Tulane University

Tulane University Office of Human Resources

Description for Job: IRC32323

Vice President of Government and Community Relations

Communications and Marketing

Location: New Orleans, LA

Summary

Reporting directly to the Vice President for Public Affairs & Chief Communications Officer, the VP for Government & Community Relations is responsible for collaborating with university leaders to develop and successfully advance Tulane’s public policy priorities. The VP cultivates and sustains meaningful relationships with policymakers in federal, state and local government, develops and implements strategies to identify and secure government funding, educates key constituencies and advocates for policies that support the university’s mission and higher education interests. The VP leads a team of government and community relations professionals who interface daily with a broad group of stakeholders. This position also advances the interests of the Tulane community by managing external resources and working in partnership with other colleges and universities, medical research and science organizations, and higher education associations and coalitions, including the Association of American Universities (AAU) of which Tulane is a distinguished member. 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• WittKieffer is assisting Tulane University in this exciting search.
• All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited.
• Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or résumé and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile.
• For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by June 1, 2025, via WittKieffer’s candidate portal.
• Nominations and inquiries can be directed to: John K. Thornburgh and Lauren Bruce-Stests at TulaneVP-GCR@wittkiefer.com

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of the innerworkings of Congress, the Louisiana state legislature and/or New Orleans city government.
• Familiarity with higher education systems and issues. 
• Proven ability to establish effective relationships and negotiate with a wide range of constituencies.
• Skilled decision-maker and problem-solver, with transparency in decision-making and management.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and relationship management skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to conceive and execute a political advocacy strategy.
• Experience managing a team of highly skilled and experienced professionals.
• Strategic planning acumen and proactive posture.
• Strong policy analysis skills.
• High degree of discretion, ethical standards, and the ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Required Education and/or Experience

• A Bachelor’s Degree is required.
• At least 15 years of experience lobbying or working in or with government at the federal, state and/or local level.
• Previous experience navigating a high-profile public or political environment is required.
• Previous management experience is necessary.

Preferred Qualifications

• An understanding of – and appreciation for – the operating context of higher education in general, and for the core missions, culture, and values of Tulane (or a similar large research institution). 
• A record of success as an innovative and collaborative leader in a large, complex, mission-driven organization with numerous and distributed stakeholders, shared decision making, and often rapidly shifting priorities.
• Advanced knowledge of industry best practices and trends for all aspects of advocacy and issues strategy, in areas such as the development and maintenance of relationships, positioning, and messaging across and within community and governmental systems as well as metrics for assessing effectiveness. 
• Experience in institutions that are subject to political and public scrutiny, whether legislative or regulatory. 
• A firm understanding of and commitment to compliance with state and federal lobbying laws, ethics rules, and applicable regulations.
• Experience working with or for business and industry in the development of partnerships or other mutually beneficial relationships.

Compensation Information

This position is classified as "exempt, salaried" and is assigned to pay grade UNCLASSIFI. Tulane offers a variety of options to enhance your health and well-being so that you may enjoy more out of life now and in the future. Learn more about Life at Tulane as well as our Benefits and Pay. See our Candidate Resources to learn more about our hiring process and what to expect.

How to Apply

This position will close on the date it is filled

Please Note: Depending on your role and the department in which you work, you may be expected to adhere to COVID-19 requirements, such as vaccinations and booster shots.

Click "Apply Now" to apply for this job.

Tulane University is an equal opportunity educator and employer committed to providing an education and employment environment free of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Legally protected demographic classifications (such as a person’s race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, shared ancestry, disability, genetics, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws) are not relied upon as an eligibility, selection or participation criteria for Tulane’s employment or educational programs or activities.

Tulane University is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing an application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact the Office of Human Resources by phone at 504-865-4748 or by email at hr@tulane.edu.

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