Vice President of Government Relations, Policy, and Strategy

Position Title: Vice President of Government Relations, Policy, and Strategy (12‑month administrative contract). Report to: President. Work Location: Chesterfield, VA. Agency: Brightpoint Community College. Hiring Range: commensurate with qualifications and experience. Employment: Full‑time. Essential Personnel. Telework options are subject to change based on business needs. Language requirement: none.

Brightpoint Community College

Brightpoint Community College is a two‑year public institution of higher education and one of the largest of Virginia's 23 community colleges. Located in the Greater Richmond metropolitan area, it serves students at its two campuses in Chester and Midlothian, online, and throughout its service area. The college’s mission is to provide quality educational opportunities that inspire student success and community vitality.

Benefits Package

• State of Virginia employee benefits
• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, and vision)
• Choice of Virginia Retirement System (VRS) participation or Optional Retirement Plan participation
• Generous annual leave and paid holidays
• Professional development opportunities
• Continuous Learning Programs and Educational Assistance Programs
• Access to wellness resources and employee assistance programs

Key Responsibilities

Government Relations

• Support the college President in building and maintaining relationships with county, city, state, and federal officials, including legislative bodies and government agencies.
• Represent the college in meetings with elected officials to advocate for the college’s policy priorities, funding needs, and strategic initiatives.
• Monitor and analyze local, state, and federal legislative and policy issues that could affect the college’s operations, funding, and educational programs.
• Assist in coordinating meetings, briefings, and communications between the college and government officials, ensuring the institution’s positions are communicated clearly and effectively.
• Prepare correspondence, policy briefs, and reports for local, state, and federal elected officials, keeping them informed of the college’s needs, outcomes, and achievements.
• Assist with organizing campus visits, events, and meetings involving elected officials and government representatives.

Communications and Coordination

• Draft, review, and coordinate written communications, presentations, and briefing materials related to government relations, policy, strategy, and grants.
• Develop communication strategies that support college initiatives, grant priorities, and strategic goals.
• Collaborate with college leadership to coordinate internal and external communications related to policy development, compliance, and grant‑funded initiatives.
• Review contracts and grant‑related agreements to ensure compliance with federal and state laws, VCCS requirements, and college policy.
• Maintain consistent, accurate messaging aligned with the college’s mission, strategic priorities, and funding objectives.

Policy Compliance and Enforcement

• Ensure college employees understand and adhere to institutional policies, particularly those related to compliance, risk management, and grant‑funded activities.
• Develop and oversee monitoring systems and internal controls to ensure policies and grant requirements are followed institution‑wide.
• Investigate or coordinate responses to alleged policy or grant compliance violations, working with Human Resources, Legal Counsel, Financial Services, or external agencies, as appropriate.
• Track and report compliance issues, trends, and corrective actions to senior leadership.
• Support audits, accreditation reviews, and external compliance inquiries, including those related to grants and sponsored programs.

Grants Administration and Oversight

• Provide executive oversight of the college’s grants administration function, ensuring alignment with institutional strategy and compliance with funding requirements.
• Coordinate closely with academic leaders, Financial Services, Foundation, and grant staff to identify, pursue, and prioritize grant opportunities that support student success, workforce development, and institutional goals.
• Review and advise on grant proposals to ensure alignment with the college’s mission, capacity, and strategic plan.
• In alignment with the business office and Foundation, ensure systems and processes are in place for effective grant management, reporting, compliance, and stewardship.
• Monitor grant portfolios to assess institutional risk, sustainability, and return on investment.
• Serve as a liaison with federal, state, and private funding agencies on grant‑related matters as needed.

Training and Resource Development

• Design and implement policy and compliance training programs for faculty, staff, and administrators, including training related to grant compliance and sponsored programs.
• Serve as the primary institutional resource for policy and grant‑related interpretation and guidance.
• Ensure policies and grant procedures are written in clear, accessible language and communicated effectively campus‑wide.
• Maintain and oversee a searchable, up‑to‑date policy and grants guidance repository.

Strategic Planning and College Strategy

• Work closely with the college President and Executive Leadership Team to develop, refine, and implement the college’s long‑term strategic plan.
• Use data, research, and grant performance outcomes to evaluate the effectiveness of strategic initiatives and inform future planning.
• Collaborate with academic division leaders and administrative leaders to ensure strategic goals are embedded in departmental planning, budgeting, and grant pursuits.
• Coordinate cross‑functional teams to execute strategic initiatives and track progress toward goals.
• Advise leadership on strategic risks and opportunities related to policy changes, funding trends, grants dependence, and regional or demographic shifts.
• Monitor institutional performance against strategic goals, student success metrics, accreditation standards, and operational benchmarks.

Advisory Role

• Advise the President and Executive Leadership Team on policy, funding, and grant implications of strategic initiatives and operational decisions.
• Assess institutional risk related to policy gaps, noncompliance, or grant management challenges and propose mitigation strategies.
• Ensure that policies and grant‑funded activities support the college’s mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities.
• Consult with Human Resources around compliance, policy, and legal ramifications.
• Authority to consult with VCCS legal.

Other Duties

• Participate in special projects and strategic initiatives, as directed by the President.
• Attend evening or off‑site meetings, as required.
• Perform other duties consistent with the scope and responsibilities of the position.

Special Assignments

May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree or Juris Doctor (JD) from a regionally accredited institution.
• Minimum of seven years of experience in higher education administration, government relations, policy development, strategic planning, or grants administration.
• Strong understanding of the legislative, regulatory, and funding environment affecting higher education.
• Demonstrated experience aligning institutional strategy with policy, compliance, and grant‑funded initiatives.
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with government officials, funding agencies, and community partners.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
• Knowledge of institutional effectiveness, accreditation processes, grants compliance, and risk management.

Successful completion and passing of a background check is required.

Additional Considerations:
Operation of a state vehicle: No
Supervises Employees: Yes
Required Travel: As required

Job Open Date: 03/24/2026
Job Close Date: 04/24/2026

Application Requirements

Acceptable application packages are those submitted through the VCCS portal located at A fully completed application, CV or resume including a list of three professional references, cover letter, and copies of all applicable transcripts must be submitted through the career website. If documents cannot be uploaded, send via email to immediately after applying. Do not submit the same document in both the system and by email.

Background Check Statement Disclaimer

The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks, and may require completion of the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, visit

EEO Statement

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non‑merit factors.

ADA Statement

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA and ADAAA) to provide reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested.

E-Verify Statement

VCCS uses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I‑9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.

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