Primary Purpose of job: 

Proactively pursue strategic initiatives of importance to the Company by acting as an advocate for QuikTrip and its employees while liaising with key external stakeholders, including staff at the municipal, state and federal levels, as well as external consultants, elected officials, law enforcement agencies, business associations, charitable organizations, media, other businesses and community organizations, to facilitate implementation of legislative, regulatory and policy changes in furtherance of such strategies.

Functions for this position: 

Serve as liaison between QuikTrip and government stakeholders, community groups, law enforcement agencies, charitable organizations, industry associations and other retail businesses.

• • Serve as primary point of contact between QuikTrip and elected officials at the local and state levels, as well as local law enforcement and community organizations.
  • Maintain relationships with internal stakeholders to understand the Company’s challenges and opportunities.
  • Liaise with elected officials at the federal level, as needed.
  • Maintain relationships with key stakeholders in local communities in which the Company operates, including state and county prosecutors, law enforcement, non-profits, civic organizations, and other entities.
  • Establish partnerships and promote collaboration between industry peers, community groups and nonprofit organizations with complementary objectives.
  • Serve as QuikTrip’s representative and actively participate in political engagement, trade associations and industry coalitions.
  • Support Manager of Government & Public Affairs in managing team of external consultants.

Develop and advance legislative and regulatory initiatives of strategic significance to the Company, and monitor and analyze proposed legislative actions to determine their potential effect on QuikTrip.

• • Develop and implement a comprehensive government relations strategy that reflects QuikTrip’s strategic plan and priorities.
  • Monitor and evaluate legislation of interest as they progress through the legislative process.  Keep management informed of the status and prospects of key issues with regular written status reports.  Generate timely and informative communications with QuikTrip management regarding legislative, regulatory, and political information.
  • Identify potential legislative and policy activity that could impact QuikTrip and provide recommendations for possible action or mitigation strategy.

Influence legislation through direct contact with legislators and various public officials.

• • Represent and protect QuikTrip’s interests by working with legislatures, associated authorities, and all appropriate committees.
  • Advocate for favorable legislation, regulations, and policies that align with QuikTrip’s strategic initiatives and business interests.
  • Communicate with appropriate legislative members, government officials, and regulators to advance the Company’s position around potential legislation and gain their acceptance and approval.
  • Represent QuikTrip as spokesperson before legislative bodies, as necessary.
  • Assist legislators and staff with requests for assistance in QuikTrip-related areas.

Manage QuikTrip’s relationship with outside business representatives and organizations, such as state and local chambers of commerce and industry and trade groups, in coordinating joint efforts to influence legislative bodies in areas affecting the overall business community.

• • Serve as a trusted advocate for QuikTrip and the convenience store industry by providing honest and reliable information and support to elected officials and staff.
  • Actively participate in political, government and industry coalitions, groups and trade associations.
  • Build coalitions in support of QuikTrip's position on key issues with associates and trade organizations.
  • Represent QuikTrip in a manner which projects a positive image to federal, state and locally elected officials, creating a favorable environment and atmosphere in which to conduct business.

Serve as liaison between various internal QuikTrip departments and governmental agencies to assist with QuikTrip business activities.

• • Manage close relationship with Corporate Security and maintain and develop close relationship with law enforcement agencies, including local police departments, sheriff’s offices, code enforcement agencies and district attorneys.
  • Establish regular cadence to provide updates and reports to senior leadership and other key members of the organization.       
  • Maintain close relationship with Real Estate, Operations, Sales, and Licensing Departments to assist with store development, sales and operational activities that may be impacted by local laws, ordinances, and regulations.
  • Prepare briefing material, presentations, and reports to communicate government relations strategies and outcome to internal and external parties.
  • Collaborate with Marketing and Corporate Communications Department to ensure alignment between government affairs activities and QuikTrip’s external messaging.

In coordination with Corporate Community Relations Manager, develop, implement and manage charitable and community relations strategy and effort.

• Continually analyze markets and divisions to identify charitable opportunities aligned with QuikTrip’s corporate charitable giving strategy, making recommendations to Corporate and Division management, where appropriate.
• Continuingly review and analyze QuikTrip’s philanthropic investments to ensure that giving and investments are strategic, intentional, and aligned with QuikTrip’s strategic goals.
• Monitor philanthropic partner progress, ensure program and investment metric accountability and tracking, and provide ongoing oversight of investment and partner efforts to maximize the impact of QuikTrip’s investments in the community.
• Oversee the collection, evaluation and dissemination of partner metrics.
• Work with Division management, Corporate Community Relations Manager, and Government Affairs Manager to develop strategic community engagement and deploy charitable giving funds based on QuikTrip’s strategic objectives.

Position in Organization

Reports to: Manager of Public & Government Affairs

Directly supervises: N/A

Indirectly supervises: N/A

Relationships

Inside the Company: Division offices, all Corporate departments, and all subsidiaries

Outside the Company: Political figures and staff, Associations in which QuikTrip has memberships, Civic leaders, Community and Non-Profit organizations

Position Specifications

The required specifications (education, experience and skills) are those that the employee must have to hold the position.  Applicants applying for this position must possess the required specifications in order to be considered for the job.  The desired specifications are those that are not required for the employee to hold the position but the employee should try to obtain the desired education, experience and/or skills to be effective and successful in the position.

Required education: College degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Communications, or equivalent QuikTrip experience.

Desired education: Bachelor’s degree (preferably in Political Science or legal studies) 

Required experience: 4-7 years’ experience in a legislative or executive branch of state or local government, and/or political journalism; or 7 or more years’ QuikTrip Store Operations experience with knowledge of all levels of Operations from store to upper management.

Desired experience: Past experience working with philanthropic organizations, prior community involvement, or policy making experience in the convenience store or petroleum industries.   

Required skills: Understanding of political and legislative processes, ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, self-starter, strong organizational abilities and attentiveness to detail, strong verbal and written communication skills.

Desired skills: Proficient at public speaking and extensive understanding of state and local political and public policy processes.

Additionally, this position requires extensive travel and the ability to be available by phone and/or email and/or have accessibility to calendar, contacts and data while out of the office.

Starting salary: $105,000 to $120,000