Associate Vice President, Government Affairs

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The Associate Vice President, Government Affairs is responsible for developing, executing, and evolving a comprehensive, long-term advocacy strategy that advances Marquette University's interests at the federal, state, and local levels. This person designs innovative approaches to strengthen relationships with policymakers, community leaders, and key stakeholders, ensuring alignment with the university's mission and strategic priorities. Working collaboratively as noted below, the position oversees the creation of impactful campaigns, legislative engagement plans, and community initiatives that enhance Marquette's visibility and influence, while fostering collaborative partnerships to support institutional goals.

Duties and Responsibilities

Advocacy and Policy Influence

• Understand how Marquette's students, faculty, staff, researchers, alumni, and friends, contribute to its communities and communicate these insights to key decision-makers as part of advocacy and engagement efforts.

• Analyze how higher education is perceived by diverse constituencies and use these insights to position and communicate Marquette's mission, value, and societal contributions as needed to adjust those perceptions.

• Anticipate, monitor, analyze, and summarize on an ongoing basis federal, state, and local legislation's impacts on higher education and Marquette and help determine university responses to shape or mitigate this legislation.

• Develop, recommend, and execute advocacy strategies to advance institutional priorities.

• Represent the university in policy discussions, hearings, and coalitions.

Relationship Building

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with elected officials, government agencies, community and thought leaders to advance the university's interests.

• Build a statewide network of business and other leaders, in collaboration with University Advancement, to support key university initiatives.

• Serve as the primary liaison between the university and government entities.

Strategic Planning

• Assess trends in public opinion and policy toward higher education.

• Build internal relationships to educate and advise Marquette colleagues on emerging opportunities and risks as well as the immediate and long-term effects of proposed legislation. Work collaboratively to determine how best to achieve favorable outcomes.

• Establish metrics and evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness of public affairs efforts.

Coalition & Partnership Development

• Offer leadership and partnership to various Wisconsin and national higher education organizations to amplify shared interests.
• In collaboration with University Advancement and the Office of Marketing and Communications, engage alumni and stakeholders in efforts to raise Marquette's brand profile among elected, community, and thought leaders.

Community Engagement

• In furtherance of Marquette's Strategic Plan, "Guided by Mission, Inspired to Change," and in collaboration with Marquette colleagues, expand strategic partnerships to maximize Marquette ability to contribute to the world.

• Lead initiatives to assess how best to invest the university's resources in ways that meaningfully advance economic growth and social well-being.

• Engage community groups as part of efforts to strengthen university advocacy.

• Provide appropriate access to unique resources through Marquette's students, faculty, and research.

Strategic Communication

• Craft messaging in collaboration with the Office of Marketing and Communication that positions the university as a thought leader and essential contributor to society.

• Prepare briefing materials, testimony, and reports for leadership and policymakers.

• Prepare internal summaries and presentations to keep stakeholders informed and to facilitate dialogue.

Supervision of Staff

• Responsible for the supervision of staff which includes but is not limited to hiring, terming, performance management, and professional development.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Bachelor's degree
• At least 10 years of related experience
• Supervisory experience
• Ability to inspire confidence in people and create an aligned working environment.
• Drive for results and successes. Ability to challenge status quo.
• Demonstrated ability to set strategic vision that is mission focused.
• Demonstrated past success in allocating time, resources, and funds in strategic way.
• Ability to adapt to change and respond appropriately.
• Ability to maintain composure, diplomacy, and tact.
• Strong collaborator across constituents (conservative and liberal)
• History of success in creating and managing policy initiatives
• Well-developed network and ability to identify and build relationships with key leaders.
• Strong written and verbal communicator and negotiator.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Master's degree
• Previous higher education experience

Department Office of Public Affairs Posting Date 12/17/2025 Closing Date Special Instructions to Applicants EOE Statement

Required Documents

• Resume

• Cover Letter/Letter of Application

Optional Documents

• References