Head Of Government Relations

The Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games will be hosted in Los Angeles, California in 2028, returning to the United States for the first time in over 30 years. 2028 will be the first time LA hosts the Paralympic Games, creating an opportunity to expand awareness, understanding and inclusion of people with disabilities.
LA28, the organizers for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, is on a mission to create an unparalleled Games experience for athletes, fans, partners, our community and our people. Our vision is to collectively create what’s next through sport, community and the power of our differences.
The LA28 Olympics and Paralympics will represent LA and leverage the strength of our community’s diversity and creativity as we collectively work to design a Games that we all want to be a part of. We do this by focusing on people and by inviting everyone into the story of the LA28 Games.
The LA28 organizing committee is an independent, non-profit organization that is privately funded and governed by a board of directors.
Our Vision is to collectively create what’s next by harnessing sport, community and the power of our differences. Our Mission is to create an unparalleled Paralympic and Olympic experience for athletes, fans, partners, our community and our people.
Values and Behaviors:

• Co-Creation – We are authors of a shared story. Everyone contributes their unique voice to our shared mission; we share pride in our accomplishments and ownership of our shortcomings
• Excellence – We hold ourselves to the highest standard and expectations; we live our values and truths and persevere through challenges; we are continuous learners and adapt and pivot with speed to meet changing needs
• Inclusion – We seek to represent, include, empower and level the playing field; our work reflects the communities we serve and the world in which we live; we leverage our platforms to bring awareness to issues relevant to who we are
• Optimism – Embody a positive, enthusiastic, and solution-oriented attitude in everything we do; challenge the status quo, inspire and support one another to achieve our best; have our eyes on the future and believe we can make a meaningful impact
• Boldness – We embrace creativity, courage and outside-the-box thinking; we are unafraid to take risks, explore unconventional solutions, and learn from the process; we are innovators, disruptors, and challengers of the status quo
• Integrity – We communicate openly and honestly, listen, and respectfully value multiple perspectives; we do what we say and are accountable for everything we do; we do the right thing, always. Even when it isn’t easy

Head of Government Relations:
The Head of Government Relations will lead the LA28 Government Relations functional area, ensuring government support for the Games and spearheading strategy and execution at the local, state, and federal levels. With their team, they will be responsible for negotiating agreements with the City of Los Angeles and other venue cities (including, but not limited to, Carson, Inglewood, Long Beach, Pasadena, and Santa Monica) for the delivery of municipal services and securing support and collaboration at the local, state, and federal levels for transportation, security, and other key operational priorities and legacy opportunities.
The candidate should exhibit strong leadership and managerial skills, particularly the ability to set clear direction, organize teams, and drive results with staff, consultants, cross-functional colleagues, and external partners. They must be a highly skilled negotiator with impeccable judgment and a demonstrated track record of achieving results. The position requires an in-depth knowledge of and relationships in the State of California, the City of Los Angeles and other LA28 Games venue cities, including local and regional transportation and security agencies, and the ideal candidate will have experience working for the State of California, the County of Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, and/or another venue city. They will be an expert at navigating legislative and administrative processes at the various levels of government and shepherding an agenda through those processes effectively and with public support. The successful candidate will have their finger on the pulse of public opinion and key constituencies in greater Los Angeles and will be able to see around corners to protect LA28 against external risks and develop win-win solutions.
Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure LA28 meets all its commitments to the City of Los Angeles and other government stakeholders, and coordinate, track, and report regularly on LA28’s progress toward goals and commitments
• Represent LA28 before government bodies, at community meetings, and at other key events
• Closely monitor and coordinate LA28’s responses to legislative and government agency activities that could affect Games delivery or LA28 priorities, working with the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and others in the Olympic and Paralympic movements, as appropriate
• Lead negotiation of agreements with Host and venue cities for provision of municipal services and to support LA28 priorities, and secure approvals in City Council and other legislative and administrative bodies as necessary
• Build and maintain support for the Games among government officials, as well as key constituencies important to our government partners
• Secure support and collaboration at the federal, state, and local levels for transportation, security, and other key operational priorities and legacy opportunities
• Help establish and maintain task forces and planning groups with government partners and agencies to create operational plans for Games Delivery and our approach to secure support
• Manage LA28’s Government Relations staff and external consultants
• Head the government relations programs at the local, state, and federal levels to bring LA28’s interests and perspectives to the City of Los Angeles and the other venue cities, the County of Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Washington D.C.

Cross-Functional Support

• Work with the Commercial team to support commercial partners and collaborate with their government relations teams as warranted
• Collaborate across the LA28 organization to provide strategic advice and counsel to other operational groups regarding issues of importance to local governments and communities
• Support the LA28 Games Planning and Delivery team with respect to municipal services, transportation, security, energy, venues, out of home advertising, and other needs requiring government coordination
• Collaborate with Sustainability and Impact teams to identify and prioritize opportunities for the Games to leave a lasting legacy in the region
• Together with the Legal team, manage compliance with government ethics and reporting requirements
• Work with Communications team to identify LA28 storytelling opportunities and shape public affairs communications

Background & Qualifications:

• Minimum 15 years of experience in government, public affairs, or government affairs, including minimum 5 years of experience in a senior leadership/management role
• Experience identifying, vetting, and managing multiple consulting partners
• Excitement for the role and opportunity to help shape the future of Los Angeles and the Olympic and Paralympic Movement
• Extremely detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills
• Familiarity with laws, regulations, guidelines, and best practices governing municipal operations
• Demonstrated knowledge of and sensitivity towards the social, political, and cross-cultural needs of the diverse and underserved communities of Los Angeles
• Excellent written and oral communications skills
• Availability to work in-person in a Los Angeles-based office and to attend in-person meetings and events all across the County and region
• Well-developed problem-solving skills and ability to work independently, while also knowing when to seek feedback and buy-in
• A high energy level, entrepreneurial spirit, and the ability to manage through a period of change and growth
• Significant experience negotiating agreements and/or legislation, including serving as the lead negotiator, with favorable outcomes that provide win-win solutions
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
• Demonstrated experience successfully fostering and sustaining relationships with a diverse group of individuals within community groups and at all levels of government
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and contribute under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Expert-level understanding of and ability to navigate the key processes, players, and opportunities in the executive and legislative branches at all levels of government
• Proven track record of building and maintaining relationships with government officials, community, labor and business leaders, and other external stakeholders, resulting in supportive policy/operational outcomes
• Skill working with senior executives and building cross-functional partnerships and influencing stakeholders across multiple functional areas
• Strong knowledge, experience, and relationships in greater Los Angeles government; experience working for the City of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, State of California and/or an LA28 venue city strongly preferred
• Strong communication, team building, and interpersonal skills and demonstrated experience building and growing diverse, high-performance teams

Position Requirements:
Education:

• An undergraduate or graduate degree in public policy, political science, law, or related field

Expectations:

• Challenger Mindset – Inclination to drive ongoing improvement in people and process
• Innovative Approach – Ability to identify opportunities, develop new ideas and execute on creative concepts while managing to a budget
• Influencing Skills – Ability to drive organizational change through collaboration
• Flexible Approach – Ability to roll with the transitional nature of the organization as it grows and establishes itself over the next 6 years, and to set and adjust strategy during times of uncertainty and change

Submission Requirements:

• Resume

The annual base salary range for this position is $200k-$267k. The pay scale provided is the range that LA28 reasonably expects to pay as starting base compensation for this role. All LA28 compensation remains subject to final determination based on individual candidate qualifications, experience, or other reasonable criteria consistent with LA28’s operational business needs and applicable law.
LA28 does not provide relocation assistance.
LA28 is committed to operating fair and unbiased recruitment procedures allowing all applicants an equal opportunity for employment, free from discrimination on the basis of religion, race, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, color, ethnic or national origin, or any other classification as may be protected by applicable law. We strive to build a team that is diverse, inclusive and encourages qualified candidates of all backgrounds, perspectives, and identities to apply. We assess applications based on relevant skills, education, and experience a candidate can add to our team.