U.S. State and Local Government Relations Director

U.S. Director of State and Local Government Relations

Location: Home-based, US (ET preferred)

Summary:

Bentley Systems is seeking a strategic and experienced U.S. Director of State and Local Government Relations to lead our engagement with state and local government entities across the United States. This role will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive government relations strategy to promote Bentley’s infrastructure software solutions, foster partnerships, and influence public policy to support the company’s mission of advancing a digital transformation in state and local transportation and infrastructure policy. The Director will serve as the primary liaison between Bentley Systems and state/local governments, trade associations, and other key stakeholders. The position will report to the Senior Director of U.S. Government Relations.

Responsibilities:

• Government Relations Strategy: Develop and implement a strategic plan for state and local governments engagement.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with state and local government officials, agencies, and industry associations to advocate for policies and initiatives that align with Bentley’s business objectives.
• Policy Advocacy: Monitor and analyze state and local legislation, regulations, and policies impacting infrastructure, engineering, and technology sectors. Advocate for policies that support the adoption of Bentley’s solutions.
• Business Development Support: Collaborate with Bentley’s sales and marketing teams to identify and pursue opportunities with state and local government agencies, ensuring alignment with their infrastructure needs and procurement processes.
• Strategic Partnerships: Identify and foster partnerships with public sector organizations, industry groups, and other stakeholders to enhance Bentley’s visibility and influence in the state and local government market.
• Compliance and Procurement: Provide guidance on navigating state and local government procurement processes, ensuring compliance with regulations and maximizing opportunities for Bentley’s solutions to be adopted.
• Internal Collaboration: Work closely with Bentley’s leadership, product development, and legal teams to align government relations efforts with corporate strategy and product offerings.
• Event Representation: Represent Bentley Systems at industry conferences, public hearings, and government-related events to promote the company’s mission and solutions.
• Reporting and Insights: Provide regular updates to senior leadership on government relations activities, policy developments, and market opportunities, offering actionable insights to guide strategic decisions.
• Willingness to travel up to 15% to engage with government stakeholders and attend industry events.
• This is a full-time role expected to work 40 hours per week, home-based in the US.
• Requires sitting or standing at will while performing work on a computer (or any other physical requirements). The role requires communication with managers, peers, and other colleagues of the company in person (on occasion), and by utilizing Microsoft Teams chat, calling, and meeting functions.  

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, a related field, or equivalent training and experience; advanced degree preferred. 
• 7+ years of experience in the public sector, government relations, public affairs, or a related role, with a focus on state and local government engagement.
• Proven track record of building relationships with government officials, agencies, and industry stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of state and local government procurement processes, infrastructure funding mechanisms, and regulatory environments.
• Strong knowledge of infrastructure, engineering, or technology sectors; familiarity with software solutions or digital twins is a plus.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and advocacy skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to analyze policy trends and align them with business objectives.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working with or within state/local government agencies or infrastructure-related industries.
• Established network of contacts within state and local government or relevant trade associations.

What We Offer:

• A great Team and culture – please see our colleague video. 
• An exciting career as an integral part of a world-leading software company providing solutions for architecture, engineering, and construction - watch this short documentary about how we got our start. 
• An attractive salary and benefits package.
• A commitment to inclusion, belonging and colleague wellbeing through global initiatives and resource groups. 

• A company committed to making a real difference by advancing the world’s infrastructure for better quality of life, where your contributions help build a more sustainable, connected, and resilient world. Discover our latest user success stories for an insight into our global impact. 

About Bentley Systems

Around the world, infrastructure professionals rely on software from Bentley Systems to help them design, build, and operate better and more resilient infrastructure for transportation, water, energy, cities, and more. Founded in 1984 by engineers for engineers, Bentley is the partner of choice for engineering firms and owner-operators worldwide, with software that spans engineering disciplines, industry sectors, and all phases of the infrastructure lifecycle. Through our digital twin solutions, we help infrastructure professionals unlock the value of their data to transform project delivery and asset performance. www.bentley.com

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Bentley is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, pregnancy, protected veteran status, religion, national origin, age, genetic information or any other protected characteristic.  This commitment extends to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, compensation, and training. Know Your Rights as an applicant under the law.

Bentley Policy on EEO, Affirmative Action and Pay Transparency Non-Discrimination

Bentley participates in e-Verify / Bentley participate in e-Verify / Right to Work Notice

Request an Accommodation:

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Bentley is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. We encourage you to request a reasonable accommodation if you are not able to fully use or access our online application system.   You can make an accommodation request by calling 610-458-5000 or sending us an email at disabilityrequest@bentley.com

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