The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce
Position Profile
Vice President of Public Policy
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The Organization
The Greater Waco Chamber is a business leadership organization that advances a progressive and visionary agenda for economic growth and quality of life. The Chamber prepares and markets Greater Waco for the businesses and jobs of the future and enhances the quality of life of the community by promoting strategic development. For more information, visit WacoChamber.com.
The Position
Location:
The position will be based at the Greater Waco Chamber’s corporate headquarters located in the Salome Commerce Center at 101 S. Third Street in downtown Waco, Texas.
Reporting Relationships:
The Vice President of Public Policy will report to the President & CEO of The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Work with the organization's volunteer leadership and all appropriate partners to develop The Chamber's public policy positions;
Effectively and persuasively communicate The Chamber's public policy positions to elected and appointed officials at all levels of government, the organization's major investors and members, key strategic partners, the broader regional business community, education leaders, and other audiences including the general public;
Strive to realize desired legislative outcomes and ensure the legislative and regulatory environment at all levels of government encourages business growth, investment, and job creation;
Serve as The Chamber's legislative advocate in Washington, D.C., and Austin during the Texas legislative session;
Serve as the professional staff liaison to the Public Policy Committee and its subcommittees, including Economic Development, Education, Healthcare, Infrastructure, and Water. Ensure the committees are appropriately focused and structured, enjoy strong engagement from the ranks of the organization's investors, and are impactful in their program of work;
Effectively manage relationships, including building trust and open lines of communication with elected and appointed officials;
Plan and execute relevant programs and initiatives designed to educate and provide networking opportunities to all appropriate audiences, and encourage individuals with business acumen to seek elected and appointed office.
Important working relationships include the Board of Directors of The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce; The Board of Advisors of The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce; The Waco Industrial Foundation; The City of Waco; McLennan County; The Board of Directors and professional staff of the chambers of commerce constituting the McLennan County Chamber Alliance; leaders of the Waco Business League; leaders of the region's economic development organizations; leaders of Chamber-member firms; the Texas Association of Business; trade associations; regional education leaders, and selected lobbyists from
the region and state.
Compensation
The Vice President of Public Policy is expected to earn a competitive salary with appropriate perquisites for the position and region.
The Candidate
Education:
A Bachelors degree in business, public administration, political science, or related discipline is required.
Professional Qualifications:
The ideal candidate should have experience in working with elected officials, and a strong interest in the legislative process. This can be through legislative advocacy efforts with a previous employer, work as a legislative assistant, intern or paid/unpaid staff at the federal, state, or local level of government. Some experience as paid staff or volunteer in an active non-profit is also beneficial. Business experience will also be highly valued.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Attributes:
Public/Private Partnerships - demonstrated track record of developing effective partnerships between the public and private sector;
Sales Orientation - ability to educate, persuade, and move people to action;
Established Contacts - has developed and maintained regional and national connections with business, government and influencers within other sectors;
Government Relations - experience in the process of local, county, state, regional, and national government and government organizations;
Community and Regional Development - ability to facilitate and effectively manage interactions with community and regional organizations;
Regional Familiarity - personal and professional experience of working in areas like Central Texas; comfortable in mid-sized communities;
Investor and Influencer Relations - experience providing ongoing communications with key investors and influencers; an understanding of organizational governance and Board of Directors interactions;
Strategic Planning - ability to develop and effectively execute strategic plans and initiatives;
Financial Management - ability to develop and effectively manage budgets;
Media Relations - ability to effectively articulate goals, objectives and policy positions of The Chamber to the media and a myriad of other audiences;
Programs and Projects - ability to conceptualize, and effectively plan and execute programs, projects, and events;
Management Experience - able to develop and effectively lead people as well as a major division within an organization;
Desired Personal Traits:
Leadership - a strong, visionary leader;
Political Savvy - able to maneuver through complex situations effectively and quietly;
Strategic Thinker - has the ability to see beyond daily operations toward broader strategic goals; understands the "big picture";
Collaborative - demonstrates a willingness and ability to work with and through others; values consensus building;
Communication Skills - excellent listener; outstanding written and oral communications skills; effective presentation skills;
Organizational Skills - results-oriented; meets established goals and objectives;
Multitask/Focus - able to manage and carry out multiple and complex assignments often within very short timeframes;
Credibility - earns the respect of directors, investors, fellow team members and business, government, education, and community leaders;
Persuasive - able to synthesize various viewpoints and mobilize public and legislative support for policy objectives;
Ethical - possesses honesty, integrity, and the highest ethical and moral standards;
Change Agent - ability to effectively engineer and manage change and transition;
Executive Presence - polished and self confident;
Human Relations Skills - relates well with all kinds of people; builds constructive and effective relationships.
Organizational Background
The Greater Waco Chamber is a respected, high-impact economic and community development organization that advances a progressive and visionary agenda for economic growth and quality of life. Greater Waco is located in McLennan County, Texas along the dynamic Interstate 35 economic corridor and is home to more than 14,000 companies, 234,906 people and a regional workforce of approximately 320,000. To prepare and market the Greater Waco region for the businesses and jobs of the future, Greater Waco is strategically positioned with centralized access to Dallas and Austin (90 miles) and Houston and San Antonio (185 miles).
The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce is the area’s lead economic development organization. Since 2006, Greater Waco has seen more than $758 million in new capital investments and $530 million in riverfront and downtown development, making it an attractive place to live, work and play. The community is landscaped with top-rated higher educational institutions, including Baylor University, McLennan Community College and Texas State Technical College Waco.
Greater Waco target industries for economic development include: Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace and Defense, Health Care, Professional and Financial Services and Supply Chain Management.
In 2014, the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce formed the McLennan County Chamber Alliance by way of a formal Memorandum of Understanding with nine other chambers of commerce, including the Hewitt Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Robinson Chamber of Commerce, McGregor Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, Bellmead Chamber of Commerce, Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, West Chamber of Commerce, Greater Lorena Chamber of Commerce, Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce and Lacy Lakeview Chamber of Commerce. Together, these 10 organizations represent approximately 3,200 businesses from throughout McLennan County. The Alliance was formed to capitalize on opportunities and address issues of shared interest and priority, such as public policy initiatives regarding workforce development, healthcare, transportation infrastructure and economic development.
In addition to the Greater Waco Chamber working with the McLennan County Chamber Alliance and other key strategic partners to drive progress, the Chamber manages a public policy committee tasked with leading efforts to improve the area’s economic development, education, healthcare, infrastructure and business climate through advocacy, priority positions and regional partnerships. The public policy committee includes issue-centric focus subcommittees to advise and recommend policy priorities. The Chamber has also taken a lead role in engaging key business leaders and strategic partners with local, state and national officials and representatives through a variety of legislative programs.
The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce has a professional staff of 21. In 2014, The Chamber was a finalist for the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) national chamber of the year honors. For more information, visit WacoChamber.com.
Contact
Interested candidates should send a resume/CV in confidence to:
Matthew T. Meadors
President & CEO
The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce
101 S. Third Street
Waco, TX 76701