Senior Director of Community and Government Relations at GBH in Boston, Massachusetts

Job Description:

GBH enriches people's lives through programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain, fostering citizenship and culture, the joy of learning, and the power of diverse perspectives.

JOB DESCRIPTION

As a Senior Director of Community and Government Relations, you are a hands-on, experienced, and versatile professional who turns GBH’s business goals and creative vision into world-class executions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

You are an important public face for GBH, a strategic connector and communicator who proactively builds relationships to further the organization’s mission and business goals. This role has four primary functions:

Community Relations: Engage with and establish ongoing relations with various local organizations across interests, activities, and neighborhoods to build connections related to GBH and its mission, programs, and services. Outreach is focused on:

• Growing diversity among audiences thought leaders, and supporters by building and maintaining relations with local organizations, individuals diverse communities in consultation with GBH’s local content and editorial leaders, and development and membership teams.


• Engaging businesses and sectors that drive the regional economy in collaboration with the Local Corporate sponsorship leadership. Sectors may include education, health care, nonprofits, science and tech, and those related to our content pillars, such as science, history, arts + culture, civics and journalism, and kids. 


• Liaising with neighborhoods, especially where GBH has a physical presence. This includes Allston-Brighton through service on Brighton Board of Trade, Allston Board of Trade, and by identifying GBH colleagues to serve on Brighton Main Streets, Dorchester, and Worcester.


• Oversee the GBH Studio (and its on-site engagement manager) at the Boston Public Library, the primary convening space for the community.

• Engaging education leaders at the city, state, and group level to share the impact of GBH’s work and find ways to partner; liaison with Brighton High School; managing the annual David Kuhn Scholarship for Brighton High seniors.


• Create and manage media partnerships in a strategic way to maximize reach and new audience growth while also working with the Membership and Local Corporate Sponsorship teams to align around goals and new business opportunities

Government Relations: Build and maintain relationships with local, state, and national elected officials in support of GBH and public media through communication and engagement in areas related to programs, policy, and funding.

• Local – Mayor, City councilors, with particular focus on Allston-Brighton, and Boston Public Schools; Worcester mayor


• State – Focus on state representatives and senators for Allston-Brighton, Boston, Worcester, leadership, Governor, and those leading efforts in education and other areas related to GBH work and content interests. Work with outside firms as warranted.


• National – Focus on Massachusetts delegation through communication to build support for public media in Congress. Served as liaison with national advocacy group APTS and collaborated with CPB and PBS government relations staff.

Community Advisory Board: Manage the 25-member community board federally mandated to involve and solicit input from the many audiences GBH serves. Led efforts to identify, recruit and nominate a highly diverse group of eight new members each year for three-year terms. Develop and present topics through speakers in six meetings each year that engage CAB members and provide valuable feedback to GBH on its programs and activities related to audiences and the community.

Paula Apsell Scholarship: Manage annual GBH/Paula Apsell STEM Scholarship of $35,000 given to Boston Public Schools graduating seniors who plan to study in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. Work with BPS to share notice of scholarship; coordinate applications and interactions with students; create a diverse committee of educators, guidance counselors, and scientists to review submissions and select winners; notify students and award scholarships; publicize winners and post online. Ideally, create in-person opportunities to meet students and award scholarships.

SKILLSET

• 12+ years of progressively complex professional experience 


• Government relations or political campaign experience a plus 


• Communications and Community relations experience

• Engagement expertise


• Demonstrated leadership experience


• Ability to think both strategically and creatively


• Strong team player, able to make collaborations happen


• Able to conceptualize and execute projects, with a strong bias for action. Impeccable attention to detail, excellent writing skills


• Tenacious self-starter with a passion for effective communications


• Able to own and manage multiple tasks in a deadline-driven environment


• Excellent presentation skills.

EDUCATION

Bachelors or equivalent relevant work experience

JOB-STATUS

Staff Position

GBH is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve are diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, GBH does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment, or promotion based on race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, disability, veteran or military status, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

Application Process Assistance

GBH will reasonably accommodate applicants with disabilities who need adjustments to participate in the application or interview process. To initiate an accommodation request, contact the Human Resource department by sending an email to human_resources@wgbh.org or by calling 617-300-2000.

Salary: