WA- Director of Government Affairs

Hampton Lumber is a family-owned wood products company headquartered in Portland, Oregon. With over 1,700 employees, we operate nine sawmills in Western Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. We also manage timberland and operate a wholesale and export division. With over 80 years in the sawmill business, we are proud to have cultivated the knowledge and experience to grow and prosper, even in challenging times. We always look to the future and invest in our people, new technologies, and continuous improvement processes and techniques.

The Washington Director of Government Affairs is responsible for developing and executing strategies to engage with government officials, regulatory bodies, and policymakers at local, state, national, and international levels. In addition to interfacing with Washington legislators and helping Hampton to develop an elections strategy, the position will play a primary role in interfacing with the Washington Departments of Natural Resources and Ecology and will interface regularly with staff at the Washington Forest Protection Association and trade associations we’re members of. A major focus of the position will be the Department of Natural Resource’s management of state lands and regulation of forest practices, and support for DNR’s efforts to increase restoration work on federal lands. This role requires an understanding of government processes, policies, and regulations relevant to forestry and the wood products industry. The Washington Director of Government Affairs will advocate for the organization's interests, monitor legislative and regulatory developments, and build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders. The position will principally work in Olympia and the communities in which Hampton operates, and barring proximity to an existing Hampton location will likely work out of a home office. The position will report directly to Hampton’s General Counsel and Vice President of Government Affairs but will have regular interface with Hampton’s Director of Public Affairs, and our Vice President – Resources.

Salary 115k to 135k

• Substantial company-paid assistance for Medical and Dental insurance premiums; mental health coverage; cost effective co-pays and deductibles
• 401(k) with 5% annual company contribution and generous company matching contributions vested over three years
• Paid time off, including 8 paid holidays
• Participation in employee bonus program
• Employee wellness program that includes free counseling sessions, financial and legal guidance, and more
• Opportunities for paid training to support career advancement and personal development
• Develop and implement comprehensive government relations strategies to advance Hampton’s interests and objectives.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments, analyze their potential impact on the organization, and provide strategic guidance to senior management.
• Advocate for the organization's positions on legislative and regulatory issues through direct engagement with government officials, written submissions, public testimony, and coalition building.
• Establish relationships with key government officials, policymakers, industry associations, and advocacy groups.
• Manage and respond to inquiries and requests from government agencies, elected officials, and other stakeholders.
• Engage in political activities, such as campaign contributions, and participation in industry events and conferences.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including legal, regulatory, public relations, and business development teams, to align government affairs efforts with organizational objectives.
• Closely monitor forest planning by the Department of Natural Resources and interface with Hampton’s Resources team to project harvest levels and risks to the timber sale program.
• Interface with legal counsel, both in-house and externally, to define and quantify risks to Hampton’s business interests.
• Collaborate with Hampton’s public affairs teams to identify and develop coalitions at the local level.
• Must have a bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resources, political science, or a related field.
• Professional experience with public or government affairs required.
• Possess knowledge of Federal and Washington legislative and regulatory processes.
• Proven experience as a credible public speaker with strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong understanding of government processes, policies, and regulations relevant to the forest products industry.
• Robust interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with a wide variety of constituencies, including co-workers, business and community leaders, partners, board members, volunteers, public officials, and the public at large, in a wide variety of settings.
• Strong work ethic, sense of commitment, team-oriented, customer-focused and willingness to embrace change that strives for continuous improvement while exemplifying the highest level of honesty and integrity.
• Self-starter with the ability to accept or take on additional responsibility and develop their agenda to support the requirements of internal customers, with excellent time management.
  
  
  

Bud Hampton purchased his first sawmill in Willamina, Oregon, in 1942. Now a fourth-generation family-owned company, Hampton Lumber operates with a deep commitment to people, community, and sustainability. Today, we manage over 290,000 acres of forestland and operate nine mills throughout Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Having built a reputation for our commitment to sustainability and thoughtful forest practices, we export quality wood products worldwide and serve some of the largest construction and home supply retailers in North America.

Community is vital to us. Hampton Lumber is an engaged member of the communities in which we operate, and we encourage and support our employees’ desire to be active in the community through volunteering and special projects. We passionately support youth education, career and technical education, the arts, affordable housing, and anti-poverty programs. We are also proud sponsors of the Portland Timbers and the Portland Thorns soccer clubs. Go Timbers! Go Thorns!

Hampton Lumber is an equal opportunity employer All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other status protected by law.