Job Description

Job Description and Qualifications

This position is generally responsible for working with senior business and operating management to plan and direct strategies to increase business revenues, reduce corporate expense, limit liability, obtain government funding and accommodative policy, support sales and contracting opportunities, and create an environment with government and host communities that are supportive of priority businesses needs and operating facilities.

More specifically, the position is responsible for all aspects of Air Products’ U.S. Regional Government Relations Program including planning and management of the process to annually establish policy & legislative priorities of the company.  Those responsibilities include working with EVPs, SVPs, VPs and outside consultants to effectively analyze, manage and address complex issues.  The position requires effective interaction with high-level government officials including their lead staff and government agencies.

The position is also responsible to effectively plan, manage and operate the local and state government relations program for the U.S. Industrial Gases North sub-region business teams and the LNG Group.  Those responsibilities include new project opportunities and issue management for all operating facilities throughout the sub-regions.  The position will interface with Regional VPs, Business Managers and Commercial Leads in each sub-region.  Position responsibilities include the development of annual local and state project and issue management plans and formal community outreach plans for select operating facilities.  The position requires effective interaction with local and state officials including mayors, councils and state legislators, and local and state agencies.  This position will also contribute to the U.S. Field Program of the Air Products Foundation.

The position is responsible for supporting special projects associated with the company’s regional and Pennsylvania/HQ presence.  A number of those projects require executive-level contact and relationships inside the company and in the regional community and state.  The projects are often challenging and require strong interpersonal and analytical skills, political acumen, knowledge of government processes and diplomacy.  This requires interaction with high-level state officials including possibly governors, members of the state legislatures, cabinet secretaries and their staffs.

The incumbent also serves as needed as part of the Crisis Management Core Team member representing Corporate Relations and is responsible for the department’s processes and leadership participation in drills and active situations.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

This position is accountable for the following end results:

Identifying opportunity or risk to the company by directing and managing the Air Products U.S Northeast Region Government Relations Program including identification of issues, policy and legislation with direct business implications.
Direct business-driven interaction between company executives and management, and high-level government officials, including elected and appointed officials, their staffs and government agencies.
Support H2fM business objectives in states and regions where policy is accommodative to the development of zero emissions vehicles including positioning Air Products technology for inclusion in all relative policy, programs, rulemaking, and regulations
Support H2fM business/project development in target states including working with project development teams in pursuit of amenable sites, land use entitlements, permits and other government proceedings and approvals as required.  This may include developing and executing public/government relations campaigns in support of possibly controversial industrial projects.
Support sub-region profitability goals by directing and managing ongoing government relations issues identification, new opportunity and new capital projects support for U.S. IG North, South, West and LNG.
Protect Air Products “Consent to Operate” and sub-region profitability goals by directing and managing the Community Outreach Program supporting operating facilities in the U.S. IG and LNG business units.
Organize, manage and implement community outreach training for operations site managers. 
Screen, recruit and manage outside consultants and lobbyists whose effectiveness is critical to meeting our commercial objectives in the states and at the federal level.
Provide strategy and management for special projects that support Air Products’ Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania HQ presence including interaction with company executives, the Governor, Pennsylvania Legislature, Cabinet Secretaries and local officials.
Ensure strict compliance with state and federal gift laws related to members needed government engagement.
Direct and manage the U.S. Field Giving Program in support of the IG North and key corporate-level initiatives.  Ensure that the program is aligned with business and operating objectives and enhances Air Products’ reputation in our host communities and states.
Support Air Products’ reputation as a safe industrial operating entity and helping to limit incident liability and exposure by serving as the Corporate Relations delegate to the Core Crisis Management Team.
Plan and implement strategies which leverage government and community relations and philanthropy to build enduring supportive relationships with government officials and community leaders positioned to impact critical business and operations needs.  Responsible for developing and implementing public affairs issue management campaigns in support of high-priority company objectives.
Participate in and leverage key industry trade association and user group activities to effectively position Air Products’ priority business objectives with state policy makers and regulatory agencies.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Undergraduate degree with a minimum 10 years of experience in U.S., state and local government affairs, and community relations. 

Extensive experience and knowledge of national, state and municipal governmental processes and public policy issues is essential, as is knowledge of third party/interest groups. 

Extensive experience in successfully directing external relations for high profile ($20MM-$100MM), complex industrial gases and manufacturing projects as well as high-profile advocacy initiatives is a must. 

Media and risk communications experience.

Proficient at responding to external public stakeholders in high risk/low trust situations. 

Must possess a superior capacity to convey personal trust and credibility, be a skilled communicator and work with executives, business managers and issue owners to build internal consensus on the company’s strategies and approaches to complex issues and projects. 

Highly skilled in complex problem solving and demonstrate superior judgment, political acumen and experience at influencing and directly interfacing with high-level officials of U.S. and state governments.