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Government/Legislative Affairs Director

Position Description & DutiesPast Government Affairs Directors

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Position Description and Duties

The Legislative Director monitors and evaluates pending federal, state, and local legislative, regulatory, and legal activities that may impact human resources management. The Legislative Director is also responsible for communicating accurate and timely legislative information, enabling members to assess the importance of proposed legislation. The Legislative Director cooperates closely with the SHRM Government Affairs staff and the State Council to conduct these tasks. 

Responsible To:  
Core Leadership Area Director and State Director

Responsibilities:
  • Present legislative updates at affiliate chapter meetings as requested.
  • Develop and maintain contact with elected officials at the state and federal levels of government.
  • Attend and participate/organize a state delegation for Member Advocacy Day events.
  • Develop and coordinate an annual WI SHRM Workplace Policy Conference.
  • Encourage and support balanced and fair public policy that reflects the best interests of SHRM, its members, and their employers.
  • Encourage affiliate chapter members and State Council members to respond to legislative alerts and calls to action issued by SHRM's Government Affairs Team.
  • Review requests from SHRM Government Affairs for the State Council to sign letters in support of or opposition to pending legislation, regulatory action, or other policies. Prepare a timely summary and policy position for the State Director to recommend a position to be taken by the State Council.
  • Work to develop relationships with business coalitions and other policy-making members or interest groups with shared interests in the legislative community.
  • In coordination with SHRM staff, initiate action in response to legislation, regulation, or legal activities in the state.
  • Participate in Core Leadership Area (CLA) events, such as the SHRM Volunteer Leaders’ Business Meeting and SHRM Regional Council Business Meeting, as assigned by the State Director.
  • Communicate positively and proactively with SHRM members’ concerns with proposed or existing legislation or administrative rules. In coordination with SHRM Government Affairs staff and the State Council, initiate action in response to legislation, regulation, or legal activities in the state.
  • Identify, evaluate, and disseminate information to chapters issues of concern arising from potential legislation, regulatory, or legal activities within the state that could potentially impact SHRM members or the HR profession.
  • May assist in developing position papers, responses to legislative and regulatory offices, etc. May initiate actions responding to these matters within the state in coordination with SHRM Government Affairs.
  • Encourage and organize state letter-writing initiatives to federal and state legislators on pending issues, legislation, or HR “hot topics.”
  • Recruit and coordinate a state contact list of SHRM members willing to serve as SHRM Advocacy (A-Team) members. Activities may include but are not limited to, providing unique personal perspectives regarding specific pieces of legislation to SHRM for federal or state congressional use or serving as an “expert” resource/speaker as directed by SHRM Government Affairs on a particular issue.
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the Core Leadership Area Director or State Director.

Core Competencies:
  • Team oriented.
  • Effective communication skills.
  • Excellent time management and organizational skills.
  • Ability to advocate for the State Council and SHRM.
  • Ability to assist with recruiting potential WI SHRM State Council members.

Requirements:
  • Must be a SHRM member in good standing. SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification is highly desired.
  • Regular attendance at State Council Meetings is expected.
  • Lead the Workplace Policy Conference planning committee.
  • Attendance at the WI SHRM Volunteer Leadership Conference and annual Strategic Planning Meeting is expected.
  • Attendance at WI SHRM events is highly recommended.
  • Volunteering for three or more shifts is required if you attend the WI SHRM State Conference on behalf of the State Council.
  • Regular outreach to chapter Legislative counterpart positions (if there is one) is required.

Term:
  • Appointed by the State Director
  • Serves a one-year term beginning on the first day of January and ending on the last day of December. Appointed by the state council director. May be reappointed for two additional one-year terms for a total service of three years. 

Last updated:  9/30/2024

 

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Contact Information

Jay Stephany, SHRM-SCP, PHR
Government/ Legislative Affairs Director

Ph: 
Em: legislativedirector@wishrm.org
Term start:  1/1/2024
 

Biography

Jay Stephany is an HR Generalist at Network Health in Menasha, WI.  Network Health offers services to employers of all sizes, Medicare Advantage plans and individual and family health insurance services in 23 counties throughout Wisconsin.  Previous work experience includes Plexus as the Manager of Talent Acquisition, Goodwill NCW as the Senior Seeker of Talent, and Dunham Express as an HR Generalist.
 
Jay received a bachelor’s degree in human resource management from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and is a SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and a Certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR).  As a volunteer leader, Jay has been an active member with SHRM; both as a District Director for WISHRM and with Fox Valley SHRM (FVSHRM), serving in the positions of VP of Programming and Chapter President.

 

Additional Information

 
 

Resources

SHRM A-Team Information