Job Description

Position Title: Senior Director, U.S. Government Relations and Global Coalition

Location:SOI Headquarters – Washington, DC (Hybrid, 2 days a week at the office)

Department: Government Relations and International Development (GRID)

Reports to: Chief Government Relations & International Development Officer, with functional direction from the SVP, U.S. Government Relations

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary Range: $109,650 - $128,700

Organization Overview:

Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. We foster acceptance of all people through the power of sport and programming in education, health, and leadership. With nearly four million athletes and Unified Sports® partners and one million coaches and volunteers in more than 170 countries, Special Olympics delivers more than 30 Olympic-type sports and nearly 50,000 games and competitions every year. Learn more at SpecialOlympics.org. 

The Senior Director, U.S. Government Relations and Global Coalition advances Special Olympics’ government relations priorities across two complementary areas of work: U.S. government relations and non-U.S./Global Coalition engagement. For non-U.S. government relations and Global Coalition work, the position reports to the Chief Government Relations and International Development (GRID) Officer. For U.S. Congressional, agency, and Administration work, the position receives functional direction from the SVP, U.S. Government Relations. The role strengthens relationships, supports events and engagements, and helps secure policy and resource outcomes that advance Special Olympics’ mission.

Primary Responsibilities:

U.S. Government Relations Responsibilities

• Supports the cultivation and stewardship of Special Olympics’ relationships with the United States Government, including preparation for and follow-up from senior-level engagements and support for the annual Capitol Hill Day program.
• Develops and executes outreach and engagement strategies with U.S. government stakeholders, including Congress, U.S. federal departments and agencies, the White House and Administration officials, and relevant state government stakeholders.
• Supports Special Olympics’ partnership with the United States Government by leading meeting preparation and briefing senior leadership; coordinating with internal stakeholders; and managing consultants, including Potomac Strategic Development, to conduct research, disseminate information, and prepare for meetings with Congress, U.S. federal departments and agencies, and Administration officials.
• Supports the design and implementation of Special Olympics’ U.S. domestic legislative strategy.
  
• Serves as a liaison between key departments, including SONA, Sport, Global Development, Health, Unified Champion Schools, and the Chairman’s Office, to ensure smooth integration of U.S. government relations priorities with broader GRID departmental priorities.
  
• Manages an ongoing, and robust, stewardship program of U.S. government stakeholders.

Non-U.S./Global Coalition Responsibilities

• Supports global government relations priorities at the direction of the Chief GRID Officer, including helping advance priority relationships and partnerships with non-U.S. governments, multilateral stakeholders, and other global partners.
• Supports selected political-level relationships with international governments and intergovernmental organizations, aligned to global priorities identified by the Chief GRID Officer, to advance the rights of people with intellectual disabilities through financial investment, policy initiatives, and broader equity-focused commitments.
  
• Leads the Washington Embassies Initiative by meeting with Ambassadors and embassy staff to provide information on Special Olympics’ work in their countries, build support for the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion, and seek support for priority global initiatives.
• Advances the Global Coalition for Inclusion by providing strategic guidance to Regions and Programs in their cultivation and stewardship efforts with national governments and by managing internal operations related to the Coalition, including proposal development for non-government funding, budget development, spending oversight, consultant management, and related operational needs.
• In collaboration with Regions, manages government fundraising efforts and cultivates new non-U.S. government funding opportunities to secure resources for Special Olympics.
  
• Supports global-facing government relations events and engagements sponsored or supported by the GRID Department, as well as major development gatherings where Special Olympics has a presence, to cultivate government partnerships and advance sustainable, positive change.
• Identifies, analyzes, and promotes political support, including financial support, public support, and value-in-kind contributions, for World Games bid sites, single-sport global competitions, host countries, programmatic initiatives, and Special Olympics Regions and Programs.
  
• Manages an ongoing, and robust, stewardship program of non-U.S. government stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience plus Ten or more years of relevant work experience. Experience and/or coursework in the area of developing and managing government relationships at a national and state levels is a plus.

• Strong project management and planning experience.

• Strong knowledge of U.S. government relations and demonstrated ability to support selected international government or multilateral engagement, especially where connected to global inclusion, disability rights, development, or coalition-building priorities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, including a demonstrated ability to build and maintain networks, provide advice, and communicate effectively with a culturally and professionally diverse range of stakeholders.
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational and follow-through skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time domestically and internationally.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Must be able to work effectively and independently with minimal supervision, while also contributing as part of a team.

Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated interest in public and private sector partnership development.
• Experience working with people with intellectual disabilities is an advantage.
• Understanding of and commitment to the Special Olympics movement, including a strong appreciation for its history and purpose.
  
• A network of potential Special Olympics GRID supporters.
• Innovator – Approaches the work environment by looking for opportunities to improve, challenging the idea of business as usual, and testing well-thought-out ideas without fear of failure. Understands that failure can be an opportunity to learn.
• Leadership – Passionate about the people side of the business and understands that leadership is an attitude. Invested in the training and development of others, regardless of reporting structure. Sees leadership as an opportunity to help each employee succeed and become the best person they can be.
• Change Agent – Ability to generate new ideas and then build consensus around them to help the organization change for the better.
• Relationships – Sees relationships as opportunities to change minds and build lasting interactions with people at every level of the organization and across multiple functions.
• Communication – Excellent verbal and written communication skills at all organizational levels. Understands that effective communication includes effective listening, listens to understand, and can build a case to achieve consensus and persuade others.

*For USA based staff: Special Olympics offers full-time employees a generous and comprehensive benefits package, which includes: medical, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life insurance, disability, retirement, legal resources, and PTO.

Special Olympics provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

**Special Olympics is an E-Verify Employer**