King County Government Affairs Manager

Job Title: King County Government Affairs Manager

Status: Salaried, Exempt

About the role:

Reporting to the Director of Government Affairs, this position serves as a day-to-day government affairs manager for MBAKS in assigned cities throughout King County on governmental, legislative, and regulatory issues that impact the housing industry. This position is tasked with establishing and maintaining effective and deep relationships with diverse groups of Association members and external stakeholders, including city elected officials, jurisdictional staff, and other external partners.

This position is assigned a specific geographic portfolio and responsible for continuous engagement with MBAKS members, identifying government affairs needs and collaborating on positive solutions. The GA manager is also expected to take on additional duties within the Master Builders Government Affairs team when needed. 

The ideal candidate for this position has experience in government affairs and public policy, preferably involving King County and/or cities within. They would also be familiar with the Growth Management Act in Washington, the home building industry, and housing/zoning policies. Experience working on legislative policy proposals and affecting regulatory change preferred.

Core Responsibilities (More about the role):

Duties and Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following

• Build and foster productive working relationships across a variety of constituencies, including the MBA’s Board of Directors, staff members, association members, partner organizations, government officials, the broader real estate community, and municipal government officials and staff. 
• Lead and support MBAKS monthly builder council meeting. This includes managing the logistics, speakers, agenda, and reporting out on GA activities.
• Implement MBAKS housing agenda and establish themself as an authoritative figure on these issues.
• Maintain awareness of key priorities, proposed legislation, and regulatory issues in assigned jurisdictions that affect homebuilding, remodeling, and development industries.
• Participate in a collaborative and positive working environment with the government affairs team that emphasizes teamwork and collaboration.
• Establish and grow relationships that assist and coordinate with other organizations also working to build community in King & Snohomish County.
• Proactively work in fast-paced, organized work environment with ease and ability to maintain a productive self-driven workplan.
• Ability to analyze, gather stakeholder input and effectively respond to proposed, complex legislation.
• Lobbying compliance and reporting.

This description is intended to provide an overview of the responsibilities and duties of this position. It is not all-inclusive. The responsibilities may change over time.

Required Education, Experience, Knowledge, and Characteristics:

• 5+ years of related work experience.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent government relations experience.
• Strong interest or experience in housing policy issues.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Competitive nature and independent starter with a strong work ethic.
• Strong relationship builder with high degree of integrity, responsiveness and reliability.
• Experience presenting complex information to executive level groups and facilitating conversation.
• Exceptional verbal and written communications skills coupled with outstanding listening skills.
• Technical proficiency and expertise in using a wide range of communications applications, including Microsoft Office products, such as Word and Excel and willingness to learn and master Aptify and Smartsheet technology.
• Ability to attend morning/evening meetings.
• Reliable transportation and Washington State Driver’s License

Other Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in local government affairs/politics, in King and/or Snohomish County preferred.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities and variable workloads
• Proactive approach to problem solving with strong decision-making capability
• Analytical and decisive decision maker with the ability to prioritize and communicate key objectives and tactics necessary to achieve success.
• Must be able to function with a high degree of autonomy, confidentiality, and professionalism.
• Fun. Yes, professional and fun.

Employee Benefits:

•    Ridiculously important organizational purpose

•    Awesome coworkers, which sometimes includes our dogs

•    Medical, dental, vision, life insurance

•    Hybrid work environment, and private offices

•    401(k) plan with 4% match

•    Vacation, sick leave, personal days, and holidays

•    On-site gym, mediocre but functional locker rooms included

•    Free parking with EV charging

•    Maternity and paternity benefit

•    Office snacks. Frankly, probably too many.

•    Employee assistance program

•    Team outings and events that are more fun than a barrel of monkeys

•    Week off between Christmas and New Year’s

•    A culture where we take our cause, but not ourselves, seriously

Compensation:

This is a full time, exempt position.

Starting Base Salary: $100,000 to $120,000

About the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties:

The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) is the oldest and largest residential homebuilding association in the country. We are the leading voice for residential building professionals in our rapidly growing region. MBAKS members are the folks who build and remodel the places we call home. We work to ensure there is adequate supply of housing attainable to all.

In addition to the advocacy that we provide our robust membership, MBAKS sponsors a respected health insurance trust for our members and their families, as well as a workers’ compensation reimbursement opportunity through our Group Retroactive Insurance Program (GRIP) for members with admirable workplace safety records. 

MBAKS produces more than 200 events for various regional builder councils, those interested in sustainable development, Professional Women in Building, and more.  These events offer networking opportunities, education, and recognition of members for their excellence in the field. MBAKS education programs offer members opportunities to earn certifications, designations, and more. Our year-round on-site and online classes make it easy for members to enhance their educational background.

Built Green, our environmentally friendly residential building program, provides builders and consumers with easy-to-understand rating systems and the certification framework to demystify green building. Built Green showcases a variety of strategies, providing a flexible path for builders to certify their projects. 

MBAKS’ government affairs team works closely with our membership to advocate for policies that benefit the residential building industry and improves the climate for housing in the Puget Sound region. We encourage building homes, not barriers to do so. We do this by promoting an increased supply of all types of housing through improved zoning, regulatory reform, permit efficiencies, and a net increase in lot supply. MBAKS advocates primarily at the local level, but also at the state and sometimes national levels. We also work to partner with other individuals and organizations that can help to elevate residential housing issues, as well as educate our members regarding the value of their engagement in our advocacy initiatives. Separately, the MBAKS Affordable Housing Council works to elect pro-housing candidates to public office.

In summary, it’s the most important and coolest place to work imaginable.

MBAKS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

This description is provided for informational purposes only and does not form the basis of a contract. Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.