Government Affairs Manager

Naperville, IL (Unknown)

$85K/yr – $100K/yrManager3+ years exp

Posted 8 days ago

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Job Summary

Own government relations and community engagement for fiber deployment, coordinating with municipal and regulatory stakeholders, and managing permit and right-of-way processes along with grant-funded projects.

  • Lead stakeholder engagement and advocacy across jurisdictions
  • Drive permitting, licensing, and compliance initiatives

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • Government & Municipal Relations
  • Develop and maintain positive relationships with municipal leaders, county officials, township representatives, public works departments, and regulatory agencies.
  • Serve as Surf Internet's primary point of contact for government-related matters associated with fiber deployment projects.
  • Attend municipal meetings, county commissioner meetings, township board meetings, planning commission meetings, and public hearings as required.
  • Coordinate communications with local governments regarding construction schedules, restoration efforts, traffic impacts, and project milestones.
  • Support the negotiation and execution of right-of-way agreements, market license agreements, and partnership opportunities.
  • Assist in resolving government concerns and escalations related to construction activities.
  • Support of grant-funded broadband expansion projects.
  • Broadband Advocacy & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Promote Surf Internet's mission of expanding broadband access throughout underserved and unserved communities.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Political Science, Communications, Business Administration, Urban Planning, or related field.
  • 3–7 years of experience in government affairs, community relations, public policy, telecommunications, utilities, construction, or infrastructure-related fields.
  • Experience interacting with government officials and public agencies.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Excellent public speaking and presentation abilities.
  • Strong organizational and relationship management skills.
  • Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
  • Valid driver's license and ability to travel frequently throughout service territories.

Preferred

  • Broadband, telecommunications, utility, or infrastructure experience.
  • Knowledge of permitting, right-of-way processes, and municipal government operations.
  • Familiarity with state and federal broadband grant programs.
  • Experience working in public affairs, economic development, or community engagement roles.
Surf Internet logo

Surf Internet

4.5 Glassdoor

Surf Internet is an innovative fiber-optic internet company that serves as the essential gateway to connectivity across the Great Lakes Region of Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. We’re building a bridge to the wide-open future by delivering high-speed, reliable internet to homes and businesses in underserved, rural communities. Our 145-plus person team is local, giving us an edge when it comes to customer care and advocacy for the region. Headquartered in Elkhart, IN, Surf also has offices in La Porte, IN, Byron Center, MI, and Coal City and Rock Falls, IL. Learn more at surfinternet.com.

Founded in 1999
Elkhart, Indiana, USA
203 employees (16 in marketing)
100% recommend to a friend

Traffic Signals

Monthly Visitors
64.7K
Monthly Google Ads Budget
$85.7K
Traffic Source Mix
Search
44.1%
Direct
47.6%
Referral
4.4%
Social
2.9%
Paid
0.9%

Headcount Trend

Current headcount: ~203

Marketing Team

Marketing Team Size
14 (7% of company)
Marketing Roles Posted (Last 30 Days)
1

Funding

Total Funding
$1.2B
Last Raise
$407M
Debt Financing, 8 days ago

Funding History

  • Mar 2026
    Debt Financing • $407M
  • Feb 2025
    Private Equity • $175M
  • Feb 2025
    Debt Financing • $300M

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