WHAT DOES A GOVERNMENT RELATIONS MANAGER DO?

Published: Apr 23, 2025 - The Government Relations Manager participates in developing labor relations strategies for the hotel, managing labor matters, including negotiations, settlements, and legal claims. This role handles work permit applications, residency processing, and ensures compliance with local and state regulations, including obtaining necessary hotel licenses. This position also provides guidance on labor matters, assists in policy development, and ensures the maintenance of a positive employment environment while managing HR functions such as recruitment and training.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Government Relations Manager

1. Government Relations Manager Duties

  • Leadership Management: Responsible for the supervision of staff, including having the authority to hire, transfer, lay off, promote, discipline and discharge, train, reward, and review performance of employees.
  • Compliance Oversight: Ensures compliance with organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
  • Lobbying Engagement: Serves as a lobbyist with federal, state, and local officials on behalf of HealthPartners.
  • Legislative Strategy: Works with the Government Relations team to set and implement overall legislative strategy.
  • Legislative Monitoring: Monitors, analyzes, and tracks all health plan-related legislation.
  • Policy Communication: Communicates key policy information to HealthPartners leadership and internal stakeholders as appropriate.
  • Public Representation: Represents HealthPartners at various external forums (government, trade associations, and community partners) to help develop and HealthPartners' positions.
  • Internal Coordination: Coordinates the Internal Consultant Directory system to conduct internal review of state and federal legislation.
  • Government Representation: Represents HealthPartners at the local, state, and federal level on all issues related to health insurance, health reform, public health, and employer issues.
  • Legislative Communication: Manage communication about and response to Wisconsin legislation.
  • Community Collaboration: Identifies and works with community partners and internal departments to help mitigate the impact of uncompensated care on HealthPartners.
  • Project Management: Identifies and manages community projects and partnerships that can advance HealthPartners' public policy initiatives beyond the legislative process.
  • Policy Reporting: Prepares and presents legislative updates and policy recommendations with HealthPartners' internal stakeholders.

2. Government Relations Manager Details

  • Advocacy Management: Conducting advocacy efforts for government relations in the UK and Europe at all levels of government.
  • Legislative Strategy: Providing input into and implementing legislative and policy initiatives and strategies related to industry and community-specific issues of interest such as Destination Zero to Cummins at any level of government.
  • Industry Relations: Establishing rapport with industry associations and trade organizations to ensure representation of Cummins’ interests.
  • Trade Advocacy: Participating in industry and trade groups to develop and advocate for common industry positions.
  • Business Alignment: Working with the business to understand its goals and objectives to ensure that government relations activities are aligned with the business.
  • Risk Management: Identifying risk to the enterprise from government actions.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Complying with all laws, regulations, and ethical concerns within government relations activities and broadly across the organization.
  • Position Development: Developing position papers and discussion guides for those who act as external spokespersons with public policy stakeholders for the company.
  • Process Improvement: Managing government relations involves continuous process improvements to mitigate risks throughout the organization.
  • Policy Monitoring: Monitoring and preparing developments and discussions on policies and regulations relating to the interests of the business.
  • Document Preparation: Drafting relevant documents (policy updates, newsletters), briefs, and presentations on behalf of the Head of EU Government Relations.

3. Government Relations Manager Responsibilities

  • Policy Strategy: Work with Criterion's senior leaders to understand the company's point of view on public policy.
  • Project Management: Manage long-term and time-sensitive government relations projects and programs.
  • Legislative Analysis: Help analyze proposed legislative actions and determine the potential risk/opportunity impact on the organization.
  • Government Representation: Represent Criterion with Members of Congress, the Administration, and other governmental agencies, including maintaining existing relationships and forming strategically important new ones.
  • Relations Support: Develop and maintain tools and materials designed to support government relations efforts in coordination with Criterion's business development, marketing, and communications functions.
  • Strategic Planning: Work with the senior leadership team to develop and maintain a strategic plan to support the company's long- and short-term goals.
  • Trend Monitoring: Keep fingers on the pulse of relevant trends/news and advise leadership on upcoming opportunities/risks.
  • Policy Evaluation: Evaluate pending legislation, policy, and regulations.
  • Impact Assessment: Determine impact on Criterion, and help develop the company's response.
  • Executive Briefing: Create documents to brief company executives on legislative matters and provide guidance/recommendations on external communications.
  • Relationship Building: Nurture positive relationships with strategically important government officials, opinion leaders, third-party agencies, and other external stakeholders.
  • Influence Advocacy: Determine points of influence and advocacy and advise senior leaders, and tell the company's story in powerful and appropriate ways.
  • Communication Development: Develop/Maintain Portfolio of Communications Tools.
  • Message Coordination: Work with Criterion's strategic communications team on messaging, external outreach, and the development of relevant communications tools.

4. Government Relations Manager Job Summary

  • Labor Strategy: Participate in the development of the Labor Relations strategy for the Hotel.
  • Labor Advice: Advises on labor matters as they impact the hotel.
  • Team Management: Assists in the management of all team members in the area of labor relations to include negotiating agreements, settlements, handling grievances, mediations, arbitrations, work permit applications, residency processing of team members, and local and state employment claims.
  • Visa Management: Works towards obtaining visas online and in person through the immigration authorities.
  • License Processing: Deals with relevant ministries in order to process licenses for functions.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Deals with relevant ministries for hotel operating licenses, for example, fire & safety, health, Ministry of Commerce etc.
  • Policy Guidance: Provides assistance, guidance and counseling to Hotel Managers, Executive Committee, and Outside legal principles on labor matters and hotel policy.
  • Localization Compliance: Provides guidance on and ensures compliance with localization targets/initiatives.
  • Salary Reporting: Processes through relevant authorities mandatory salary reporting and ensures the hotel government relations file is always open and active.
  • Policy Implementation: Assists in the development, implementation, and administration of policies and programs related to the management of all hotel personnel to ensure the maintenance of a positive and productive employment environment.
  • Policy Monitoring: Monitor the same for fair and consistent application.
  • HR Management: Assist in the management of the HR Office, including recruitment, employee relations, administration, and training.

5. Government Relations Manager Accountabilities

  • Legislative Advocacy: Keep up to date with legislation changes and advocate on behalf of the membership.
  • Document Preparation: Prepare high-quality, evidence-based submissions, briefing papers, and other documentation on key policy issues tailored to the context of different jurisdictions and audiences.
  • Industry Communication: Draft documents to a high standard, explaining issues faced within the Electrical and Communications industry to relevant industry stakeholders.
  • Representation: Represent NECA at relevant forums in QLD and nationally where appropriate, including attendance at industry events and participation in advisory committees etc.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Liaise and consult with external resources, the Government, and other stakeholders to build effective working relationships.
  • Position Promotion: Promote and defend NECA’s position as the peak industry organisation through extensive engagement with government, external industry stakeholders, and media.
  • Advisory Coordination: Coordinate and participate in internal NECA advisory groups.
  • Partnership Building: Build effective, collaborative, professional partnerships with members and key stakeholders within the Federal and State Governments, Departments and other government agencies.
  • Policy Advocacy: Effectively present and advocate NECA’s policy views in formal and informal settings.
  • Project Management: Identify appropriate project opportunities, develop tenders, and project manage any NECA projects.
  • Media Relations: Ensure effective media relations are undertaken on behalf of NECA in consultation with the Director of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, the Operations Manager, and the National Communications Manager.
  • Content Advisory: Provide advice on media releases, publications, articles, speeches, printed materials, and digital products in consultation with the marketing and communications team.