Vice President of Federal Relations

Trust for Public Land

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is seeking to recruit a dynamic leader to serve as Vice President of Federal Relations to be based in Washington, DC.

About Trust for Public Land

TPL was founded in 1972 on the conviction that all people need access to nature and the outdoors, close to home, in the cities and communities where they live. TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they’re needed most, as a matter of health, equity, and justice. Since its founding, TPL has been connecting people to the outdoors and to each other. From neighborhood parks to national parks, TPL has completed more than 5,000 projects, protected more than 3.5 million acres of land, helped to secure over 94 billion dollars of public funds for land protection and park creation, and inspired cities and towns nationwide to work towards  having a park or open space within a 10-minute walk of all their residents.

Quality parks and green spaces are fundamental for sustaining equitable, resilient communities. Access to nature and the outdoors—close to home, in the cities and communities where people live—is a matter of health, equity, and justice. That’s why TPL works alongside communities across the country to create, protect, and steward nature-rich places that are vital to human well-being. TPL is driven by four commitments: equity, health, climate, and community.

TPL’s board, staff, supporters, and partners are united by a shared understanding of the extraordinary power of land for people. The latest scientific research reinforces what experience has taught us: quality parks and natural spaces are a fundamental requirement for sustaining healthy, equitable communities that are resilient and prepared for change. Land-for-people solutions are more needed now than at any point in recent memory. In this moment of polarization and increasing social isolation, parks and public land reweave our country’s frayed social fabric, reconnecting us to the places and experiences that bind us together as a nation.

For more information on Trust for Public Land, please visit: https://www.tpl.org/

Vice President of Federal Relations

The Vice President for Federal Relations reports to the Senior Vice President Policy, Advocacy, and Government Relations (SVP) and works with a dynamic team of professionals aligned by the vision and mission of TPL.  The Vice-President of Federal Relations helps steward the development and execution of TPL’s federal policy goals and team.

The Vice President for Federal Relations will be TPL’s lead representative to Congress, the Administration, and DC-based stakeholders.  They will possess the leadership, creative, and strategic skills necessary to effectively manage a dynamic professional team and to support the SVP in crafting and executing a strategic set of policy and advocacy goals.

The strategic goals and responsibilities for the Vice President of Federal Relations, include:

• Working with the SVP and Federal Relations Team, help shape TPL’s federal legislative strategy, including external engagement of stakeholders. Support the SVP in mapping of impact areas from Congress, the Administration, and other external stakeholders.
• Execute a robust, comprehensive federal government relations strategy, covering all federal government touch points. Drive TPL’s federal government agenda with a view toward both short-term and long-term benefit.
• Lead an internal team of  7 government relations professionals and external consultants, including experts in land conservation, park equity, federal funding, lobbying, and external stakeholder management; including building individual annual work plans which detail activities and set measurable goals.
• Oversee TPL federal funding and policy advocacy priorities, including TPL and partner lands, trails, and parks projects.  This will include managing a portfolio of land conservation projects.
• Foster and support a strategic partnership with TPL’s philanthropic department to secure support for the Federal Relations Team’s work.
• Working in partnership with TPL’s Communication Department, strategize and implement a coordinated approach to external communications for the Federal Relations Department, including via media, web, print and conference selection and partner with communications team for content development to enhance TPL’s effectiveness.
• Serve as an active and transparent internal communicator to key departments and groups to facilitate broader understanding of the federal relations function at TPL through newsletters, onboarding initiatives and events with state offices.
• Manage the Federal Relations budget which includes selection and direction of external advisors, including lobbying firms, and more.

Professional Qualifications and Personal Attributes

Professional Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• Minimum of 10 years in federal government relations with at least 5 years management/supervisory and stakeholder engagement experience.
• Demonstrated senior-level experience with federal legislative and agency processes; extensive experience on Capitol Hill or in the Executive Branch preferred.
• Demonstrated management experience; ability to motivate professional staff and build healthy team culture.
• Ability to establish strong relationships with government officials and other partners; demonstrated strategic advocacy skills.
• Hands-on experience in legislative strategy, lobbying, and external stakeholder engagement.

Personal Attributes

• A commitment to the mission and vision of Trust for Public Land.
• A management style that is collaborative and goal oriented, but flexible; that respects the capabilities and independence of staff and provides them with a clear sense of direction.
• Commitment to results and an outstanding problem-solver.
• Collegial, trustworthy, and possessing the highest level of personal and professional integrity.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including effective presentation and negotiation skills.
• A team builder who inspires collaboration and has demonstrated success in collaborative work with internal colleagues as well as external ones.

Compensation

The Trust for Public Land offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the hiring range for this position is $175,000 – $200,000.

As a full-time exempt employee, you will be eligible for Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation, sick leave, and holidays. TPL also offers a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with an up to 7% company match.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter, responding specifically to the experience and qualifications required, to Daniel Sherman, President, Explore Company at resumes@explorecompany.com.  Refer to TPL/VPFR in the subject line.  No phone inquiries please.

Trust for Public Land’s active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. They are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.

Join a diverse team of dedicated and passionate people working toward a mission you can believe in— creating parks and protecting public land where they’re needed most so that everyone will have access to the benefits and joys of the outdoors for generations to come.

All correspondence will remain confidential.