Government Relations Associate

Job Description

Job Title: Government Relations Associate

Location: Corporate

Department:  Government Relations/Sustainability

Job Summary: Under the direction of the Director of Government Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility, the Government Relations Associate will help plan and execute a comprehensive, proactive government relations strategy as well as develop and build relationships that advance Wawa’s priorities with local, regional, state, and federal elected officials. S/he will be responsible for assistance in advancing the Company’s legislative, regulatory, and public policy goals through identifying, monitoring and engaging on relevant policy issues and leveraging expertise and relationships to effectively represent the Company in front of key legislators, regulators, trade associations, and industry coalitions. 

Principal Duties:

• Monitor federal, state, and local legislative/policy issues for assigned areas.
• Review and provide analysis on state legislation and regulatory activities and actions that impact Wawa’s business, associates, and customer experience.
• Draft policy positions and assist in briefing leadership prior to hearings and voting sessions. 
• Develop and maintain relationships with local, state and federal government officials, industry peers, trade associations, and others in furtherance of Company goals. 
• Assist in representing the Company in meetings with elected officials and staff to represent Company policy and position on government relations. 
• Develop expertise in a wide range of policy and industry issues impacting core business operations and growth, including priority issues in the areas of Tax, ESOPS, Fuel, EVs, SNAP, Credit Card Fees, and more.
• Engage with government relations management and business partners to determine and develop Wawa’s policy position on legislation and regulation.
• Handle a broad range of internal and external activities, and engage in strategic education, and internal and external advocacy activities to promote Wawa’s legislative agenda and policy positions of relevance to the Company, its partners and the community it serves.
• Manage a multi-state portfolio that includes:
• Monitor and track company and industry specific legislative and regulatory proposals through independent research, industry communications, and other supporting tools. 
• Manage day-to-day relationships with associations and lobbyists within the state.
• Manage and maintain Wawa lobbying efforts for assigned areas while developing relationships and building trust. 
• Partner with lobbyists on agreed upon actions, etc.
• File lobbying reports, applications and licensing as needed with the Board of Ethics as required by law.
• Establish a strong working knowledge of policy and industry issues impacting Wawa’s business, associates, customers, and retail industry within the state.
• Create and implement proactive state and local advocacy strategies.
• Prepare briefing materials for meetings with elected officials within state portfolio.
• Develop and maintain relationships with business partners within state portfolio..
• Research and manage relevant state and federal issues, coordinate and communicate with internal stakeholders, draft outgoing documents and correspondences, and track legislation. 

• Participate in legislative, government relations and networking meetings, conferences and events as required.
• Assist in implementation of company-wide PAC strategy.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Essential Functions:

• Ability to work independently and in a team setting as well as remote or with remote access team members or other associates.
• Ability to work well in a cross-functional, team-oriented environment.
• Ability to work across partisan and ideological lines to build consensus for state, city and local issues
• Ability to self-manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to work with all internal levels within a given organization, including senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and interact well with elected officials, external agencies, offices, and departments.
• Strong research, policy analysis, writing and oral communication skills, including the ability to effectively refine and present complex information in a concise way.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
• Detail oriented and strong organizational and analytical skills and ability to prioritize quickly and manage multiple deadlines.
• Ability to understand the long-term impact of legislation, regulation, policy decisions, and strategies.
• Willingness to learn and embrace new technology as needed.
• Demonstrates humility, maturity, empathy, kindness, self-awareness and good judgment.
• Ability to develop creative solutions to complex problems.
• Strong ability to support the development of presentations and other communication tools.
• Ability to build, coach, and mentor collaborative teams.
• Ability to travel, as needed.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred or equivalent work experience.
• 5+ years of Government Relations Experience.
• Project Management, legislation tracking programs and internet research experience preferred.
• Computer and MS Office skills including Access, Word, Power Point and Excel,

Wawa will provide reasonable accommodation to complete an application upon request, consistent with applicable law. If you require an accommodation, please contact our Associate Service Center at asc@wawa.com.

Wawa, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Wawa maintains a work environment in which Associates are treated fairly and with respect and in which discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. In accordance with federal, state and local laws, we recruit, hire, promote and evaluate all applicants and Associates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, familial status, marital status, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Unlawful discrimination will not be a factor in any employment decision.