Director of Strategic Partnerships and Government Affairs

ENERGY SYSTEMS GROUP is hiring a Director of Strategic Partnerships and Government Affairs to join our PacificWest team. This position will be based in California and requires up to 30% travel including overnight stays.

The Director of Strategic Partnerships & Government Affairs is responsible for developing and managing high-impact external relationships that drive market access, pipeline growth, and revenue acceleration. This role focuses on building strategic vendor partnerships and sponsorships to support business development outreach programs, trade show events, and internal summit-style meetings, while also cultivating senior-level relationships with key public agency stakeholders to open doors for the sales team and create new client opportunities. This individual serves as a senior ambassador for the company across both public and private sectors.

The essential functions of the position include:

• Strategic Partnerships & Sponsorship Development: Identify, pursue, and secure strategic vendor partnerships and sponsorships that support business development outreach initiatives, client engagement programs, and internal summit-style meetings
• Vendor Relationship Leadership: Build, manage, and grow long-term relationships with key vendor partners, ensuring alignment, performance, and mutual value creation
• Sponsorship Program Design & Execution: Create structured sponsorship offerings, tiers, and value propositions that align partner investment with company growth objectives and event strategy
• Government Affairs & Public Agency Engagement: Establish and maintain senior-level relationships with decision-makers and influencers across targeted public agencies (e.g., cities, counties, school districts, universities, special districts)
• Sales Access & Door Opening: Proactively create warm introductions and access points for sales and business development teams, helping accelerate new client acquisition and strategic pursuits
• External Representation & Influence: Represent the company in public meetings, industry associations, conferences, and government-related functions to build visibility, credibility, and trust
• Public Sector Strategy Support: Support the identification of priority agencies, stakeholders, and pursuits in partnership with sales leadership; assist with relationship mapping and access strategy
• Internal Summit & Executive Event Support: Lead partner engagement and sponsorship coordination for internal leadership summits, executive meetings, and company conferences to enhance experience and offset costs
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Work closely with Sales, Business Development, Marketing, and Regional Leadership to ensure partnership and government affairs activities are aligned with growth strategy and revenue priorities
• Market, Funding & Policy Awareness: Monitor relevant public-sector initiatives, funding programs, and policy trends that may impact opportunity development or client demand
• Performance Tracking & Reporting: Track partnership activity, sponsorship performance, and relationship impact on pipeline development and new client creation

Your background includes:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Public Administration, Political Science, Communications, or related field
• 8-12+ years of experience in strategic partnerships, government affairs, public sector relations, business development, or a related role
• Demonstrated success building senior-level relationships with public agency leaders, executives, and external partners
• Experience developing and managing sponsorship programs, strategic alliances, or partner ecosystems
• Proven ability to open doors, influence without authority, and create access for sales teams
• Strong executive communication, presentation, and relationship management skills.
• Experience representing an organization externally with professionalism and credibility
• Ability to operate independently in a relationship-driven, growth-oriented environment

What we bring to you:

• Professional growth and development programs including tuition reimbursement
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision insurance plans and wellness plans for employee and your family
• Life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, and supplemental benefits
• 401(k) Savings Plan
• Nine Paid Holidays and three floater holidays
• Paid Vacation and Personal/Sick Leave
• Paid Parental Leave for the birth, adoption, or placement of a child/children
• Highly competitive salaries and incentive structure
• Pay range: $110,000 to $120,000 per year, commensurate with experience

We want you to know:

ESG is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer dedicated to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. We value talent and understand that our colleagues allow us the opportunity to deliver an exceptional customer experience. We achieve our goals through teamwork and conduct our business with integrity.

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