Director of Government and Strategic Relations

Unbound Now is ending human trafficking by identifying victims, supporting survivors, seeking justice, and leading system change. We are motivated by our faith in Jesus and work each day as individuals driven by hope, oriented towards service, and committed to excellence. To learn more about our values, please read our Statement of Faith.

Job Title: Director of Government and Strategic Relations

Job Location: Austin, Texas (hybrid/remote) with regular travel

Job Status: Full-time, exempt

Job Summary: The Director of Government and Strategic Relations is Unbound Now's senior external-affairs leader, responsible for advancing the mission through relationships with government, quasi-government bodies, nonprofits, faith organizations, philanthropic partners, and the media. The Director serves as the CEO's trusted advisor on public policy and partnership strategy and represents the organization in legislative, regulatory, coalition, and public settings. This is an individual-contributor role that succeeds through influence, credibility, and coalition-building rather than managerial authority.

Compensation: Annual salary

Benefits: Unbound Now is proud to offer a premier benefits package that prioritizes the health and financial security of our team members and their families:

• 100% Employer-Paid Health Insurance: We cover 100% of medical premiums for both the employee and their family.
• Employer-Paid Life Insurance: Fully covered for the employee at no cost.
• Retirement Savings: 403(b) plan with a 3% salary match (eligible after 90 days; 1-year vesting).
• Dental & Vision: Comprehensive plans available at the employee’s expense.

Schedule/Availability:
Generally, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; occasional evenings and weekends. Anticipated 40–50 hours/week. Active on-site presence required.

Working conditions: Work is performed in standard office settings, partner agency facilities, and field environments. Work is primarily hybrid/remote, with mandatory on-site presence required for scheduled team meetings, executive briefings, stakeholder sessions, and during legislative demands in Austin. The role involves frequent travel, evening and weekend events, and a heavier workload during legislative sessions. The Director works with limited supervision and has no direct reports.

Travel: Position requires frequent travel throughout assigned service regions and multi-office footprints, as well as travel for required state/regional agency meetings, leadership retreats, professional development, or training. Official travel expenses and personal vehicle mileage are reimbursed through payroll via TripLog following organizational guidelines and IRS standard mileage rates. To ensure compliance with IRS accountable plan rules, the Director must submit contemporaneous weekly travel logs via TripLog detailing date, mileage, destination, and business purpose.

Job Responsibilities:

Government Relations

The Director leads the organization's engagement with federal, state, and local government.

• Develop and execute an annual government relations strategy and policy agenda aligned with the organization's mission and priorities, in consultation with the CEO and board.
• Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, government agency leaders, legislative and committee staff, governors' and mayors' offices, and county and municipal officials.
• Monitor legislation, budgets, rulemaking, and appropriations at every level; analyze their impact and brief the CEO and leadership team in plain, actionable terms.
• Prepare and deliver testimony, comments, position papers, fact sheets, and talking points; prepare the CEO and other leaders for hearings and official meetings.
• Develop and advocate for annual legislative and budget priorities, including during legislative sessions, interim hearings, and agency stakeholder processes.
• Pursue public funding, contracts, and policy partnerships where they advance the mission, working with program and finance leaders.
• Ensure compliance with lobbying registration and reporting, gift and ethics rules, and restrictions on nonprofit political activity, coordinating with legal counsel as needed.

Strategic Relations

The Director builds the partnerships and public standing that extend the organization's reach and influence.

• Quasi-governmental and public-private bodies: Represent the organization and support other Unbound Now leaders who represent the organization on commissions, task forces, advisory councils, and intergovernmental or public-private partnerships.
• Nonprofits and coalitions: Cultivate peer organizations, trade and membership associations, and advocacy coalitions; join or lead coalitions and other mission-aligned groups where it advances shared goals.
• Faith organizations: Develop and steward relationships with denominations, congregations, ministry networks, and faith leaders as partners, advocates, and supporters.
• Philanthropy: Work with the CEO and development team to engage foundations, major donors, and corporate funders around policy and partnership priorities, including opportunities for joint funding.
• Media: Build relationships with reporters, editors, and producers; serve as a spokesperson and subject-matter voice on policy issues; coordinate with communications staff on op-eds, interviews, and responses to breaking issues.

• Strategy and reporting: Identify and represent us in emerging markets or potential expansion opportunities and risks; advise and build relationships in new markets that advance our mission and recommend partnership priorities, track relationship activity in the organization's CRM, and report regularly to the CEO on outcomes.

*This position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. The scope of the position may change as necessitated by organizational demands.

Working Relationships:

Reports to: Unbound Now CEO

Supervises: None

Works with: Executive Team, Development Team, Regional Directors and HQ staff

Education and Experience :

Required

• Bachelor's degree and at least 10 years of progressive experience in government relations, public policy, advocacy, or a related field.
• Demonstrated record of advancing legislative, budget, or policy goals at the state level; federal and local experience strongly preferred.
• Established relationships, or proven ability to build them quickly, across government, the nonprofit sector, and the philanthropic community.
• Strong knowledge of the legislative and budget process, nonprofit lobbying rules, and the limits on political activity for tax-exempt organizations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including testimony, briefings, and media interviews.
• Comfort with, and respect for, the organization's mission and values.
• Willingness to travel and to work irregular hours during legislative sessions.

Preferred

• Juris Doctor or master's degree in public policy, public administration, law, or a related field.
• Prior experience working directly with a CEO or executive team and a governing board.
• Experience in the anti-trafficking movement.
• Experience working with faith communities, coalitions, or philanthropic funders.

Competencies & Abilities

• Strategic thinking and sound political judgment
• Relationship-building and diplomacy across party and ideological lines
• Influence without authority
• Discretion with confidential and sensitive information
• Self-direction and independent management of a broad portfolio
• Integrity and a commitment to transparency and ethical conduct

Desired Outcomes:

• Passage or defeat of priority legislation and budget items as the organization intended.
• Depth and quality of relationships with key officials, partners, and funders, as judged by the CEO.
• New public funding, partnerships, or coalition commitments secured.
• Earned media placements and invitations to testify or serve on advisory bodies.
• Timely, accurate briefings and full compliance with lobbying and reporting requirements.

Job Requirements

• Mature Christian faith, as evidenced by participation in a local Christian church, with a thorough commitment to the vision, mission, and values of Unbound Now. Active participation in staff devotions and consistent prayer support for the ministry, donors, and volunteers.
• Pass employment eligibility verification (Form I-9); provide three references (supervisor, professional, personal); agree to and pass all required criminal background checks, including the DFPS criminal history check and the abuse and neglect registry check.
• Abide by all Unbound Now policies and procedures at all times, including the Abuse Prevention and Response Policy, Ramp Monthly Closeout Instructions, travel reimbursement guidelines, and internal control policies. Maintain strict adherence to organizational procedures, including prompt completion of required annual trainings and timely submission of daily time-sheets/grant allocations, travel reimbursements, and monthly expense documentation following company guidelines.
• Passionate, mission-driven, self-directed, courageous, trustworthy, and tenacious in achieving goals, with a high level of emotional maturity, strong integrity, a positive attitude, and an absolute commitment to data security, donor privacy, and survivor confidentiality protocols.

• Proven ability to develop, operationalize, and execute strategies that advance Unbound Now in alignment with its strategic plan. Brings strong leadership, relationship management, and non-profit development experience with a track record of success.
• Persuasive, action-oriented, and adaptable; capable of inspiring and engaging regional staff, volunteers, donors, advisory board members, and community leaders while building trust and collaborating effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Deep understanding of human trafficking and Unbound Now's core programs and operations, with the ability to maintain a hope-filled posture in the work and serve as a collaborative brand steward across all regional offices.
• Ability to manage departmental resources, software subscriptions, and vendor contracts responsibly within allocated budget guidelines.

Physical and Driving Requirements

• Must possess a valid driver’s license, reliable personal vehicle, maintain proper insurance coverage, and be able to operate the vehicle as needed for work-related regional travel.
• Demands include sitting for long periods at a computer and frequent video calls.
• Repetitive hand motions from frequent keyboarding.
• Demands sometimes require the ability to lift loads of up to 50 pounds.
• Frequent demands require close visual attention to detail and prolonged periods of mental concentration.

Equal Employment Opportunity & Faith Statement: Unbound Now is an equal opportunity employer. As a faith-based non-profit organization, Unbound Now exercises its legal right under Section 702 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to hire individuals who align with our Christian faith, mission, and core values.