State & Local Government Affairs Rep Staff

Do something that means something at Williams. This isn’t just a job - it’s an opportunity to explore and discover your passion with coworkers who become friends and mentors who push you to be your best self in and out of the office. At Williams, we make clean energy happen. And you can too, so bring your energy to ours!

The State Government & Regulatory Affairs Rep. Sr is responsible for leading, developing and maintaining state government and regulatory agency, elected/appointed officials and non-governmental organization relationships in all areas where Williams operates for project advocacy, business growth, operations and project execution support – with a particular focus on the Northeast. This role will track, report and influence the development of state legislation, regulation and policies that could affect our organization.

The team will align advocacy with business priorities for existing and prospective operational areas. This role will primarily support efforts at the state and local level, but certain policies and issues may need to be coordinated at a federal level or with other members of the team. The ability to develop and implement a comprehensive issues management process that nurture relationships, collaborate with others to assess and act upon key issues, contribute as a team member and lead cross functional teams without formal leadership authority are keys to success.

Your work will challenge you, and with our Core Values to guide you, you’ll quickly learn and grow with us.

Responsibilities/Expectations:

• Establishes and cultivates executive relationships with state and local government leaders, policymakers, and regulatory agencies to represent the company position on issues
• Influences relevant policies and regulations and develops/enhances the reputation of the company
• Builds lasting relationships that help to establish trust, mitigate potential obstacles, convey our priorities and strategies and sustain efforts in new communities
• Supports leadership with updates on material legislative and regulatory developments; develops company position papers, collateral, fact sheets and presentations
• Participates in technical partner groups, industry trade associations, coalitions, and other advisory/industry committees; drives the agenda for business impact
• Supports development of implementation plans and tools for when new regulations or rules take effect; provides a strategy for addressing high risk issues
• Engages state and local officials, peers, and other key influencers in an effort to educate them about our industry and our business
• Willingness to travel, as needed, to states or cities within the individual’s coverage area
• Ability to manage outside consultants and work closely with both internal and external audiences
• Understand and manage department budgets
• Other duties as assigned
  
  

Education/Years of Experience:

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in business, political science or communications; a minimum of seven (7) years' direct experience in government affairs, customer/business partner relations or related field
• Preferred: Master’s degree in law, business, political science or communications; a minimum of ten (10) years' experience as staff in a State House, Governor's office, or federal congressional office within the specific geographic region assigned
  
  

Other Requires Experience:

• Demonstrates excellent organizational/interpersonal skills and safety as the utmost priority
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications and PC skills
• An understanding of energy policy, with a specific focus on legislation and/or the regulatory process
• Ability to work with elected officials across the political spectrum to build support and consensus
• Understands corporate communications tools and implementation with internal and external audiences
• Detailed understanding of the legislative process/rules and practice of government and regulatory affairs and outreach
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills
• Able to establish excellent rapport with individuals on all levels, specifically senior leaders and officials
• Ability to work under high pressure in a dynamic environment and collaborate across a matrixed organization
• Preferred: Experience in political or issues campaigns