Director of Government Affairs & Community Engagement

Director of Government Affairs & Community Engagement at Chesapeake Search Partners Director of Government Affairs & Community Engagement at Chesapeake Search Partners in Savage, Maryland Posted in 11 days ago.

Type:

full-time

Job Description:

CSP is partnering with a fast-growing real estate firm in their search for a Director / VP of Government Affairs & Community Engagement to support its continued expansion across key metropolitan markets. This is a newly created, highly strategic role responsible for building and maintaining relationships with local governments, municipalities, and community stakeholders to facilitate growth, streamline development efforts, and support successful market entry and expansion. This individual will serve as a critical bridge between the firm and the cities in which it operates and plans to grow-helping navigate regulatory environments, accelerate project timelines, and position the company as a valued partner within local business communities. Given the multi-market nature of the firm's platform and growth strategy, this role will require a meaningful amount of travel to key markets to build in-person relationships with municipal stakeholders, support development initiatives, and represent the company at public meetings, site visits, and community engagements.

Key Responsibilities:

Government Affairs & Municipal Engagement Develop and maintain relationships with city officials, planning and zoning boards, economic development agencies, and other municipal stakeholders. Serve as a primary liaison between the company and local governments across existing and target markets. Navigate zoning, permitting, and entitlement processes to support new developments and expansions. Represent the company at public meetings, hearings, and community forums. Market Expansion & Development Enablement Partner closely with acquisitions, development, and construction teams to support site selection and project execution. Provide insight into local regulatory, political, and community dynamics impacting development. Identify risks and opportunities early in the development lifecycle and help drive solutions. Support efforts to accelerate approvals and reduce friction in new and existing markets. Community Engagement & External Partnerships Build relationships with chambers of commerce, business associations, trade organizations, and local leaders. Position firm as a key partner supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship within each market. Identify opportunities for partnerships, incentives, and community-based initiatives. Support programming and engagement efforts that strengthen tenant and community connectivity. Strategic Communication & Stakeholder Management Develop and execute stakeholder engagement strategies for new market entry and expansion initiatives. Anticipate and manage potential community or political concerns tied to development projects. Support messaging and external communications aligned with the firm's brand and growth strategy. Collaborate with leadership to ensure consistent positioning across markets.

Qualifications:

8-15+ years of experience in government affairs, public policy, economic development, or real estate development. Established relationships with municipal leaders, planning/zoning boards, and local agencies in one or more major markets. Experience navigating entitlements, permitting, and regulatory processes. Background working within or alongside public-private partnerships. Strong understanding of urban infill, industrial, or adaptive reuse development preferred. Proven ability to influence stakeholders and drive outcomes in complex environments. Excellent communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills. Entrepreneurial, hands-on mindset with the ability to operate independently in a high-growth company.