Director of Policy & Advocacy

About the role

The Director of Policy & Advocacy will lead regional policy coordination, advocacy, and civic engagement across Southwest Louisiana. This senior position works to strengthen the business environment, advance economic growth, and align stakeholders around shared priorities such as infrastructure, tax policy, workforce development, and quality of life.

Key responsibilities

• Convene and facilitate regular meetings with elected officials, parish administrators, business leaders, and state agencies.
• Maintain continuous communication between businesses and government on permitting, infrastructure, workforce, and development priorities.
• Partner with the Southwest Louisiana Regional Planning Commission to support unified regional funding requests to state and federal bodies.
• Design, launch, and manage outcome‑driven policy taskforces aligned with organizational priorities.
• Lead regional advocacy engagements, including activities in the state Capitol and Washington, DC.
• Improve ease of doing business through regulatory alignment and customer‑service‑oriented government practices.
• Conduct and analyze an annual regional business climate survey.
• Support training for government staff, newly elected officials, and emerging civic leaders.
• Coordinate quality‑of‑life initiatives such as housing, placemaking, and amenities.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, planning, economics, business, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).
• 10+ years of experience in policy, advocacy, government relations, or regional coordination.
• Proven experience convening and managing multi‑stakeholder taskforces or coalitions.
• Strong understanding of local, state, and federal government processes.
• Excellent written, verbal, and facilitation skills.
• Strong organizational and project‑management abilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively across jurisdictions.

Required skills