The Assistant Vice President for Governmental Relations serves as a senior advisor and strategic leader for the University, advancing legislative, governmental, public policy, community engagement, and regional partnership priorities that support the institution’s mission and long-term impact. Reporting to and working closely with the President, executive leadership, and institutional stakeholders, this position serves as a primary liaison to the Texas Legislature, executive branch agencies, the Legislative Budget Board, federal and local governmental entities, civic and community organizations, business partners, economic development groups, and other external stakeholders.
The Assistant Vice President develops and implements strategies that strengthen institutional relationships, advance state and federal funding priorities, support higher education policy initiatives, promote workforce and economic development, and enhance the University’s role, reputation, and impact throughout the Permian Basin and West Texas region. This role provides leadership in governmental affairs, policy analysis, advocacy, strategic communications, public-private partnerships, and external engagement while collaborating across academic, administrative, business affairs, legal, compliance, facilities, and operational divisions to support institutional initiatives and strategic priorities.
1. Lead the development, coordination, and execution of comprehensive state and federal legislative strategies that advance institutional priorities in higher education, research, healthcare, workforce development, economic impact, student success, campus growth, and regional service.
2. Serve as the University’s primary liaison to local, state, and federal government officials, including the Texas Legislature, executive branch agencies, the Legislative Budget Board, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, congressional offices, municipal and county governments, and related governmental entities.
3. Develop and maintain cooperative relationships with elected and appointed officials, policymakers, agency leaders, civic organizations, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, public interest groups, business partners, and community stakeholders.
4. Advise the President and executive leadership on legislative, regulatory, political, governmental, budgetary, operational, academic, healthcare, research, workforce, community, and student-centered matters affecting the University.
5. Monitor legislative activity, regulatory developments, appropriations processes, state and federal budget matters, higher education policy initiatives, and emerging political, economic, and regulatory trends; analyze and communicate the impact of proposed legislation and policies on institutional operations and strategic priorities.
6. Develop and manage strategies designed to engage elected officials, governmental agencies, community leaders, and external partners to support institutional initiatives, funding priorities, public-private partnerships, and regional impact.
7. Prepare policy analyses, briefing materials, testimony, legislative reports, talking points, official responses, and related communications for the President, executive leadership, legislative offices, governmental agencies, and external stakeholders.
8. Lead and coordinate institutional responses to requests, inquiries, and information needs from governmental officials, agencies, legislative offices, regulatory entities, and external partners.
9. Support institutional appropriations requests, capital funding initiatives, public financing strategies, campus development priorities, infrastructure needs, and other funding opportunities in coordination with executive, financial, facilities, and operational leadership.
10. Collaborate with Business Affairs, Finance, Legal Affairs, Compliance, Facilities, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and other institutional divisions on legislative and regulatory matters affecting institutional operations, procurement, infrastructure, capital projects, risk management, administrative services, and strategic initiatives.
11. Represent the University in legislative hearings, policy forums, stakeholder meetings, professional associations, campus visits, public engagement activities, and external events in support of UTPB’s priorities.
12. Develop and manage strategic engagement opportunities for elected officials, governmental stakeholders, community leaders, and external partners, including campus visits, legislative briefings, institutional events, and regional partnership meetings.
13. Coordinate governmental and community engagement efforts related to economic development, workforce initiatives, public infrastructure, regional partnerships, and institutional growth throughout the Permian Basin and West Texas region.
14. Ensure governmental relations activities are conducted in alignment with applicable federal and state lobbying, ethics, records, compliance, and reporting expectations.
15. Maintain organized records related to governmental engagement, legislative priorities, funding requests, stakeholder contacts, official responses, briefing materials, and other work products.
16. Provide leadership and oversight for special initiatives, task forces, committees, and strategic projects as assigned by the President or executive leadership.
17. Maintain expertise in governmental relations, public policy, regulatory affairs, higher education governance, state fiscal review, and legislative developments through ongoing professional engagement and monitoring of best practices.
18. The job description is not a complete list of all responsibilities and duties performed by employees. Employees may perform other related duties as assigned by their immediate supervisor.
