Government Affairs Director

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We are Optimum, a leader in the fast-paced world of connectivity, and we're seeking driven and enthusiastic professionals to join our team, empower lives, fuel businesses, and drive innovation. Connectivity is now longer a luxury, but a necessity. A career at Optimum means you'll be enabling progress and enhancing lives by providing reliable, high-speed connectivity solutions that keep the world connected. Our successes, now and in the future, are powered by our amazing product, a commitment to our people and culture, and the connections we make in our communities.

If you are resourceful, collaborative, and passionate about delivering consistent excellence, Optimum is for you!

Job Summary

The Director, Government Affairs is responsible for state legislative and regulatory affairs as well as all engagement with state, local and Federal government officials on business matters for Optimum in Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas and Optimum’s South East Texas footprint (“Primary Areas”). This role also manages the renewal and compliance with the cable franchises negotiated with local governments across the Western Footprint covering 4 of the Optimum OMS regions. This position will also work with the appropriate state and local agencies to secure broadband expansion grants for designated areas in the Primary Areas, as well as other markets should opportunities arise. In coordination with Corporate Government Affairs, this position must develop and execute political, legislative, and regulatory strategies and initiatives that support and enhance the company’s business objectives, including strategic community affairs initiatives. The Director is also responsible for maintaining and building relationships with key federal, state, and local officials as well as community stakeholders who are influential in the Primary Areas. 

Responsibilities

Government Affairs Relationships: Develop and maintain relationships with Governors’ offices, Attorneys General, state utility commissions, state legislatures (including leadership, key committee chairs and staff), congressional district directors, and local government officials in the Primary Areas. The Director will also attend political functions and community events on behalf of the Company.
 
Legislative & Regulatory Affairs: Manage all state-level legislative advocacy, regulatory advocacy, and compliance. This includes strategic planning and direct day-to-day engagement in all aspects of legislative and regulatory proceedings and the coordination, both direct and indirect, (through industry allies and business associations) of company involvement to minimize operational impact and costs. To the extent possible, these efforts seek to achieve a better governmental environment for the company’s products and services. 
 
Business Initiatives: Responsible for developing and executing government strategies to garner support for business initiatives, including permits to support network expansion/upgrades, programming disputes and siting of retail locations. This may include working with applicable state and local agencies to secure government broadband grants for deployment of our broadband network.
 
Franchising: Responsible for all local government relationships and franchise management, including securing renewals on favorable terms and compliance throughout the entire Western footprint. Also supports expansion in communities outside company’s franchise areas through the negotiation and management of alternative right-of-way agreements as needed.
 
Community Affairs: Responsible for developing strategic targets for execution of community affairs initiatives to advance the company’s community image and relationships with public officials.

Qualifications

•    10-15 years experience in the telecommunications industry, government sector or other relevant areas.
•    Strong knowledge of telecommunications business, laws, and regulation is preferred.
•    Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability present effectively to a wide range of audiences.
•    Team building skills, including ability to work effectively with colleagues that are not in a direct reporting relationship.
•    Leadership skills, including ability to advance company interests in venues that require consensus building.
•    Flexibility and creativity in problem solving, particularly in negotiations with government officials and agencies.
•    Ability to build and maintain relationships with federal, state, and local government officials as well as community stakeholders.
•    Ability to analyze and understand business impact of proposed legislation and regulations at federal, state, and local level.
•    Ability to develop strategic plans for advancing business objectives with government agencies.
•    Strong working knowledge of state regulatory, legislative, and municipal processes.
•    Ability to plan and execute community affairs activities including events involving public officials.

At Optimum, every action and interaction we take part in, is driven by our three Guiding Principles: Do What’s Right, Drive One Optimum, and Make It Happen. These aren’t just words, they help us build trust, create real community, and embrace new ways of thinking. Our employees are empowered to do the right thing for our customers and co-workers and to recognize and reward these behaviors when we see them. It’s all part of the bigger picture of “Be The Difference” where each employee knows they have the power to enact real change, share new ideas, and understand that learning never stops. 

If you have the drive to succeed and are ready to embark on a thrilling career, seize this opportunity today, and join our winning team. Together, we'll shape the future of connectivity.

All job descriptions and required skills, qualifications and responsibilities for a particular position are subject to modification by the Company from time to time, in the Company’s discretion based on business necessity.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. The Company provides reasonable accommodations upon request in accordance with applicable requirements.

Optimum collects personal information about its applicants for employment that may include personal identifiers, professional or employment related information, photos, education information and/or protected classifications under federal and state law. This information is collected for employment purposes, including identification, work authorization, FCRA-compliant background screening, human resource administration and compliance with federal, state, and local law. 

Applicants for employment with the Company will never be asked to provide money (even if reimbursable) as part of the job application or hiring process. Please review our Fraud FAQ for further details.

Pay is competitive and based on a number of job-related factors, including skills and experience. The starting pay rate/range at time of hire for this position in the posted location is $129,591.00 - $185,130.00 / year. The rate/range provided herein is the anticipated pay at the time of hire, and does not reflect future job opportunity.