Assistant Vice Chancellor, Government Relations and Advocacy

Position Summary

UIC’s Office of Government Relations and Advocacy is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to serve as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Government Relations and Advocacy. Reporting to the Chancellor, the Assistant Vice Chancellor serves as UIC’s senior government relations officer and leads the university’s federal, state, county, and municipal advocacy strategy.

Working in close coordination with the University of Illinois System Office of External Relations and Communications, this position advances legislative, regulatory, budget, and policy priorities that support UIC’s mission, strategic goals, academic enterprise, research portfolio, and role as Chicago’s public research university and home to the state’s academic health center.

The Assistant Vice Chancellor also serves as a trusted advisor to the Chancellor and senior leadership on government relations, public policy, political strategy, stakeholder engagement, and opportunities to strengthen support for UIC among elected officials, government agencies, civic leaders, community partners, and other external stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities

Serve as UIC’s senior government relations officer and principal advisor to the Chancellor on federal, state, county, and municipal government relations, advocacy, public policy, legislative strategy, and external stakeholder engagement. Lead the development and implementation of UIC’s government relations and advocacy agenda in coordination with the University of Illinois System Office of External Relations and Communications, ensuring alignment with System priorities and institutional goals.

Provide strategic leadership and oversight for government relations and advocacy activities across UIC, including UI Health, and provide professional direction and oversight to the Office of Government Relations and Advocacy. Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with elected officials, government agencies, policymaker staff, civic leaders, community partners, healthcare stakeholders, higher education advocates, and other external constituencies important to UIC’s mission.

Lead UIC’s state, federal, county, and city government relations strategies and develop annual legislative and advocacy priorities in consultation with university and System leadership. Advise senior leadership on political, legislative, regulatory, budgetary, and public policy developments; monitor activity and proactively identify risks, opportunities, emerging issues, and policy trends affecting UIC and UI Health.

Lead advocacy efforts related to budget and appropriations priorities and coordinate institutional responses to legislative, regulatory, and policy matters by developing clear positions, recommendations, and advocacy strategies. Represent UIC in local, state, and national coalitions, associations, work groups, and civic forums, and coordinate visits, briefings, testimony, tours, and other engagement opportunities involving government and external stakeholders.

Prepare or oversee briefing materials, talking points, policy summaries, testimony, correspondence, legislative analyses, and advocacy materials for the Chancellor, senior leadership, and other university representatives. Perform other related duties and special assignments as requested by the Chancellor or designee.