Reports to: Vice President, Government Affairs

FLSA Exemption: Exempt

Location: Remote

Salary: $121,000 - $151,000

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), a Washington DC based trade association represents the nation’s nearly one million workers in the plastics industry. PLASTICS seeks a Regional Director to manage state legislative and regulatory issues in the West Region. The Regional Director works directly with the Vice President of Government Affairs in proactively influencing elected officials and staff to advance the plastics public policy agenda. The Director identifies legislative and government relations issues, opportunities, priorities, and collaborates with other entities to build areas of common interest. Working in conjunction with the PLASTICS team, the Regional Director will facilitate conversations between members and key policymakers across the region and build relationships to grow PLASTICS’ presence.

Responsibilities: 

•       Tracks legislation, public policy, and regulatory issues at the state level.
•       Meets with elected officials and staff on industry positions regarding key legislative and regulatory issues.
•       Draft public testimony, letters, issue papers relevant to industry.
•       Testifies before elected and appointed bodies on industry positions as directed.
•       Composes correspondence for PLASTICS on legislative and regulatory proposals.
•       Attend regional meetings as necessary to ensure PLASTICS presence in covered states.
•       Engages effectively with relevant policy groups and coalitions working on policy priorities of mutual concern.
•       Works with and directs contract lobbyists in various states.
•       Builds, maintains, and enhances effective relationships with key elected officials and relevant staff to advance industry priorities.
•       Execute facility tour visits for policymakers to provide firsthand insight into member operations.
•       Plan and organize advocacy events to facilitate face-to-face interactions between members and elected officials.
•       Liaise with other PLASTICS staff and committee on state government affairs needs, including issue summaries, presentations, and inquiries about policy positions.
•       Manages related and other duties as assigned in support of department and business needs.

Education & Experience: 

• A Bachelor’s degree in politics, government affairs, or a related field.
• A minimum of five years’ experience in a related state legislature, government affairs, political campaigning, or coalition building position for a trade association or lobbying firm.
• Experience with regional legislative processes and policy landscapes at the state level in California, Oregon, Colorado, Hawaii, and Washington.
• Experience in the plastics industry preferred.
• Experience cultivating relationships with key elected officials and staff.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: 

• Understanding of the state regulation and the legislative process.
• Excellent written and verbal communication including presentation skills with diverse stakeholder audience.
• Ability to communicate in-depth issues with industry groups, policy makers, and other opinion leaders and the public.
• Self-motivated with attention to detail and excellent analytical, strategic, problem-solving, organizational, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to prioritize and work on a variety of projects simultaneously, adjust to changing priorities, meet deadlines, and deliver results.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work well autonomously and collectively to build consensus amongst internal and external stakeholders.
• An earnest work ethic and dedication to collective success of the organization in service of our membership.
• A commitment to promoting and working in an inclusive and diverse environment with a variety of colleagues from multiple backgrounds.
• Demonstrate a commitment to embody and uphold PLASTICS’ core values of ethics, unity, impact, optimism, and innovation in all interactions and responsibilities. 
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to travel (<30%). 

Interested? Please apply using the PLASTICS Job Form

About Us: 

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) is a purpose-driven organization here to support the entire plastics supply chain. We are proud to represent the nearly one million people who are employed by companies in the plastics supply chain in the United States. PLASTICS is a dynamic organization with an ambitious team, striving for growth and success. Together we shape the direction of the entire plastics industry and as a job requirement, have some fun while doing so. Employees have the opportunity to learn, develop, and impact both the industry and our association. We also encourage volunteerism. As a team we seek opportunities to improve the communities in which we work and visit, including organizing riverbank clean-ups.

We offer generous benefits including health, dental, vision, life insurance, well-being, a 401(k) plan with employer contributions, competitive salaries, and work from home flexibility. We work hard, we play hard and we value a work-life balance! In fact, we offer unlimited paid time off and employees take personal time off at their own discretion.

PLASTICS is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, or any factor prohibited by applicable law.