Department: Government Relations
Job Title: Director
Report to: President

Position Objective

The incumbent will lead the Chamber’s government advocacy work by assessing members’ needs, tracking and analyzing policy challenges, and working with key stakeholders to improve the environment for American businesses. While the Chamber’s traditional geographic focus is the Yangtze River Delta, AmCham Shanghai also works on national level issues and cooperates with other business organization such as the U.S. China Business Council, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AmCham China, European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and other relevant organizations. The Director has 3 direct reports on the Government Relations team.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

1. Strategic Counsel (20%)
? Provide advice to the AmCham Shanghai leadership and the broader membership on inquiries related to US and Chinese government policies, structure and roles.
? Prepare and deliver briefings to the AmCham Shanghai leadership and visiting U.S. government and industry delegations on China’s macroeconomic, political and social environment, with a focus on Shanghai and East China.
? Provide strategic counsel to the AmCham Shanghai leadership on issues which may affect American business interests in China. Focus on new legislation, policies, regulations, interpretation circulars or other issues which may adversely impact market access or investment for American companies.

2. Relationship Management (40%)
? Establish and maintain strong relationships with key Chinese central, YRD provincial, and Shanghai municipal government agencies and stakeholders as well as with relevant U.S. government agencies.
? Identify and develop new partnerships with other business chambers and organizations in China and the U.S.
? Build and maintain relationships with AmCham Shanghai’s relevant internal resources such as Committee Chairs and the Communications Director.
? Manage and oversee government relations related programming including the Annual Government Dinner, Government Affairs Conference and Dialogue, and the Government Affairs Committee. Provide government relations support to AmCham Shanghai events. Organize briefings on key US and China policies that impact foreign businesses.
3. Advocacy Plan Implementation & Communications (30%)
? Develop and implement strategies for delivering messaging on advocacy positions to target stakeholders through appropriate channels in short, medium and long term.
? Collaborate as appropriate with business associations, NGOs, think-tanks and other stakeholders on policy advocacy with the Chinese and U.S. governments.
? Interact with AmCham Shanghai members to understand member issues and ensure support for advocacy positions.
? Work with the AmCham Shanghai Communications Director to manage messaging, content development and design of AmCham Shanghai policy positions and briefing materials.
? Support speaking opportunities by AmCham Shanghai’s leadership with timely and complete briefing material.
? Represent AmCham Shanghai at relevant public speaking, presentations and networking activities.
4. Management (10%)
? Build, develop and manage a qualified team of internal and external resources with requisite skills to deliver comprehensive government relations and advocacy strategies.


Qualifications

? 10+ years of relevant professional work experience in government affairs, public policy or advocacy preferably with government agencies and/or multinational companies in China.
? Strong skills in analysis and cross-cultural communications, and the ability to understand a wide and diverse range of industry sectors and issues.
? Significant knowledge of governmental relations and the ability to develop and implement clear, strategic advocacy plans and to manage multiple stakeholders.
? Strong writing skills - the ability to analyze policy issues and develop clear messaging around all AmCham Shanghai positions.
? Verbal and written communication skills in both English and Chinese with an ability to create effective communication materials.
? Understand the need to execute all activities from a business/commercial perspective, to assist members, governments and the Chamber, not purely pursuing activities from a government relations/advocacy perspective.
? Demonstrated knowledge of Chinese central, provincial, and local government structures and functions.
? Demonstrated knowledge of U.S. federal government structure and functions would be a strong asset.
? Strong understanding of current and historical US-China bilateral trade, political and cultural relations.
? Ability to understand and analyze government policy statements.
? Some understanding of the NGO sector.
? Strong, independent judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions, using interpersonal, analytical and member/customer service skills.
? Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s preferred or equivalent experience in governmental relations, public affairs, business, law, communication, or a related field.