relationship with all levels of government.
- Disseminates timely and thorough analyses of both proposed and final impactful legislation and/or regulations to senior leaders.
- Establishes and administers a government relations strategy for dealing with public policy issues, as well as specific education issues for our customers as needed; confers with legal counsel to ensure legality and appropriate actions.
- Participate in CEO and senior management meetings with senior government officials and advise on all issues to help Cengage with strategic decision making with public partners.
- Assist Corporate Communications in developing consistent public relations messaging in public policy space to ensure alignment of narrative on education.
- Develops and maintains effective relationships with key local, state and federal government officials and serves as the point of contact for all lobbying activities.
- Serves as liaison with lobbyists and representatives of advocacy groups, and actively participates in regular information-sharing meetings.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED
Overview
The Sr. Director will have a good balance of governmental affairs knowledge and business acumen. While the bulk of the day-to-day responsibilities will be focused specifically on governmental affairs activities, leadership is a strategic component to the position. This professional will have the interpersonal skills to bring teams together in pursuit of common business goals. The candidate will have excellent written and oral communication/presentation skills. This candidate must demonstrate commitment, confidence and a sense of urgency in support of achieving the company’s goals. This candidate must demonstrate knowledge of Cengage processes to ensure adherence to supervisory detail in managing budgets and review of expenses and activities of autonomous work teams.
Government Affairs Experience
- At least 7 years of demonstrated government affairs experience in government (legislative or regulatory), and/or in a corporation, association, or an advocacy organization.
- At least 5 years of defined and clear examples of successfully providing in-person and verbal public testimony, interviews, speeches, presentations, or other representations of a corporation, non-profit, or government entity
- Demonstrated ability to manage lobbying representative activities
- Demonstrated knowledge of state and federal legislative and regulatory processes
- Demonstrated knowledge of state and federal regulations relating to Cengage
- Familiarity with or the ability to quickly learn the learning industry’s concepts, practices, procedures and its relationship with the current legislative and regulatory environment.
Language / Communication Skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills required
- Competent in utilizing information technology to develop and communicate reports and messaging to targeted audiences
- Ability to communicate a point or message and successfully reach an outcome working with others that is in the company’s best interests
- Ability to read, analyze and interpret economic/business data and operational reports
- Ability to read, analyze and interpret statutes, regulations, and relevant legal documents
Other Personal Qualifications
- Demonstrated leadership of small work teams
- Demonstrated ability to manage independent and autonomous work teams
- Demonstrated ability to work independently
- Commitment to mission of the company
- Curious and comfortable with change and willing to take risks to transform education.
- Team player who focuses on established work goals for team and company
- Exhibits professional conduct and maintains high standards of integrity at all times
- Responds promptly to employee, customer, and governmental needs and solicits employee, customer, and governmental feedback to improve service
- Follows policies and procedures and completes administrative tasks correctly and on time
- Promotes a safe and collaborative working environment
Education and/or Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in political science or closely related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- Experience in education or learning preferred.
DIVERSITY
Cengage is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer, and does not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason. Cengage’s EEO/Affirmative Action Policy signed by CEO Michael Hansen and Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law notice can be viewed by visiting the corresponding links.
Cengage believes that diversity and inclusion produces better results and is critical to the success of the company. The company and The McCormick Group are committed to recruiting, developing, and retaining the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Compensation will be competitive and will include salary and bonus. Cengage provides excellent benefits (health, vision and dental, 401(k), three weeks’ vacation to start) and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. Those who need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability can contact the company at accommodations.ta@cengage.com or at +1 (617) 289-7917.
This position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by an employee. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all responsibilities required of employees assigned to this position.
