Description

Vice President of Government Relations, Policy, and Strategy

Brightpoint Community College is a two-year public institution of higher education and is one of the largest of Virginia’s 23 community colleges. The college is located within the Greater Richmond metropolitan area. It serves students and the community at its two campuses, in Chester and Midlothian; online; and in locations throughout its service area. Brightpoint Community College’s mission is to provide quality educational opportunities that inspire student success and community vitality. It envisions a success story for every student.

Brightpoint Community College offers a robust benefits package, including:

• State of Virginia employee benefits
• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, and vision)
• Choice of Virginia Retirement System (VRS) participation or ORP Optional Retirement Plan participation
• Generous annual leave and paid holidays
• Professional development opportunities
• Continuous Learning Programs and Educational Assistance Programs
• Access to wellness resources and employee assistance programs

Brightpoint Community College invites applications for the position of Vice President of Government Relations, Policy, and Strategy. This is a senior leadership position reporting directly to the college President. This role provides critical operational and strategic support for government relations, institutional effectiveness, policy development, college strategy, and institutional grants administration.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Government Relations

• Support the college President in building and maintaining relationships with county, city, state, and federal officials, including legislative bodies and government agencies.
• Represent the college in meetings with elected officials to advocate for the college’s policy priorities, funding needs, and strategic initiatives.
• Monitor and analyze local, state, and federal legislative and policy issues that could affect the college’s operations, funding, and educational programs.
• Assist in coordinating meetings, briefings, and communications between the college and government officials, ensuring the institution’s positions are communicated clearly and effectively.
• Prepare correspondence, policy briefs, and reports for local, state, and federal elected officials, keeping them informed of the college’s needs, outcomes, and achievements.
• Assist with organizing campus visits, events, and meetings involving elected officials and government representatives.

Communications and Coordination

• Draft, review, and coordinate written communications, presentations, and briefing materials related to government relations, policy, strategy, and grants.
• Develop communication strategies that support college initiatives, grant priorities, and strategic goals.
• Collaborate with college leadership to coordinate internal and external communications related to policy development, compliance, and grant-funded initiatives.
• Review contracts and grant-related agreements to ensure compliance with federal and state laws, VCCS requirements, and college policy.
• Maintain consistent, accurate messaging aligned with the college’s mission, strategic priorities, and funding objectives.

Policy Compliance and Enforcement

• Ensure college employees understand and adhere to institutional policies, particularly those related to compliance, risk management, and grant-funded activities.
• Develop and oversee monitoring systems and internal controls to ensure policies and grant requirements are followed institution-wide.
• Investigate or coordinate responses to alleged policy or grant compliance violations, working with Human Resources, Legal Counsel, Financial Services, or external agencies, as appropriate.
• Track and report compliance issues, trends, and corrective actions to senior leadership.
• Support audits, accreditation reviews, and external compliance inquiries, including those related to grants and sponsored programs.

Grants Administration and Oversight

• Provide executive oversight of the college’s grants administration function, ensuring alignment with institutional strategy and compliance with funding requirements.
• Coordinate closely with academic leaders, Financial Services, Foundation, and grant staff to identify, pursue, and prioritize grant opportunities that support student success, workforce development, and institutional goals.
• Review and advise on grant proposals to ensure alignment with the college’s mission, capacity, and strategic plan.
• In alignment with the business office and Foundation, ensure systems and processes are in place for effective grant management, reporting, compliance, and stewardship.
• Monitor grant portfolios to assess institutional risk, sustainability, and return on investment.
• Serve as a liaison with federal, state, and private funding agencies on grant-related matters as needed.

Training and Resource Development

• Design and implement policy and compliance training programs for faculty, staff, and administrators, including training related to grant compliance and sponsored programs.
• Serve as the primary institutional resource for policy and grant-related interpretation and guidance.
• Ensure policies and grant procedures are written in clear, accessible language and communicated effectively campus-wide.
• Maintain and oversee a searchable, up-to-date policy and grants guidance repository.

Strategic Planning and College Strategy

• Work closely with the college President and Executive Leadership Team to develop, refine, and implement the college’s long-term strategic plan.
• Use data, research, and grant performance outcomes to evaluate the effectiveness of strategic initiatives and inform future planning.
• Collaborate with academic division leaders and administrative leaders to ensure strategic goals are embedded in departmental planning, budgeting, and grant pursuits.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to execute strategic initiatives and track progress toward goals.
• Advise leadership on strategic risks and opportunities related to policy changes, funding trends, grants dependence, and regional or demographic shifts.
• Monitor institutional performance against strategic goals, student success metrics, accreditation standards, and operational benchmarks.

Advisory Role

• Advise the President and Executive Leadership Team on policy, funding, and grant implications of strategic initiatives and operational decisions.
• Assess institutional risk related to policy gaps, noncompliance, or grant management challenges and propose mitigation strategies.
• Ensure that policies and grant-funded activities support the college’s mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities.
• Consult with Human Resources around compliance, policy, and legal ramifications.
• Authority to consult with VCCS legal.

Other Duties

• Participate in special projects and strategic initiatives, as directed by the President.
• Attend evening or off-site meetings, as required.
• Perform other duties consistent with the scope and responsibilities of the position.

This position is designated as Essential Personnel and is required to report to work or remain available during emergency situations or campus closures.

KSA’s/Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or Juris Doctor (JD) from a regionally accredited institution.
• Minimum of seven years of experience in higher education administration, government relations, policy development, strategic planning, or grants administration.
• Strong understanding of the legislative, regulatory, and funding environment affecting higher education.
• Demonstrated experience aligning institutional strategy with policy, compliance, and grant-funded initiatives.
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with government officials, funding agencies, and community partners.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
• Knowledge of institutional effectiveness, accreditation processes, grants compliance, and risk management.

Successful completion and passing of a background check is required.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Acceptable application packages are those submitted through the VCCS portal located at https://jobs.vccs.edu/postings/94563.

REQUIRED: A fully completed application, CV or resume to include a list of three professional references, cover letter, and copies of all applicable transcripts must be submitted through the career website to receive consideration. There is a limit on the number and size of attachments that can be uploaded with the application. Documents that are unable to be uploaded in the career website should be sent via email to facultyjobs@brightpoint.edu immediately after successfully applying to the position. Please do not submit the same document in the system and by email.

EEO STATEMENT: The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non-merit factors.